Poole Yacht Racing Association Dorset Coast Racing

With a Poole Yacht Racing Association Race from Poole to Lymington cancelled on Saturday, with 35 knots plus forecast, Pooles PYRA fleet made their way into the Bay for a replacement two races on Sunday 9th June.

Divided into four fleets, competitors were met with mirror like condition and a complete reverse of the previous day.

With a challenging coastal course in mind, race officers Dave and Di Broadbent wisely hoisted the AP.

With only a short wait however a consistent SW 7 – 10 knots appeared, coupled with sunshine to get boats under way.

A combined start for class three and four and windward leg to MS Amlin race mark, saw two MGC27s Athene and Mojito jockeying with the Ecume de Mer QT in class three. Athene was to round first before a long run across Poole Bay to Southbourne. The smaller QT was able to close the door on Mojito rounding second. With these two boats continuing their dual but Athene had stretched far enough ahead to win the first race, QT holding Mojito to secure second followed in by the beautiful 1946 C&N 30 Ampere.

Class 4 was dominated by the Elizabethan 29 Skykomish followed home by the Gibsea 242 Seashell.

The larger classes One and Two having followed the same windward leg raced on to Hengitsbury Head with the Elan 410 Esprit leading the way in Class One and Contention 33 Matchmaker in Class Two.

PYRA Dorset Coast Racing – photo © Matchmaker II

For the long upwind haul back to the Pooles Swash channel, it was again Esprit in front in Class One followed by the Pogo 2 Shed of Arjuna racing two handed, Poole Sailing Addiction a Beneteau First 40.7 picking up the third slot.

Class Two saw a reverse of results in the second race with Elan 333 Pluto taking the win over the Contention Matchmaker.

Likewise QT able to show their upwind boat speed was able to stay close enough to Athene to win. Mojito again third and Ampere followed by the events sponsors from Marqco Marquees racing the MG Spring 25 Genesis.

A repeat of the earlier race in Class Four saw Skykomish wining over Seashell.

Excellent racing in superb conditions all under the watchful eye the race officer Dave Broadbent in his trimaran Smithy ended with a prize giving and renowned PYRA rendezvous on the sun drenched veranda of Parkstone Yacht Club, thanks to both John Short from Sponsors; Marqco and event organiser Peter Biggs.

The results combine with earlier races in the PYRA series to complete the popular Racing Associations passages series A, the first of two throughout the year:

Class 1 – Passages Series A – Overall Results:

PYRA Dorset Coast Racing – photo © Keith Lovett

Class 2 – Passages Series A – Overall Results:

PYRA Dorset Coast Racing – photo © Keith Lovett

Class 3 – Passages Series A – Overall Results:

PYRA Dorset Coast Racing – photo © Keith Lovett

Class 4 – Passages Series A – Overall Results:

by Keith Lovett