Poole Regatta & Sonata Southern Area Champs, were held over the jubilee weekend and what a weekend it was. We first arrived at Poole YC on the Friday mid morning to find our boat sitting in wait for us in the water so we stuck the mast up and tuned BFG up. That evening we went for sail tune up and were joined Joe Cross and crew (local Sonaterers)
There were only five Sonatas entered and we were the only visitors. (Jubilee weekend effect)? Competitors were Frankie the Rhino, Selene, Presto, Spellbound and us BFG. Three of the boat are all top five in previous National champs and Spellbound was helmed by Alice Courage a very quick sailor, so we had our work cut out as we found out on the first day!
We shared out line with the J24s who were having their Nationals They had in excess of 30 boat which gave us a huge line between 5 of us. The course was windward leeward with an spreader at the top and a gate at the leeward mark. It was great to see Frankie, Selene and Presto going around the marks on often three abreast (yes we was not that far behind). The wind was light to medium with short lumpy waves whitch if you got wrong you stopped dead, proving to be a hard but a quick learning curve.
That night was hog roast and and cabaret at Parksone YC an entertaining evening with an different act from the band you normal get.
2nd day was windy with it being very top of a number one. As the first race started the fleet was split with have number 1 to 2 but it was pretty even up the beat again sitting in 4th watching the top guys fight it out. The end of the day we ended up with two 3rd (ok, other boats with gear failure but!! 3rd is a 3rd.)
That evening the Regatta prize giving was at Poole YC and with an battle of the bands to get the evening started. A good night with us going into town with a few of the cadets of the club who made us very welcome.
The third and final day was light to medium but shifty by 30 to 40 degress and dead flat. This was our best day with us getting in “groove”. It was nice to see all the front of the boats for once in both races and we got a 2 and missed a 1 by inches in the last race.
Over all a great weekend. Everyone helped us out and made us feel very welcome. I need bit more practice I think!
Max Bentley and crew.
Results:
1 Frankie the Rhino – Owain Peters
2 Selene – Kevin Cross
3 Presto – Joe Cross
4 BFG – Max Bentley
5 Spellbound – Alice Courage
Chris Bentley (BFG)