West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Parkstone Yacht Club

RS200s race in Poole Bay during the Parkstone open meeting © Owain Hughes

41 boats including 25 visitors were welcomed by Parkstone Yacht Club for the West Country Boat Repairs South-west Ugly Tour, this year combined with the SEAS, and also GP4 in the Rooster National Tour. The decision was made to take advantage of sailing out in the incredible Poole Bay and someone had clearly had a word with the Sandbanks ferry operator, as conveniently it had broken down for the weekend!

The fleet were greeted with a north-easterly breeze blowing straight off Sandbanks beach, which made life difficult for PRO Bryan Drake and his team. Nevertheless they did a great job in getting the four races completed with very little waiting between. As well as the shifty breeze, the fleet also had an influx of jellyfish to avoid, which made things even more interesting.

Race one got away cleanly with Tommy & Charlie Darling getting a great start and immediately getting a jump on the fleet, which they held to the finish. Maria & Alan - who have taken a bit of a break from RS200 sailing - showed that they haven't lost their touch, and worked their way through the fleet to take second, with Olly Turner & "Sue" Mottershead managing to keep the right side of the line to take third. After their exploits at Salcombe, their new tactic was clearly to try and confuse the PRO by having each half of their hull a different colour.

Race 2 saw defending champions Alistair Norris & Helen Summersgill use their lightwind pace to take a well earned win, with the Darlings making another solid start to take second and Matt Mee & Emma Norris followed them home in third. Maria & Alan had followed up their second place with a 14th, so the event was still wide open.

RS200s race in Poole Bay during the Parkstone open meeting - photo © Owain Hughes

The wind was still up and down for race 3 and the first two boats round the windward mark came from opposite sides of the course. Arthur Henderson & Amy Yeoman led round the windward mark but were overtaken by Maria & Alan who sailed off to take their first bullet of the day.

As the fleet had been very well behaved all day, they thought it best to make up for it in the final race, so after a few general recalls Race 4 got under way under black flag! Local 200 sailors Dave & Jan Pointer fell victim to this and lost what would have been a fantastic eighth place. There were several boats that could take the title, so it was all to play for. Local Merlin sailors Jon & Mimi Gorringe led at the top mark with another local pair Owain Hughes & Poppy Husband in hot pursuit.

At the bottom gate, Gus & Ollie Dixon got through to second, while John Teague & Anna Horackova chose the other gate and made a nice gain to get past the Gorringes to take the lead. At the second top mark Jon & Mimi hit both the windward and spreader marks thinking that they were still allowed to! This allowed Owain & Poppy through to take second with Gus & Ollie having their best race of the day taking third.

On the final run, Maria & Alan did enough to get up to fourth and win the event. The ever consistent Alistair & Helen in second and Tom & Charlie - unable to follow up their first and second in the final two races - clung on to take third overall.

RS200s race in Poole Bay during the Parkstone open meeting - photo © Owain Hughes

Back ashore, the sailors were greeted with Parkstone's legendary hospitality, with everyone enjoying a well-earned free beer and burger, along with a vast display of cakes baked by the Parkstone 200 fleet members. See you all next year.

Overall Results:

Rooster Endeavour Trophy - Pete Alvey & Andy Gordon
Rooster Midfleet Heroes - Ian Mairs & Jade Bowen
Silver Fleet - Alistair Hodgson & Joanna Worrall
Bronze Fleet - Amy Boyle & Josh Kendle

RS200s race in Poole Bay during the Parkstone open meeting - photo © Owain Hughes