Poole Week Mini Series

A great turn out of visitors joined the local Poole Albacore fleet for the Parksytone Mini Series held over the three day bank holiday August weekend. Beautiful sunny weather saw the fleet get away first time on a busy start line in an idealic force 2. Neville Herbert crewed by novice sailor Stacey Chapman led at the first mark followed by Richard Thorpe crewed by brother David and Local saiolr Richard Grey. Grey showed great lightwind speed on the long run against the tide to round the leeward mark first. Neville leebowed the tide on the next beat to take the lead which he extended as the wind grew lighter. Trevor Smith from Maidenhead used the lighter winds to his advantage and slowly gained ground on Grey to narrowly beat him in a very close final leg.

Race 2 started under black flag conditions and was dominated by the visitors being unable to find the correct marks in the busy harbour. Neville held a comfortable lead before missing out the finish line at the end of the fist lap, allowing Richard Grey to pull clear. In the dying breeze, Trevor Smith once again slide past only to sail straight past the next mark allowing Richard to take the lead for the second time. With the wind shifting through 40 degrees Richard sailed expertly to cross first with Trevor second and John Herbert a very close third.

The final race was a windier affair with a blustery force 4. Richard Thorpe led at the windward mark clearly enjoying the stronger breeze, only to fail to identify the wing mark and let Neville and John Herbert past. The breeze increase and gave the fleet a long powerful reach to the furest point of the harbour. Neville broke away on the long downwind leg and covered Thorpe to win comfortably. John Herbert crewed by wife Anita held off a late challenge by Grey to take third place and third overall.

Results.

1st Neville Herbert, Stacey Chapman - Maidenhead S.C

2nd Trevor & Anne Smith - Maidenhead S.C

3rd John & Anita Herbert - Parkstone Yacht Club.

Neville & Stacey Collect the trophy