PYRA Poole Bay Summer Series Race 3
by Poole Yacht Racing Association 21 Jul 23:40 PDT
19 July 2026
PYRA Poole Bay Summer Series Race 3 © Poole Yacht Racing Association
The third of the Poole Bay Summer Series, run by Poole Yacht Racing Association (PYRA), was held in superb conditions on Sunday 19th July, with 15 yachts taking part. With the wind eventually settled in the south at 8-12 knots, sunshine and 25+ degrees C, Poole Bay provided fantastic racing conditions.
The PRO, Andrew Pearce, operating from his own motor vessel "Tarka", set excellent courses providing a long triangle, followed by a windward-leeward lap. For Classes 0 and 1, this comprised Stoneways, Magnum, Branksome, back to Stoneways via the finish line, then Branksome to the finish.
Classes 2 and 3 had a very similar, if slighter shorter course, with Magnum replaced with Jenkins Marine.
First away were classes 2 and 3, with L'Aventure (Pogo 8.5, Oliver Nuttall) executing a port tack flyer to lead to fleet off the line. They were subsequently passed before the top mark by Haven KJ Enigma (MG 346, Ian Braham), with Vento Novo (Dehler 29, Brendan Pell) rounding third. The next leg was a fairly tight spinnaker reach to the gybe mark and a slightly looser reach to the leeward mark close to the Sandbanks beach at Bransome. Having completed the windward/leeward lap, it was Haven KJ Enigma first on corrected time, with L'Adventure in second and Vento Novo in third.
In Class 3, it was Mojito (MG27) which took line honours, closely followed by QT, (Reve De Mer, Keith Lovett), just 9 seconds later. On corrected time, QT took the win, from Mojito in second and Whoosh (Dehler 29, Jim Stafford) in third.
Classes 0 and 1 started together, with Wild Haggis (Farr 30, Andy Woodruff) leading at the first mark. Several close battles within the fleet developed, including between Elevation (Dehler 36SQ, Mark Titterington and Hannah Lewis) and Addiction (First 40.7, Rob Gibbson). Slightly further back, Red Fox (A31, Trevor Annels), Vent Des Globes (Figuro 2, Rob Hescroff) and Esprit 3 (Elan 333, Oli Vardy).
In class 0, Wild Haggis took the win, from Addiction and Vent Des Globes. In class 1, Red Fox won, from Elevation and Esprit 3 in third.
A feature of the series is the inclusion of 2-handed racing within the combined 0 & 1 classes, and 2 & 3 classes. In 0 & 1, Elevation was first, to add to the second against the fully crewed boats. Second was Esprit 3. In 2 & 3, Vento Novo took the 2-handed prize, with Whoosh in second some 24 minutes further back on corrected time.
The prize-giving took place at Poole Yacht Club, with drinks and prizes generously provided by Sandbanks Brewery and Savills Estate Agents. The next Poole Bay Summer Series race will be on 9th August. This is an open series for yachts with VPRS ratings and is free to enter! Details on the PYRA website, www.pyra.org.uk.