Please select your home edition
Edition
ETNZ Store Sale No.2 728x90px TOP

Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2024 - Day 3

by David Harding 28 Aug 15:46 NZST 25-30 August 2024

Blow the wind Southerly (sometimes with a bit of East in it too)

Poole Harbour was very much a harbour of two halves on the Tuesday of Poole Week. In the top triangle, sailing area for the Flying Fifteens and ILCAs (Lasers in old money), the wind started in the south and pretty well stayed there. It swung left and right, making for challenging racing and resulting in a few high scores for some of the leading boats. With a discard kicking in after four races, however, those still counting three good results were in with a chance of staying at or near the top.

Further east, the fleets starting from the Parkstone Platform set out into a southerly as well. But then, just after the first four starts, the breeze took a sharp turn to the left and settled at around 140 degrees. Because beats and runs had become reaches, race officer Bob Jennings had to shorten the courses for the fleets that had already set off, and rapidly re-set the others. Managing multiple fleets is a challenge at the best of times, and infinitely more challenging when you have a 40 degrees wind shift mid-way through the start sequences.

On the whole, the pecking order wasn't upset too radically by any of this, though there will always be winners and losers. In the fast handicap fleet, Steve Thompson's GP14 from Poole YC won both of the day's races to top the leaderboard, tied on 4 points with Steve and Ally Tyler's Merlin Rocket. Two more Poole YC boats - the Contenders of David Evans and Nathan McGrory - are lying 3rd and 4th respectively, both on 12 points.

Yet another visitor - this time from Swanage - is making the running in the slow handicap fleet. Luke Lazell in his Europe is one point ahead of two ILCA 4s (Laser 4.7s). Nigel Pearce is having a tougher week this year in his Fusion, having volunteered to sail on the same handicap as the ILCAs and therefore having to finish ahead of them on the water. It's a tall order, and he also has Kirsten Glen snapping at his heels. Kirsten and her Byte helped to make up for missing Monday by winning the second race on Tuesday.

New from the Parkstone Platform this year is a combined start for the RS200s and RS400s. The 12-strong 200s are being led convincingly by Bruce and Katy Moyes, with Peter Loretto and Lily Tointon a couple of points adrift. Dave and Jan Pointer are only two points further back despite having broken their gooseneck in the first race on Monday.

Last year, Sean Murray - crewed by various members of his family - won the Wayfarers. This year Sean and his wife, Helen, have moved across to the RS400s and already established a three-point cushion at the front of the fleet. In the Wayfarers, meanwhile, Jackie Dobson's 2, 1 on Tuesday moved her into the overall lead.

Maintaining his lead in the XODs, Willie McNeill scored a 1st and a discarded 7th, John Tremlett nearly matching that with a discarded 7th followed by a 2nd to sit one point behind. The second race was won comfortably by Penny Fulford from Itchenor.

Back in the top triangle, Bob Alexander and Huw Willetts found themselves on the wrong side of a few shifts to finish 11th in the first race of the day, but won the second to stay at the top of the table. It was a similar story in the ILCA 7s, with Monday's leader, Matt Reid - who won Poole Week back in 2009 by an enormous margin - discarding a 5th after winning the day's first race to keep his top spot. Experience displaced youth in the ILCA 6s, with Roger O'Gorman sneaking one point clear of young Tom Hakes.

It was definitely a day of snakes and ladders, but it was also warm and sunny. If you didn't lose 10 places by going right up the beat only to find the wind flicking 20 degrees to the left, it was a lovely day to be on the water.

Provisional results on www.pooleweek.org

Photos on www.SailingScenes.com

Related Articles

Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling - regular entries close on December 31 Seasoned sailors Rob Bassett and Brett Russell are rallying competitors to join what Peter Montgomery has called “the best-big boat regatta in NZ” as entries roll in for the 2025 Bay of Islands Sailing Week (BOISW). Posted on 12 Nov
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion! Posted on 7 Nov
Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
Predictwind is official partner of Vendee Globe
PredictWind will bring fans into the Vendée Globe action with a world-first Race Weather Centre Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced its official partnership with IMOCA - one of the fastest and most exciting offshore yacht racing classes - to become the exclusive Weather Data Supplier for the Vendée Globe 2024. Posted on 22 Oct
NZ Marine industry celebrates Am Cup Defence
NZ marine technology and innovation is used both by its own and other teams contesting the Cup While New Zealand sailors are considered among the world's best, the country's marine technology and innovation is used both by its own team, and by the teams contesting the America's Cup. Posted on 19 Oct
New facilities attract more superyachts to NZ
Superyacht attraction initiatives paying off as NZ Marine reports $212m superyacht economic boost A new report shows superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season. The report has been released as New Zealand ramps up its superyacht attraction initiatives. Posted on 11 Oct
Cup Spy - Finals - Who dares, wins
The AC75 proved its ability to provide compelling viewing, match racing at speeds touching 55kts Critics of the AC75 and its suitability as a match racer for the America's Cup should be eating their words after Sunday's Blinder in Barcelona Posted on 30 Sep
Check the rules before summer boating starts 
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across mar Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the water this summer. Posted on 24 Sep
17 NZ marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey'
Kiwi marinas make big steps in environmental performance : 17 marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey' The $540 million marina and boatyard industry is on a mission to minimise its environmental impact, particularly in relation to coastal water quality. Posted on 21 Sep
Southern Spars at the Monaco Yacht Show
From America's Cup technology to the World's largest sailing catamaran: Connect with Southern Spars The Monaco Yacht Show is the showcase event for innovation in the superyacht industry and as the global leader in high-performance composite rig technology for luxury yachts, Southern Spars is excited to attend again in 2024. Posted on 19 Sep
37th AC Store 2024 - 728x90 BOTTOMU-DECK 2023 - No.2 728x90 BOTTOMTNI Pindar SW Ads_728x90px-1 BOTTOM