Both events were run con-currently. Poole Week having been shortened to four days over the bank holiday weekend and the Southerns to be days 2 and 3 the Sunday and Monday. Scores for the Southerns would also be a part of the Poole Week competition.
With a total of 12 boats pre-entered we were given our own 'Albacore' start from the committee boat in the top triangle of the harbour. A briefing was held at 11.30am each day and racing started at 1pm. The first high tide was around midday with a second high around 4pm. Instructions were given to watch the committee boat signals closely as second races might be started in a different order – this was to have some impact later – and also to note the Sailing Instructions. Well we always do both!
Poole Week Day 1.
Race 1 Conditions were overcast with a stiff northerly breeze. The forecast was for 18mph but was actually 20 plus as 6 albs planed out to the start line. John Carlin took the lead up the first beat in race 1closely followed by Richard Gray (Quik Dik), Mark Calvert, Victoria McCabe, Trevor Smith and Andy Pearce. Quik Dik took an early swim capsizing 'The Wizard' (no new nickname there then) and at the windward mark the positions were John, Victoria, Trevor and Andy closely pursued by Mark. On the reach that followed Andy powered past Victoria and Trevor and the final positions after a second round were John, Andy, Victoria, Mark and Trevor.
The conditions for Race 2 were similar with stronger gusts and with confusion on the start sequence only three boats crossed the line on the signal. Competition up the beat was tight with the placings swapping between Richard, Victoria and Andy.. At the windward mark Richard led closely followed by Andy and Victoria. John retired from fourth place and with Mark and Trevor also retiring leaving only three boats racing. By the second round the positions remained unchanged at the windward mark and the short leg from marks I to 2 was a quick reach. Having powered up Richard failed to make the turn at the second mark. Andy in 'Blue Jay' made the turn taking the lead to the finish followed by Richard in second and Victoria in 'Curvaceous' finishing in third place.
Poole Week Day 2 & Southerns Day 1
Another day with a stiff breeze, overcast with some chop for the first races of the Southerns. Eleven boats set off from Parkstone for the start line off Brownsea Island. Crispin Read Wilson sailing Ruined Dude made a good start in Race 3 and took an early lead up the windward leg tacking early on to port and going right. By the windward mark he had established a substantial lead over the following group of boats. The reach that followed provided excellent planing and some opportunities to make up places in the mid fleet. By the second round Crispin was clear ahead of the chasing group of Tim Coleman in 6812, Graham Darville in ' La Dolce Vita' and John Carlin in 'Sensational'. This group of four boats missed the finish line and headed off up the beat for a third round – disaster but need to RSI. This was not repetitive strain injury but a need to read the Sailing Instructions. Andy Pearce threw away a good position by capsizing on the last leg. The final positions were Richard Gray, Jerry Rook, Matt Thompson, Victoria McCabe, Trevor Smith, and Mark Calvert with Andy limping in seventh! The original lead pack made up the numbers at the back with Tim, Graham, John and finally Crispin in eleventh. Unfortunate for those four boats as this was to have a considerable impact on the Southern event results.
For Race 4 the conditions were still breezy at around 20 mph. Trevor capsized 'Ozilly Emiver' soon after the start proving that the experts can do it too! There was a major wind shift on the long beat and Tim Coleman tacked going right making a substantial gain and was first to the windward mark. Crispin and Graham were in hot pursuit and both managed to pass inside at the next gybe mark. Jerry Rook 'Running on Empty', always keen for a slice of the action, was competing with the lead group but dropped back to fourth place after an incident at the second windward mark. Final positions were Crispin in first followed by, Graham, Tim and Jerry. Richard finished in fifth followed by John, Matt, Mark, Victoria and Andy making up the numbers. A complete turn over as Victoria now took over the overnight lead for Poole Week from Andy and Richard led the Southerns from Jerry.
Poole Week Day 3 & Southerns Day 2
A light NE breeze was competed with a sea breeze. Racing was delayed due to boats struggling to arrive at the start line. After several start attempts and committee boat moves racing was finally abandoned for the day due to lack of wind in the top triangle. This was unfortunate as there was wind on the Parkstone side of the harbour where the NE wind was holding out against the sea breeze! Victoria still retained the overnight lead for Poole week with Andy in second. The Southerns event was won by Richard Gray and Rosie Lyne by virtue of their win in Race 1. Jerry Rook and Shigeaki Takezoe were second although on equal points to Richard. Matt and Heather Thompson were third and Graham Darville and Andrew Cooney were fourth. But for the four boats missing the finish line in the first race the results might have been completely different.
Poole Week Day 4
Following the difficulties of the previous day the committee boat was repositioned off Fisherman's Quay on the Poole side of the harbour. The winds were again light NE and an early sea breeze was competing as we sailed out. With the shorter distance to the start line all boats made it in time .The course was windward /leeward and the windward mark had a noticeable starboard bias.
Race 5 started without delay as the varying fleets got away. The remaining five albacores started in light wind with very flat water. John Carlin led at the first windward mark followed by Victoria McCabe, Andy Pearce, Trevor Smith and Richard Gray bringing up the rear. The race was 3 rounds and although the distances varied the positions remained unchanged to the finish. At the line only a few boat lengths separated the lead three boats.
Race 6 followed with the wind dropping considerably on the first beat. The race was again three rounds and with Poole Week honours still all up for grabs four boats could still win. John Carlin did his best and achieved his second win of the day. The Poole Week placings would be decided by the remaining finishing positions in this final race. Trevor finished second with Richard in third, Andy fourth and Victoria a very close fifth. The racing had been close and tense all day and the final results were as close. Richard Gray and Rosie Lyne took first place in Poole Week with 16 points, Andy Pearce and Ian Simpson were second on 17 points with Victoria and Magnus McCabe also on 17 points finishing third on count back. John and Nicola Carlin were fourth and Trevor and Ann Smith fifth.
In summary a thoroughly enjoyable event with some competitive racing, surprise capsizes and some close finishes. Poole rarely disappoints.
Parkstone is the venue for the 2014 Nationals so there will be much planning, course setting and SI's in bold print!
Full results:
http://www.parkstoneyachtclub.com/page1442.html
Albacore Andy