Day 5

THE WIND RETURNS

It might be in the realms of fantasy to imagine that what one writes in the report of one day’s racing in a regatta could conceivably have a bearing on what the weather gods dish up the next day. Nonetheless, on the Thursday of Poole Week it was almost as though Zephyrus – god of the west wind – had read our report on Wednesday’s racing and decided he needed to assert himself. 

Since most forecasts had predicted a gentle westerly on Thursday, more than a few people were surprised to find a good 12-15 knots already setting the rigging humming when they arrived at Parkstone Yacht Club. By launch time, it had peaked at 17 gusting 21, and it stayed at an average of around 14 gusting 18 throughout the racing – initially from around 230 degrees before veering to nearly 260 by 4pm and then clocking back towards its original direction. What that meant in practice is that it was a stonking afternoon for sailing, especially as the sun shone too. 

After managing only one race on Wednesday, the top triangle fleets were keen to have two good ones to keep the series on track. And two good ones they had, though the ILCA 6s were sufficiently keen on the start line for the U flag to be flown. In the first race, several boats fell foul of it and scored UFD, contributing to a slight re-shuffle of the leaders at the end of the day’s racing. Overnight leader Rob Jackson maintains his lead, but a pair of 2nds moves Roberta Hartley up to 2nd overall, equal on points with Roger O’Gorman.

The finish of the day was when Rob (senior) and Will (junior) Jackson, both sporting Cayman Island sail numbers, crossed the line with barely half a boat-length between them. Unfortunately for Jackson junior, it didn’t actually matter who was in front because he had been one of the victims of the U flag together with O’Gorman, who had finished a little way ahead. That gave the race win to Rob Jackson to help his overall lead.

In the ILCA 7s (full-rig Lasers), Alan Davis maintains his lead, scoring a win and a discarded 3rd. Matt Reid dominated the first two days with three 1sts and a 5th but, as those were the only days he was able to sail, he won’t be featuring in the overall results. 

The 24-strong Flying Fifteen fleet is led again by Bob Alexander and Huw Willetts after their day’s 2, 1. Richard Whitworth and Trefor Jones lie 5 points adrift in 2nd, while Geof Gibbons and David Moy stay in 3rd.

Further east, among the Parkstone Platform fleets, it’s notable that the established pecking order is being upset by several names that have been threatening to upset it for a year or two. In the Dolphins, Richard Whing and Gail Davies followed their 2nd places on Monday and Tuesday with wins on Wednesday and Thursday to take the overall lead, tied on points with Nigel and Gareth Yeoman. And the Darts have a new leader in Tom Kelly, crewed by Rosemary Crinion, thanks to their brace of wins on Thursday. Another nearly-a-winner on occasions, Peter Loretto, has taken a firm grip on the RS200 fleet in his new boat. With Lily Tointon at the sharp end, he has won the last five races and now leads by seven points.

Winners of the fast handicap fleet many a time, Steve and Ally Tyler in their Merlin Rocket are in a familiar position at the top of the table but being pushed hard by Steve Thompson in his GP14.

In the XODs, John Tremlett seems unstoppable. While others have good results interspersed with not-so-good ones, Tremlett, crewed by Fraser Graham and Tim Copsey, has been extraordinarily consistent. Currently discarding a 2nd and a 6th, he now leads the fleet by 7 points.

So that just leaves Friday for everything to be resolved. If the forecasts are to be believed, it looks as though Zephyrus (yes, we’re back to the wind gods) might have done a deal with Eurus to pave the way for a moderate south-easterly by the time racing is due to start. If the sun shines too, that would be good way to round off an excellent week of racing in Poole Harbour.