Salcombe Gin Spring Regatta at Parkstone Yacht Club
by (Salcombe Gin) Spring Yacht Regatta 1 May 17:17 BST
26-27 April 2025
Salcombe Gin Spring Regatta at Parkstone © PYC
The run up to the weekend of the Salcombe Gin Spring Regatta, organised by Parkstone Yacht Club, was not looking promising, with very light winds forecast. The fleet of 14 yachts across three classes were greeted with zero wind in Poole Harbour on Saturday morning. By the time the fleet was out in Poole Bay, however, there was a 6 knot NE breeze, and the R.O. Andrew Pearce and his excellent team quickly got racing got under way.
Class 1 managed one lap of the windward/leeward course without incident before the wind died on the second lap and only the highest-rated yacht, Wild Haggis (Mumm 30), managed to finish. The R.O. shorted the other classes at the end of the first lap and all yachts were able to finish in the dying breeze. In Class 2, the First 34.7, Zorra 4, took line honours, but it was the lowest rated yacht, Stralende (Nordic Folkboat), which took the corrected time win from Zorra 4 and QT (Ecume de Mer).
The fleet waited patiently for more wind to arrive for Race 2, but it was not to be, and the R.O. sensibly abandoned any further racing for the day at 13:00.
Thick fog greeted the crews as they rigged their yachts on Sunday morning. The R.O., Andrew Pearce, initially kept yachts in harbour until this lifted and by the time all were out in Poole Bay, visibility was improving. However, there was again very little wind. At 11:00, a slight wind line could be seen south of Old Harry Rocks and the R.O. moved the committee boat towards this and set for a start.
Racing got under way in a solid 10 knots from 160 degrees. In Class 1 (IRC), it was the Mumm 30, Wild Haggis, which again led around the course, with the JPK 1010, Joy, in close contact. Third at the finish was Red Fox, Archambault 31. On corrected time, it was Haven KJ Enigma (MG 346) 1st, Red Fox 2nd and Nyala (Impala) in 3rd.
In Class 2 (VPRS), QT took the win from Stralende, with the Evolution 26 Temptation in third.
For Race 3, the wind had built to around 12 knots and another short course was set. In Class 1, Wild Haggis again led around the course, with Haven KJ Enigma and the JPK 1010, Joy, keeping in contact. Corrected time moved Haven KJ Enigma into 1st, Red Fox was 2nd and Nyala in 3rd. In Class 2, the top two were reversed, with Stralende in 1st, QT in 2nd and Temptation again getting 3rd.
With the wind now up to around 14 knots from 175 degrees, the sun beating down and temperatures in the high teens, Poole Bay provided Champagne conditions for the final race.
In Class 1, it was Joy, the JPK 1010, which led from the gun to the finish to take a well-deserved win. Second was Haven KJ Enigma, with Red Fox in 3rd. In Class 2, it was again Stralende which took the win, from Temptation in 2nd and the MG 27, Mojito, in 3rd.
With four races sailed, the discard kicked in.
This was a really excellent, well-run regatta, with some particularly enjoyable racing, most notably on Sunday. Special thanks go to the regatta sponsor, Salcombe Gin, who generously provided prizes and welcome drinks for the prize-giving. And of course to the R.O., Andrew Pearce and his team, which included six on the Golden Dolphin committee boat, two in the mark-laying RIB and Roger Bennett, the Commodore of Parkstone Yacht Club, who kindly volunteered to produce results from the sailing office while crews enjoyed racing out in Poole Bay.
The next Parkstone Yacht Club yacht regatta will be in the autumn.
Class 1 (IRC) Results:
1st Haven KJ Enigma - 4
2nd Red Fox - 9
3rd Joy - 11
Class 2 (VPRS) Results:
1st Stralende - 3
2nd QT - 6
3rd Temptation - 8
Class 3 (YTC non-spinnaker) Results:
1st Phantom