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Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2024 – Day 5
25-30 August 2024
It might seem fantastical to think that one day’s report on racing could influence the whims of the weather gods, but on Thursday of Poole Week, it felt as if Zephyrus, the god of the west wind, responded directly to our previous day’s insights.
Contrary to forecasts predicting a gentle westerly, participants were greeted with a strong 12-15 knots when they arrived at Parkstone Yacht Club. By launch time, the wind peaked at 17 knots, gusting to 21, and averaged around 14, gusting 18, throughout the racing. Initially coming from about 230 degrees, the wind later veered to nearly 260 degrees by 4 PM before returning to its original direction. This created an exhilarating sailing experience, especially under clear skies.
After only managing one race on Wednesday, the top triangle fleets were eager to complete two races to keep the series competitive. The ILCA 6s were particularly eager, leading to the displaying of the U flag at the start line, which caught several boats off guard, resulting in UFD penalties. By the end of the day’s races, overnight leader Rob Jackson maintained his lead, but Roberta Hartley’s two second-place finishes brought her up to a tie for second overall with Roger O’Gorman on points.
The day concluded with an exciting finish as Rob (senior) and Will (junior) Jackson, both with Cayman Island sail numbers, crossed the finish line within nearly half a boat-length of each other. Unfortunately for Jackson junior, the result was moot due to a U flag infraction alongside O’Gorman, enabling Rob Jackson to secure another race win and strengthen his overall lead.
In the ILCA 7s (full-rig Lasers), Alan Davis retained his lead, clinching a win and discarding a third place. Matt Reid, who had dominated earlier in the week with three first-place finishes and a fifth, unfortunately, was unable to compete further, impacting his standing in the overall results.
The Flying Fifteen fleet saw Bob Alexander and Huw Willetts regain the lead after finishing second and first in their races. Richard Whitworth and Trefor Jones trailed them by five points in second place, while Geof Gibbons and David Moy held onto third.
Among the Parkstone Platform fleets, a shift in the established leaderboard was noticeable. In the Dolphins, Richard Whing and Gail Davies improved their standing with wins on Wednesday and Thursday, tying for the overall lead with Nigel and Gareth Yeoman. The Darts have a new frontrunner in Tom Kelly, who, alongside Rosemary Crinion, achieved back-to-back wins. Additionally, Peter Loretto, racing in the RS200 fleet, has secured five consecutive race victories, leading the group by seven points.
Steve and Ally Tyler continue their strong performance in the fast handicap fleet, holding onto their familiar top position but facing stiff competition from Steve Thompson in his GP14.
In the XODs, John Tremlett has showcased remarkable consistency. While other competitors have mixed results, Tremlett, with crew members Fraser Graham and Tim Copsey, has consistently performed well, currently discarding a second and a sixth place, leading the fleet by seven points.
As Friday approaches, forecasts suggest the possibility of a moderate south-easterly breeze, potentially aided by Eurus, providing an ideal conclusion to the week of racing at Poole Harbour.
Provisional results can be found on www.pooleweek.org.
For photos, visit www.SailingScenes.com.
Source
Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.
