PYRA Pursuit Race sponsored by Poole Harbour Guide
by Keith Lovett 28 Apr 2015 17:19 BST
26 April 2015
PYRA Pursuit Race © Keith Lovett
The Poole Yacht Racing Association fleet descended on Poole Bay for their first event of the year, a pursuit race under the management of the Associations newly installed Captain; Roger Bond. 'Dream On' the smallest boat in the fleet built an early significant lead on a shifty NNE beat into Bournemouth, holding this for 30 minutes before being overhauled by 'Quadrophenia' who lead at the windward mark and then 'Shebeen'.
Following a lengthy tour of Poole Bay on the final beat and what transpired to be the penultimate leg the J109 ' Blue Jay' worked the shifts with either brilliance of a little luck sailing from the back of the fleet to take the lead.
On the final leg a long run from Bournemouth towards Old Harry rocks, the Match 35 'Haven KJ Firestarter' closed the gap on the J109 but with the clock eventually running out, was unable to catch the event winner 'Blue Jay'.
Despite somewhat damp conditions with winds between 7 knots to 17 knots the unstable breeze tested the fleet to provide some excellent racing.
A rendezvous courtesy of the Poole Harbour Guide publication followed at Poole Yacht Club.
Overall Results:
1st J109 'Blue Jay' Lis and Alan Bennett
2nd Match 35 'Haven KJ Firestarter' Keith Lovett
3rd Albin Ballad 'Shebeen' Ken Morgan (Class Two winner)
4th MG335 'Virgao' Victor Budden
5th Foxterrier 22 'Dream On' Bryan Tucker
6th Contention 33 'Matchmaker II' Mike Fox
7th Albin Nova 'Quadrophenia' Clive and Theresa Lawrence (Class Four winner)
8th MG C27 'Athene' Nick Treble
9th Elan 333 'Escapade' Diane Bardsley