adidas Poole Week 2017 at Parkstone Yacht Club - Day 4
by John Linford 31 Aug 2017 12:45 BST
27 August - 1 September 2017
The forecast for today did not look ideal with little wind and rain promised. However, the PROs had clearly done their rain dances as the weather improved ahead of the 1400hrs start, and while the wind remained shifty around a Northerly we managed to get some good racing in.
The Wayfarers, Dolphins, Darts, XODs and the handicap fleets enjoyed a harbour tour from the Platform, while Olympic Courses were the first order of they day in the Top Triangle, where at one point the Race Officer was on his knees praying for the wind to settle, which it duly did just where he'd laid the windward mark. The first race was hardly fought by the competitors with a prize of a year's insurance from Craftinsure.com for the winner from each fleet.
The day finished with the sun out, 6 to 8 knots of wind and a harbour tour for the Flying 15s, RS and Merlin fleets while the Lasers continued with their Olympic course, finishing racing and returning to Parkstone Yacht Club just in time for the wind to fade away and enjoy a drink in the sun.
shifting challenges (report from David Harding)
After a bright and breezy Tuesday, it was a faint and fickle wind on Wednesday for day 4 of Poole Week. While the breeze was in capricious mood, swinging through 60 degrees at times, at least the Craftinsure buoy – the ODM for Parkstone platform's finishing line – showed some respect and stayed in place.
On Tuesday, the anticipation of being the centre of attention the following day when Craftinsure were sponsoring the prizes had clearly been too much and it had floated off to explore the harbour. Thankfully it was spotted and brought home by one of the RIB crews before too much confusion ensued. Most sailors had enough to think about in terms of wind-shifts without playing find-the-buoy as well.
Among the notable performers of the day were Neil and Stuart Bartholomey, regular visitors from Middle Nene S.C. They sailed Flying Fifteen 2700 – the oldest boat in their fleet by far – into third place.
All told it was another good day on the water. Only a few spots of the rain threatened for the afternoon landed in Poole Harbour, so it was a happy band of sailors who headed home at the end of the evening.
More information at www.parkstoneyachtclub.com/Sailing/Poole_Week.aspx