Flying Dutchman UK Nationals at Royal Motor Yacht Club, Poole

Flying Dutchman nationals at Poole © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.co.uk

Flying Dutchman nationals at Poole © Susan Burgess

Strong winds, exciting racing and great socials

Nine Flying Dutchman including two which had travelled from Germany enjoyed superb hospitality at Royal Motor Yacht Club, Poole and exciting racing in Studland Bay.

A very friendly and helpful reception greeted the competitors on Friday when they arrived at RMYC to participate in the FD Nationals which was part of the International Paint Poole Regatta 2012.

Nine FDs left Poole Harbour on Saturday morning and after negotiating the shallows of Poole Harbour and the Chain Ferry from Sandbanks to Studland arrived in Studland Bay with a good easterly force 4 which had generated a fair swell.

Racing was around the old Olympic course, triangle, sausage, triangle with the start finish approx one third the way up the beat allowing very short delays between starts.

Race one saw Jon Williams (Strang) & Alex Rogers establish an early lead which they maintained winning all three races on day 1.

Race two was sailed in increasing swell and gusty conditions which led to a capsize by Rosie & Neil Pye and unfortunate broken mast when it bounced on the sea bed and so were unable to sail in race 3.

Hartmut Wesemuller & Jurgen Hobein from Germany were fourth in the first race but broke their spinnaker pole launcher so did not sail in races 2 or 3.

Ernst Greten & Shappie Koenig from Germany ended the day with three seconds. Tony Lyall & Colin Burns who were sailing very fast had three thirds.

Sunday saw force 5 winds from the South West which provided vicious force six gusts with cold dense winds. The forecast rain stayed away. Some very exciting racing and in some cases survival sailing took place. The race officer shortened each of the courses before the final triangle and boats that had capsized but were still racing after the first boats had finished were given an appropriate position to ensure minimum waiting time between the four races.

Strang and Alex who had recently returned from being fourth in the North Sea Regatta in Holland maintained their winning streak and by the end of the day had won the first seven of the nine scheduled races and thus the National Championship with a day to spare.

Tony & Colin remained on good form and pushed Ernst & Shappie hard finishing second in race 5 and third in race 4. However, they broke their boom in race 6 and so were unable to sail in race 7. Ernst & Shappie finished the day with a total of six seconds and a third giving them an unassailable second place overall.

In race 4 Richard Phillips & John Lansley made a strong start and were in third place when overhauled by Tony & Colin. A foul up on a spinnaker gybe on the run allowed Hartmut & Jurgen to catch up and power through to leeward on the final beat leaving them in fifth.

Hartmut & Jurgen then finished fourth in race 5 but a capsize in race 6 left Hartmut injured with a suspected broken rib. They retired for the day and were unable to race on the final day leaving them in eighth position overall.

Peter Doran & John Berry had decided that the winds on day two were too strong for their weight and watched from the shore. Meanwhile, newcomers Glynn Sheffield and Chris Rutter who were sailing in their first FD event having refitted out FD GBR 310 - Biggles seized their chance and finished third in race 6. As did Steve James & Dick Preston who were fourth. Richard & John capsized but continued to race under main alone in the very gusty conditions.

Race 7 saw even stronger gusts and Richard & John started under main alone and were in touch with the fleet at the first mark so unleashed the genoa for the reaches but another capsize ensued and they retired. Steve & Dick were third and Glynn & Chris fourth.

Monday saw a reducing wind from the North and by the time of the start there was a force 3 which further reduced to 2 or 3 leading to the closest racing of the event in the last race when places frequently changed as gusts or current favoured each boat. Strang crewed for Alex whilst the main battle between fourth fifth and sixth places overall were hotly contested.

Many thanks go to the race officer, race team and support boats who were kept busy! the RMYC and organisers of the Poole Regatta. Socials were also hosted by the Parkstone Yacht Club and Poole Yacht Club.

More photos at www.facebook.com/sailFDGBR and on the Photos tab below.

Overall Results: (top six, 9 races, 2 discards)
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