Parkstone YC Golden Dolphin & South West Series

20 - 21 October 2012 - Parkstone YC

Event Details

20th & 21st October 2012

Registration from 0900

Briefing at 1100

First warning on Saturday 1300 & Sunday 1100

Entry (including Saturday evening competitors dinners) £40 per boat

Notice of Race  2012

Race Report & Results

Final Golden Dolphin Event of the Year brings some close racing

Unfortunately a poor forecast and an event clash brought a small but competitive fleet of 13 Fireballs to Parketone for the final event on the Golden Dolphin circuit. The competitors arrived to a glassy Poole Harbour and a forecast that didn't look too promising for the rest of the day. Thankfully forecasts can be wrong and after a short postponement, the wind filled in enough for racing to be held in the harbour.

In Race 1, Sam Mettam & Richard Anderton led to the windward mark followed by Anthony & James Wilcocks, however Matt Burge & Viv Townend used their local knowledge by carrying on on starboard on the deep second reach, maintaining pressure and around the outside of the 2 leaders. Despite the best efforts of the rest of the fleet, they couldn't be chased down and took their first bullet of the weekend.

The pressure had increased slightly in Race 2 allowing for occasional trapezing (or flat wiring for the lightweight Wilcocks brothers!). The Wilcocks led to the windward mark followed by Burge/Townend. On the first run, the right hand side paid again, with Jonathan Carter & Gareth Wilkinson coming through to take the lead from the Wilcocks brothers. By the end of the race, these 2 teams were a long way ahead of the rest of the fleet with team Wilcocks taking the bullet to be overnight leaders.

The fleet then retired ashore for a well-appreciated curry before moving on to sample the delights of Poole.

An early launch was required on Sunday for the long sail out into the bay. With a 10 knots breeze already blowing and a forecast for more, the day promised to be a but more exciting.

In Race 3, Burge/Townend led to the windward mark followed closely by Mettam/Anderton, who completed the first of overtaking manoeuvres by these 2 boats as the lead changed hands 7 times on the reaches of the first triangle. Mettam/Anderton lead to the 2nd windward mark only to be overtaken at the bottom of the run, however they managed to regain the lead and then extend a little to take the win. Christine & Graham Slater sailed an excellent race to finish 4th, but the Wilcocks boys looked like they were going to struggle to hold onto their overnight lead in the chop and increasing breeze.

In Race 4, Tim Rush and Dan Scheiber led to the first mark followed by Burge/Townend, with the latter taking the lead on the first reach. These 2 boats then extended away from the rest of the fleet, but Rush/Scheiber were unable to get back through, giving Burge/Townend their second bullet of the weekend. Hannah Showell & Rob Daniels showed some fantastic pace during the race, sailing themselves as high as 3rd before getting stuck on the wrong side of the beat to finish 8th.

Race 5 turned out to be another tight battle between Burge/Townend and Mettam/Anderton with the lead changing several times and the race ending with a very close split tack finish which gave Burge/Townend the bullet and enough to take the open meeting win.

A very tired and slightly depleted fleet started the final race with Mettam & Anderton leading to the windward mark and extending their lead from Rush/Scheiber.

Overall, Burge/Townend won from Mettam/Anderton, but the racing was fantastic throughout the fleet. The boats all finished within a couple of minutes of each other and one mistake could see a boat go from a top 4 to last... Perhaps the best performance of the weekend was the Slaters who won the silver fleet, the ladies' prize and the under 21 prize (although of course father Graham fits in neither of these 2 categories!) - definitely a team to watch for next year.

With the build up to the 2015 Worlds in the UK, next year looks like the class will grow yet again with lots of rumours of new teams getting together.

Overall Results:

Club Info

Parkstone Yacht Club is situated in a beautiful area of Southern England within Poole Harbour. A Yacht Club and Marina, with an active sailing programme with over 2500 members, we enjoy both sea sailing in Poole Bay and the extensive racing areas within Poole harbour. Facilities include our recently refurbished large changing rooms and excellent restaurant & bar facilities. The office staff will be pleased to offer more information about the club. Parkstone Fireball Fleet webpage

Directions

From the West: Upton Byepass take the A350 to Holes Bay Road. Turn Left over Towngate Bridge taking the 2nd exit off the roundabout up the Parkstone Road.Follow the signs for SANDBANKS. Once under the old Railway Arch take the 7th Turning on the right into ELMS AVENUE, follow road round to the right at the end and the club entrance is on the next corner. From London/the East: Ringwood A31.Follow signs for Poole. A348 Ferndown Longham/Bear Cross Roundabout 2nd exit onto Dual carrageway to Mount Batten Arms pub,2nd exit Follow Poole signs until at the Traffic lights at SHAH OF PERSIA pub. Turn left and follow signs for SANDBANKS. Under old Railway Arch, take 7th turning on the right into ELMS AVENUE, follow road round to the left and the club entrance is on the next corner.

Address

Parkstone YC                                

Pearce Avenue

Parkstone                              

Poole                               

Dorset                               

United Kingdom                                 

BH14 8EH 

Contact

Jeremy Hurst                

01202 743610       

Current Weather Conditions

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