Contessa 32 Cowes-Poole-Cowes weekend

Contessa 32 sailors at Poole Quay Boat Haven © Martin Collen

Contessa 32 sailors at Poole Quay Boat Haven © Keith Sammons

A fresh Easterly breeze sent the strong fleet quickly on their way down the Western Solent. Gusts were isolated meaning that a real game of snakes and ladders was at play.

Corafin showed the early pace with Jemmana and Andaxi battling it out. Alice Butcher was back with Panache, again single handed and showing many boats just how quick she is!

At Hurst, the fleet split. Andaxi and Jemanna led Coric and Starsteak down the more direct Northerly route. Corafin chose the Needles Channel with Connie and Carinosa trying to chase her down. Blanco initially went for the sneaky cut through however prudence decided that the Needles was a better option!

While Andaxi and Jemmana continued to play snakes and ladders to the North, Carinosa managed to sneak inside Corafin and Connie at Bridge. All was set for the charge across the bay.

Those to the North had a better angle, those in the South a bit more pressure but at times a little tight. Poles were well forward and the fleet charged for Poole.

As the finish approached, it was clear that it would be close and it would be decided on the line. Would Andaxi sneak ahead of Jemmana? Could Carinosa hold off a last minute surge from Corafin.

It couldn't have been tighter, Carinosa snuck over the line for her maiden win, just ahead of the next four - all who finished within a boat length of each other. Even after twenty nine miles of racing, Panache finished just ahead of the next group of four of Blanco, Muscadet de Havelet, Starstreak and Coric. The first ten boats had split evenly North to South yet still finished within three minutes of each other.

This year was a first visit for the event to the Poole Quay Boat Haven; the marina team were delighted to be welcomed onboard Jemmana as judges for the Cowes-Poole-Cowes Bake Off. Various Cakes and tasty treats were presented. Some better looking than others, some definately better cooked than others! At the end of the judging; Andaxi's chocoholics' dream was a worthy winner.

A lively pontoon party hosted by Muscadet set the tone for an outstanding dinner at the Oriel restuarant on Poole Quay.

Some sore heads woke to lighter winds and a very much shortened course. Surely just nine miles wouldn't be too far..? Racing was sent away by the local crew of Trican into a building northerly breeze. That Northerly became North Easterly and then East before flipping back to the North and North West. Kites went up, kites came down. Some boats found some breeze, others found holes. With a building foul tide shooting around Hengisbury head, after three hours and nor more than six miles of progress made, many decided to call it a day. Andaxi, Jemmana and Carinosa had squeezed out a small lead; however Jemmana went offshore into a large hole while Carinosa and Andaxi found an elusive bit of breeze in on the beach.

After over four hours of racing, a fortuitous lift on the last tack to the finish saw Carinosa sneak ahead of Andaxi to take the win by a length. Starstreak were the only other to hold their nerve as the wind finally turned fair and brought them to the line some twenty minutes later.

A cracking weekend of racing, baking and socialising was had by all.