Easter Regatta at Parkstone Yacht Club
by Christina Moncur 12 Apr 06:59 PDT
8-10 April 2023
Easter Regatta at Parkstone © David Law
67 boats entered the Easter Series at Parkstone Yacht Club across all classes with Flying Fifteens, ILCAs, Merlin Rockets, Dart 18s, RS200s, RS400s and RS Fevas entered.
Lightish East South Easterly airs greeted the competitors as they all arrived on Saturday morning with anticipation high for the first sail of the series. By the first start at 11am there was a steady south easterly breeze. All fleets were set windward-leeward courses for the first race. With the tide flooding the fleets had the choice of which side of the harbour to go up the first beat, especially with the chance of the eddy running near the Brownsea shore.
For the second race Race Officer David Law set a slightly different course for the largest two fleets, the Flying Fifteens and ILCAs, giving them a zig-zag downwind course. With the tide turned to the Ebb the main channel was the main choice for heading towards the harbour entrance.
At the end of the first day of racing there were plenty of smiles in the clubhouse and it was great to see the bar buzzing with after sailing chat.
Sunday dawned with a more substantial ESE/SE winds and similar courses were set for all fleets with longer legs. Once again with a flood tide, fleets had the choice of whether to head towards the Brownsea shore or head up the shallows on the mainland side of the harbour.
All fleets were given more of a harbour tour for the second race.
The Flying Fifteen fleet had an eventful second day with three crews joining the 'leaving the boat without permission' club and several boats managed to sail over their spinnakers in the second race.
The Flying Fifteens were only scheduled to do two days, with no discards over the four races, and had their prize-giving in the bar after racing. Richard Whitworth and Trefor Jones on 3914 won the weekend with three firsts, Patrick Keats and Ali Baxter on 3821 were second one point from Pete and Jo Allam on 3793 in third.
Unfortunately racing was cancelled on Monday morning as the conditions were as forecast and gusts of 30 knots were seen.
The ILCA 4s was won by 144622 - Nicholas McNab from Draycote Water Sailing Club.
The Merlin Rockets was won by 3791 -Jon Gorringe.
The Dart 18s was won by 7827 - Kenneth Cheney and Katrina Kennady.
In the ILCA 6s 216654 Roberta Hartley won, 90 Emma Aish-Lyons was second and 40 Gayle Moore was third.
In the ILCA 7s 220433 Alan Davis won, 210410 Chris Whalley was second and 195115 Simon Crowther was third.
In the RS200s 1700 Lorna Glen won, 861 Duncan Glen was second and 1741 Owain Hughes and Mimi Gorringe was third.
In the RS400 fleet 1542 Andy Hadfield won.
On Saturday two Youth RS Fevas raced and 8647 Roman and Rafael Archer won on countback with 904 Lucy Purrier winning the first race.
A great weekend racing.
Full results: www.parkstoneyachtclub.com/Afloat/Major_Events/Easter_Series