Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Zhik Poole Week - Day 4

by David Harding 29 Aug 2018 22:51 PDT 26-31 August 2018

It was all action in Poole Harbour as over 200 sailors took to the water for the third day of racing in Zhik Poole Week.

The promised north-westerly breeze was right on cue, typically ranging between 8 and 15 knots and behaving as north-westerlies in Poole Harbour usually do, flicking left and right in seemingly random fashion. Bob Jennings, PRO on Parkstone Yacht Club's starting platform, recorded directions from 270 degrees to 020 degrees. Further up the harbour in the Top Triangle, the race team on the committee boat also had their work cut out, especially when it came to managing over-eager starters: the Flying Fifteens were the only fleet not to have any general recalls.

It wasn't just the shifts that kept the teams on their toes. As heavy clouds passed over the harbour, the strength was up and down too. Crews would find themselves in light-airs mode one minute, then fully powered up and hiking the next – or, in the case of the Darts, out on the wire. The testing conditions clearly suited Geoff and Liz Sherwood, whose 1st and 3rd in the Darts' two races moved them to within 2 points of the overall leaders, Peter Stacey and Suzie Clayton. Proving that you don't have to spend lots of money or be a seasoned Dart sailor to win, Dave and Jan Pointer sailed the second-oldest boat in the fleet to victory in race 2. The Pointers are more often seen in their RS200, but a year or so ago found themselves being talked into buying a Dart. It now gets dragged out of the garage and dusted off for its annual outing in Poole Week.

The Cornish Shrimpers were another fleet to see a new winner, David Lack in Crabby Gaffer finishing ahead of Rod McBrien in the day's race to narrow the overall gap to just one point.

Continuing the theme of new Wednesday winners were the RS200s. It was a day for father-and-daughter teams to come to the fore, with Stewart and Jade Bowen taking the first race and Richard and Eliana Edwards the second, though Georgie Vickers – with various different crews – maintains the overall lead. She set the pace from Monday when sailing with Edd Whitehead, who had just finished 2nd in the nationals in Weymouth and claims to be an example of a helm who makes a terrible crew.

As always in Poole Week, the XODs are pushing each other all the way. Willie McNeill leads the fleet but is tied on points with Nick Cornish, who has been in the class for many years and has found some extra pace this week at the helm of Alvine X.

Although no one is expecting much wind for the last two days, 200 sailors will be out in Poole Harbour for fun, for points or, in most cases, for both.

Related Articles

49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 4
Bergmann with Wille keep their nerve to move into FX lead Olympic veterans in the 49erFX Marla Bergmann with Hanna Wille (GER) kept their nerve and used their speed to move into the lead, scoring the fewest points on day 4. Posted on 6 Jun
Windies Multihull Trophy winners announced
Thirty multihulls competed across eighteen events from Barbados to the British Virgin Islands. With the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Caribbean Sailing Association's Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy results are in! Posted on 6 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 4
Hutchinson adding the missing element as American Magic Quantum Racing close in on title Now holding a 13-points lead after today's two races contested at the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, American Magic Quantum Racing crew are on the cusp of completing their first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta win since victory in Barcelona in September 2022. Posted on 6 Jun
Emirates GBR looking to bounce back
At the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said the team was "looking to bounce back" at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend, following a "tough time" at the back-to-back US events in LA and San Francisco in March. Posted on 6 Jun
BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival 2026 dates
The event has moved forward a week from previously published dates For 2026, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival has moved the event forward a week from previously published dates to March 23-29. Posted on 6 Jun
Rooster Sailing's 2025 Collection Just Dropped
From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers, the 2025 collection has been developed with real sailors, for real conditions. Posted on 6 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage. Posted on 6 Jun
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race. Posted on 5 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools. Posted on 5 Jun
Zhik 2024 December