Poole Yacht Racing Association's Weymouth Magnum

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 © Mike Fox

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 © Mike Fox

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 © Mike Fox

Saturday 8th September saw 22 of the Poole Yacht Racing Association fleet gathering in Poole's Swash channel for their annual September pilgrimage to Weymouth to enjoy the hospitality of the Royal Dorset Yacht Club.

15 to 20 knots South Westerly and an ebb tide were to allow some fast times for the race along the famous Jurassic coast. Wind against tide however offered some excitement off the various headlands with a tactical call to make to head out into bigger seas or enjoy flatter water close in shore.

In the the largest class one, made up of slightly bigger boats it was the Dehler 36 - Deity leading the pack offshore and the JPK 1010 - Joy taking the front of the fleet inshore.

The Maxi 1100 - Destiny who had acted as start boat and race officer, followed the offshore pack making dramatic progress and was to eventually win on corrected time, with Joy tacking out from their inshore position to pick up second and Deity coming into the finish at the entrance of Portland Harbour in third.

Slightly smaller boats in class two, without exception opted for the inshore route. Whilst the Contention 33 - Matchmaker II lead the way and picked up line honours it was the MG C27 Athena who stole the win on corrected time. Matchmaker II second and the GK 29 Good Krack coming in third.

The smallest boats in class three saw the PYRA association captain take Fraid S'eau - Beneteau 285 inshore, but the smallest boat on the water MS Amlin QT - Ecume de Mer going offshore was to score an emphatic win finishing just behind the leading class two boat on the water.

Class Four consisting of those sailing two handed saw another Dehler 36 - Ceres leading the way, followed home by the Alvin Nova - Quadrophenia and Jeanneau 349 Spuce Goose in third.

Following a welcoming evening courtesy of the Royal Dorset Yacht Club and event sponsor Andrew Pearce of Magnum fame, Sunday morning provided a real wake up call with a building 25 knot breeze and foul tide for the fleet to contend with.

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 - photo © Mike Fox

With both growing wind and seas, race officer, Phil Nicholas wisely sent the fleet offshore to Dorset's DZ bouys, to avoid significant overfalls.

The JPK 1010 - Joy blasted out to sea under her asymmetrical and was to both lead and win class one. Followed home by Destiny, having lost their heavy spinnaker to the robust conditions and Elan 40 - Amethyst in third.

Class two, saw Maxi 1000 - Resolute take the win and Matchmaker II in second.

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 - photo © Mike Fox

Class three and Fraid S'eau suffered goose neck problems and were forced to drop their main with the wind exceeding 30 knots. Racing on under genoa they sailed boat for boat against the smaller MS Amlin QT both boats crossing the finish line off Poole in exactly the same elapsed time, MS Amlin taking the win on corrected time.

Ceres was again to dominate class four, followed home by Quadrophenia and the Elizabethan 29 - Skykomish finishing a valiant third.

The return race to Poole had proven challenging for all particularly the smaller boats coping with significant waves and no shortage of pressure.

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 - photo © Mike Fox

Poole to Weymouth Results:

Weymouth to Poole Results:

These contribute to the overall 2018 Passage Series B

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 - photo © Mike Fox

PYRA Weymouth Magnum 2018 - photo © Mike Fox