Flying Fifteen Winter Series at Parkstone Yacht Club - Day 4
by David Tabb 26 Oct 2014 06:52 GMT
19 October 2014
Saturday 25th October saw 22 boats on the start line for 2 races. The first race was race 4 of the Parkstone Winter Series. A great course was set by the Osman family with a good beat followed by 3 nice reaches which resulted in planing in the gusts. Two rounds were sailed.
The race started in a Westerly force 4 with the wind oscillating through 15 degrees and a changing tide. The first beat saw both sides of the fleet looking good at different times. At the first mark Crispin Read Wilson and Steve Brown were in the lead and managed to hold this to the end and held off a charging David Tabb and Chewey Sherrell. Graham and Ben Scroggie were third after pulling off a daring mark rounding on the reach to reach mark and stealing at least 6 places.
The second race was a part of the short mini series which is raced on every other weekend. The Osman's set a good windward leeward course for this. The tide had also changed so inevitably the class saw a general recall. 4 boats were over the line and this resulted in some silence at the finishing line. The race was won convincingly by Bob Alexander and Huw Willetts, 2nd were Chris Gorringe and Nadia Hosie with Adrian Tattersall and Andy Murphy in 3rd.
It was good to see the last 4 boats in each race only separated by a few seconds showing the close racing all the way through the fleet. We also welcomed back Peter and Jo Allum after Petes leg operation. However it wasn't so nice for past Commodore Barry Rolf as we looked back to see Pete on Port colliding with Barry who nearly capsized. I'm told the Barry actually got one foot on the keel. All fun and capers here at Parkstone.
The series is open to non-members and any Flying Fifteen sailors wishing to join the series are most welcome, please contact the club office for details.