Cadet Open at Parkstone Yacht Club - Overall

Cadet open at Parkstone © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.co.uk

Cadet open at Parkstone © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.co.uk

An almost perfect victory

Poole Harbour can be a tricky venue for sailors. With surrounding hills and small islands acting as a funnel for the wind, double high tides, channels and shallows, experience and knowledge gained through practice pays dividends. So proved the case this weekend for Parkstone sailors Matt Currell and Theo Smith sailing 8997 Executrix. Counting five victories from six races, with their discard a second place in Race 4, they almost achieved perfection, although to suggest it was easy would be very, very wrong.

Teams arrived for the second day of the Parkstone Cadet Open to find bright sunshine and the expectation that wind speeds would build as the day progressed. Three races were scheduled with a discard kicking in with the first of the day, Race 4. The fleet launched on time and were in position for a prompt start at 1030. The course was laid in the waters between Brownsea Island and Poole Quay giving spectators a good view of the racing. During the passage from the clubhouse to the course, the wind had backed through almost 135 degrees from a westerly to a south-easterly and as the race progressed, the wind speed fell from F3 to F1. The course was shortened and Daisy & Angus Collingridge from Waldringfield in 9877 No Regrets drifted across the line to take victory in Race 4, followed shortly afterwards by Matt & Theo. The concern onshore was the possibility of the rest of the fleet being timed out, but with the wind swinging around to a westerly, spinnakers were hoisted and Alex Philpott & Harry Fitzsimmons from Frensham Pond took third in 9390 Bladerunner, followed by Henry Marsh & Freddie Collings from Royal Lymington in 9240 Nitro and the rest of the fleet close behind.

With the wind now a consistent F4 south-westerley, the Committee Boat headed off to the "Top-triangle" and a new course was laid. Following a General Recall, Race 5 started with a Black Flag. Matt & Theo led at the windward, followed by Alex & Harry and Jack & Laura Hardie from Frensham Pond in 8513 Di Maggio. The order remained unchanged throughout the race, with Daisy & Angus finishing fourth, South Cerney's Aliya & Aqil Jannaty in 9319 fifth and Alistair Wallace & Harry Folkard, also from South Cerney sixth in 7231 Sullom Voe.

With the wind building to a F5, Race 6 started promptly with Jack & Laura opening up a good lead on the first beat. Alex & Harry were next around the windward followed by Matt & Theo, Daisy & Angus, Aliya & Aqil and in sixth place, Alex Colquitt & Ella Marston from West Kirby in 9084 Speedbird II. An untimely gust at the Gybe mark saw four of the top ten boats capsize, which the leading five a good margin over the rest of the fleet. Matt & Theo kept up the pressure on Jack & Laura, taking the lead by the second leeward mark and winning their fifth race of the regatta. Jack & Laura were second, followed home by Alex & Harry, Daisy & Angus, Aliya & Aqil and Henry & Freddie in 9240 Nitro.

As winners of the Parkstone Trophy and on behalf of all the competitors, Matt & Theo thanked Duncan Glen, Cadet Squadron Captain and all those who had helped organise the event. Daisy & Angus were first U14 team and Daisy, first girl helm.

Overall Results: