Yachting World Dayboat Open At Poole Yacht Club

By Steve Wilson

Overall 19 boats took part, with visitors from Avon SC, Bosham SC, Hamble River SC and Thornbury SC.

The open takes the form of two separate days of racing in Poole Harbour. On Saturday there are two long distance races around the harbour islands, Green Island, Furzey Island and Brownsea Island, once clockwise and the other anticlockwise.

The morning race started with just five boats in a fresh southerly with a long, tricky beat to Green Island, care being required not to stray too far from the marked channels to avoid grounding.

Nick and Jennifer Crang in 639 took an initial lead which they held to the end, but sadly they had missed a mark out during the beat. Behind them the boats were rather strung out, although Wendy and Roy Davies in 649, who know that part of the harbour better than the rest of us, managed to recover from last place by taking a better route between marks.

As we approached crossing the harbour entrance the sea was a bit lumpy and there were a number of awkward gybes in the fresh breeze, achieved without incident. The final stretch back to the club had light winds in the shadow of Brownsea Island but finally emerged for the leg home.

The winner, who had been second on the water all the way was Peter and Annette Kay in 634 followed by Roy and Wendy Davies.

By the afternoon more visitors had arrived and ten set off clockwise round the islands. Once past the harbour entrance winds dropped light while fighting a foul tide and it poured with rain. The fleet struggled to keep moving at times.

In the end three boats found a little breeze and broke away. Everyone finished but it was close run on the time limit. Third was Georgina and Simon Bullingham in 648, second Matt and Hugh Straker in 621, the winner Peter Hewitt and Colin Blewett in 669.

Racing on the Sunday consisted of three races on triangle/sausage courses. 18 boats took part. The wind was a light to moderate north westerly characterised by localised shifts on the beat. In all three races there was an element of luck as well as skill.

What looked to be the best side of the beat on one lap was frequently the wrong side next time around. Places changed hands a great deal.

However in the end our winner showed us how it should be done with three wins. Third David MacFarlane and John Mckeand in 597 Yellow Peril, second Andrew Hewitt and Rebecca Crang in 639 Magic Roundabout, Winner Colin Blewett and Chrissie Campbell in 647 Alice.

After racing it was obvious that everyone had thoroughly enjoyed the day.