J/24 Autumn Cup at Parkstone Yacht Club

5th/6th October

A good breeze and sun secured another superb event run by Parkstone Yacht Club for the J24 fleet. On the Saturday of racing the PRO John Lacey set an ambitious target, for four races, which were completed with ease. With windward/leeward courses, the twenty five-boat fleet set off. The courses planned to lasted a maximum of an hour gave little time to make up for any mistakes. Ron Lee in ‘Fuzzy Duck’ from Plymouth achieved the first win of the event followed by David Ellis in ‘Hitchhiker’ PYC and Robert Libby ‘Jooler’ from Plymouth.

The second race of the day, ‘Hitchhiker’ moved up to first place; with ‘Chaotic’ helmed by Nick Phillips PYC and his all youth team close behind. Ado Jardine R.Lym YC in Stouche, standing in for Stuart, absent with a slipped disc, was hot on the youngsters’ heels securing third position. The Westerly competition was just as exciting with results in the top ten for Nick Hornby PYC in ‘Hi Jack’ another of the Class youth helms and Andy Guant from Weymouth in ‘Jac’; and then in his first J event another young helm, Ed Wilton PYC in Jiffy finishing eleventh.

By the third race, the fleet obviously had their adrenaline going with two general recalls and nine boats black-flagged!, including ‘Stouche’ and ‘Jooler’. Rory Barnes in ‘Fruit cakes’, after a very good first beat, led the fleet to win the race, followed by ‘Hitch Hiker’ and ‘Fuzzy Duck’ Keeping to his programme the PRO set the fourth race off at the end of the day. The conditions were now a lot lighter, resulting in ‘Stouche’ gaining her first bullet of the regatta and ‘Hitchhikers’ worst result a very sound third!, with ‘Fruitcakes’ in 2nd place.

After a great days sailing, the Class was of course in high spirits for the Annual Dinner and Prize Giving with a band laid on by Parkstone Yacht Club and the local J Fleet. Many thanks go out to all involved, particularly the Club’s catering, bar, office and Marina staff, not forgetting Jenny Pipe from the local fleet who coordinated the whole event.

Sunday morning brought similar bright conditions for the now bleary eyed fleet. Perhaps youthfulness was an asset, with Nick Phillips on ‘Chaotic’ achieving first place in race five, ‘Stouche’ 2nd and ‘Hitchhiker’ 3rd, with the Pipe/Jarratt team in ‘Jeepers’ playing the consistency game with their third ninth position, moving them further up the fleet. By race 6, David Ellis and his team in ‘Hitchhiker’ had already won the event, having not dropped outside the top three. This race was won by Ian Braham PYC in ‘Flyer’ a relatively new member of the fleet with Hitchhiker 2nd and the Class Chairman, Phil Owen PYC a very popular 3rd in ‘Zaphod’ The fight for second was close between the youth team in ‘Chaotic’ in 5th and the J24 veterans on ‘Stouche’ 8th. Resulting in Nick Phillips just managing to pip Ado Jardine by one point overall with eighteen points after discard. Rory Barnes on ‘Fruitcakes’ finished fourth. The Westerly cup was one by another under twenty-five, Nick Hornby on ‘Hijack’.

All in all a very enjoyable event with much thanks going out to Parkstone YC and John Lacey the PRO for another fantastic weekend; and of course thanks to all of the J24 owners who competed making the racing as exciting as always, including boats from as far afield as Bridlington in Yorkshire.

Overall Results: (6 races, 1 discard)