Contender traveller series at Poole Yacht Club

The third round of the Contender traveller series returned south to take place on the 9th and 10th May in Poole, warmly welcomed by Poole Yacht Club.

Sixteen boats arrived at the club with a forecast of 7-12 knots of breeze from East, with a possibility of a swing towards to the southeast, which would bring it straight over Brownsea island to make shifty and gusty, so not getting caught out in the wrong place, so keeping a beady on the compass whilst looking for more solid breeze would be the order of the day. A change to the SIs from the off due to the tide times meant that there would be 4 races on Saturday with a later start and two races on the Sunday.

Race one started cleanly with a large group going out to the left with Graeme Wilcox and Stuart Jones getting the best of the first beat with Tom Hooton carrying some of his European form to be nearby to keep the pressure on with James Spikesley and Ed Presley not too far behind. Graeme Passed Stuart on the first reach to maintain his dominance on the fleet whilst Stuart was never faraway. James managed to get through Tom on the final beat before Tom Managed to regain the third place with Graeme winning and Stuart in second.

Contender traveller series at Poole - photo © Elysia Ehrhart

Race Two started following a slight drop in the breeze, swing to the South East and a course move, which change to the preferred side of the race track with those on the right seemingly in better breeze, but with those on the left getting the better line back into the mark on Port with periods of it feeling horrible for all. With Gary Langdown and Graeme getting the best of the beat with Tom once again being in and around the front, Graeme led round the first mark followed by Gary and Tom, the positions remained but the gaps varied, although nothing was secure until they had crossed the line.

Race Three, Ed was out the gate like a scalded cat picking the perfect line, to finally show Graeme a clean pair of heels although somewhere up the track Gary had a gear failure which saw the end of his day, so Graeme was followed by the ever present Tom, Stuart, James and Rob Smith. James made it through to third up the second beat, although a loud bang at the windward mark and a skying boom whilst bearing away for the run meant something was up. So, whilst temporary repairs were deployed Tom, Stuart and Rob made it through for the final lap to finish, Ed first, Graeme second and Tom third.

Contender traveller series at Poole - photo © Elysia Ehrhart

The Fourth and final race was the lightest of the day with the RO taking pity by reducing it to a Two lap race. Ed and Graeme were off once again with Tom and Stuart ready to pounce. Although the Graeme continued with his form and held on to win, followed by Ed in second and Tom in third.

Forecast was for a big day on Sunday, and so it was with the wind sitting in the low 20's and gusting to the high 20's, there was some prep work going on with sail changes, blocks replaced and vangs repaired before launch.

Race Five got away with Ed winning the pin end and putting the hammer down out to the left with most heading out that way but trying to pick a good line back. The usual suspects rounded in the first group with some heavy gusts hitting on the reaches, putting James over on the second reach to let Tom and Rob through, but a quick recovery minimised the loss. With Graeme and Ed moving away there was a decision to be made with Rob carrying on whilst Tom and James heading out left. Tom tacked back halfway up the track whilst James continued, before coming back and managing to get back to third and hold on to the finish, with Graeme first, Ed second and James third.

Contender traveller series at Poole - photo © Elysia Ehrhart

The final race of the weekend got off but with individual recalls, with Graeme and Tom going back, this let Ed round ahead with James, Gary and Stuart to also get away to lead around the first mark. Large gusts down the reach kept the pressure up one all of them with the Gybe mark looming large, James making it through before the next batch of wind hit, Gary and Stuart were not so lucky, with both of them gaining the brown pennants of shame. Graeme had made his way back to go past them into third. Ed carried a decent lead into the final beat and carried on out to the right whilst James and Graeme tacked out to the left.

The left ultimately paid off with James rounding ahead of Graeme and Ed following in third. With another gusty reach Graeme got caught out by a lull then gust to get blown over to let James get clear. Graeme managed to get the boat up and sailing just before Ed had a chance to pass him. Come the finish line, James crossed first, with Graeme holding off Ed for second and Ed in third.

Contender traveller series at Poole - photo © Elysia Ehrhart

Huge thank you to the RO, who didn't have an easy job on either day, the other competitors, the rescue boat crews, the club and the amazing supply of cake and coffee.

The next event is to be held at Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club on the 6th and 7th June. Hope to see you there.

Overall Results:

Contender traveller series at Poole - photo © Elysia Ehrhart