Albacore National Championship at Parkstone Yacht Club

Albacore Nationals at Parkstone © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.com

Albacore Nationals at Parkstone © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.com

'Albacore Bertha Blast'

Thirty-six Albacores gathered at Poole for the National Championships at Parkstone YC over the long weekend of 8, 9 & 10th August. With the remnants of hurricane Bertha forecast for the last day the fleet and PRO Bruce Gridley were keen to get the races in early which turned out to be the right decision with gusts of 35 knots in the boat park on Sunday preventing any racing.

On Friday after a morning postponement to allow a light breeze to fill in two races were sailed in the bay after a tide assisted exit through the harbour and past the chain ferry. In Race 1 Mike Hartley and Octavia Owen in 818 'Castor and Pollox' a restored old wooden boat saved literally from the bonfire put the plastic boats in the limelight by taking an early lead and extending throughout the race to take the win ahead of husband and wife team John & Janet Woffinden 8126 'Who ate all the pies' with Nev Herbert and Mark Fowler 8192 'Grand Turino' in third just ahead of Barney Harris and Mike Banner in 8133 'Avatar'. Harris, the current International Champion, had flown in especially for the event from Washington DC!

In Race 2 the wind held steady and enabled the plastic boats to recover with another husband and wife team Judy & Paul Armstrong 8209 'Slightly Ratty' taking the bullet followed by Harris and Banner with local boys Edd and James Whitehead third in 1781 'Blue Streak' another wooden boat just ahead of Herbert and Fowler. With beer and food calling, plus a favourable flood tide, the fleet took the assisted ride back into the harbour.

On Saturday there were no problems with wind and as the fleet rigged a steady F5 was recorded in the bay. Three races to beat Bertha were agreed and Race 3 saw a fast and furious triangular course with very wet reaches plenty of smiles and a few retirements plus one boat that remained turtled on the race course. The Armstrong's took their second bullet ahead of Herbert and Fowler with Harris and Banner third and Hartley and Owen smoking into forth

Race 4 quickly followed and ended just as quick when after one lap and a big shift the PRO shortened although with a snagged flag and some confusion it took a while for the leading boats who had carried on racing to be overhauled by the safety ribs with the news. When the spray had settled it was Harris and Banner taking the win from Herbert and Fowler followed by the Armstrong's with Crispin Read-Wilson and Peter Morton 6849 'Ruined Dude' forth.

Race 5, which turned out to be the final race of the Championships, started in the strongest wind with Herbert and Fowler chased by Harris and Banner taking a big lead after the first beat where it quickly became a two boat race. On the last reach which turned into more of a run Harris and Banner took the better pressure on the left to just overtake Herbert and Fowler in the final surf to the line, taking the bullet and with it the overall championship. Read-Wilson and Morton continued their late surge to claim third. The now weary fleet had a bumpy ride back in for the AGM and a well-earned curry supper (plus a few beers!)

With racing wisely canned early on Sunday the prize giving was brought forward to allow the glittering array of silverware to be dished out by local long-time Albacore sailors Peter and Judy Fontes with support from Parkstone Commodore Dick Linford. The prizes included vouchers for the yacht club chandlery, wine and beer for the silver fleet plus a Noble Marine Insurance drink bottle for everyone. Overall winner Barney Harris spoke about how much he enjoyed racing in the UK despite having to fly 3,000 miles to get here whilst his crew Mike Banner thanked fellow competitors and the Parkstone YC team for a great event.

Special Awards included:

• Under 21 Mathew Metcalfe-Smith and Lewis Brailsford 8158 'It wasn't me'
• Silver fleet Winner: Tim Coleman and Jo Sankey 6812 'Acushia'
• First Scottish boat: Paul Sleeman and Finlay Clark 1924 'Bumbletoo'
• Team Trophy: Tewkesbury Cruising & SC

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Albacore nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here