Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2024 - Day 1

by David Harding 26 Aug 2024 04:59 UTC 25-30 August 2024
Boat preparation on Bournemouth Digital Poole Week 2024 Day 1 © David Harding / www.sailingscenes.com

A windy welcome to the week

Has anyone noticed that 2024 has been rather breezy? Last year, some regattas and championships were struggling with lack of wind. That hasn't been a problem on the whole this year. Just think back to significant markers in the racing calendar such as the Round the Island Race and the Fastnet. On a local level, evening cruiser-racing from the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Poole was blown off last Thursday for the third week in succession. No one can remember the last time that happened.

Then came the Saturday before the first day of Poole Week. The heavens opened and the rain was biblical. Many people would have been thinking 'thank goodness Poole Week starts tomorrow and not today!' But guess what? When 'tomorrow' arrived, although it wasn't raining, it was blowing. Parkstone Yacht Club's race platform was registering gusts of 23 knots by 10am. Racing in Poole Week is in the afternoons, with the first starts at 14:00. By 12:30 the gusts were nudging 30 knots and the decision was taken to call the racing off. Of course, some people would have been happy to go. A good number of ILCAs, XODs, Darts and Flying Fifteens had been looking forward to a blast around the harbour, but even some of them might have acknowledged that the race officers had made the right call when gusts over 32 knots were recorded at 3pm.

So, instead of getting wet, competitors busied themselves with boat preparation, having a drink and a chat in the clubhouse or catching up with what was happening in the Louis Vuitton in Barcelona. And while the Poole Week racing didn't happen, the hospitality provided by the event's sponsors and supporters made sure that it was worthwhile either relaxing at the club or, at the very least, returning later. A different purveyor of beverages is providing free drinks every day for competitors after racing (or after the racing would have been), with Saturday's tokens giving entitlement to a pint of Piddle from Dorset's Piddle Brewery. Or, if you preferred, a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Poole Week also has daily sponsors as well as the title sponsor, Bournemouth Digital. On Saturday, Dorset Private GP helped to make sure that an evening curry was on offer to put some fire in the belly of those eager to make up for lost time on the water. At the daily 18:30 prize draw, in which any competitor has a chance of winning a goody bag from Rooster, a special extra prize was presented by Dorset Private GP in the form of a comprehensive private medical worth £600.

The breeze on Monday still looks to be fresh, but then lighter for the rest of the week. The helms and crews of over 150 boats are keen for battle on the water to commence.

Provisional results on www.pooleweek.org

Photos on www.SailingScenes.com

Related Articles

Fishing: Patterning brown bass
Post-spawn through summer smallies Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. tournament pro, Alex Redwine, talks fishing the transition period Posted on 26 Jun
2025 Bahamas Fly-fishing Tournament Series
Anglers to compete across some of The Bahamas' top bonefishing spots The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation announced the launch of Bonefishing Tournament Series that will showcase diverse pristine flats across four islands - Grand Bahama, Andros, Eleuthera and the championship round will be held in Exuma Posted on 20 Jun
Mote leads seagrass restoration initiative
Florida legislature establishes the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative Seagrasses play a crucial role in the health and resilience of Florida's coastal ecosystems. They provide nursery habitats for keystone species and stabilize shorelines and sediments. Posted on 20 Jun
Maritimo M50 Flybridge & S60 Sedan Video
We speak to Maritimo's Neil McCabe & Phil Candler We talked to Neil McCabe, Maritimo's Design Office Manager, and Phil Candler, Maritimo's General Manager Operations, to find out more about the M50 Flybridge and S60 Sedan during the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 17 Jun
“I'm living my dad's dream”
Carl made sure to provide young Kyle the chance to be a seasoned pond hopper Carl Cortiana is about to turn 70, but he still remembers the days four decades ago when he'd cast a practice plug across the living room floor and his toddler son, Kyle, now a highly accomplished Vexus pro on the MLF Toyota Series. Posted on 14 Jun
Stories From The Salt - Ep.6
Insights from PENN's top anglers Whether you're a passionate saltwater angler who eagerly dedicates every spare moment to being out on the water, or you simply enjoy watching the techniques and experiences of others, we invite you to anchor up and learn some valuable insights Posted on 14 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
Scania, Viking showcase renewable diesel
Mack Attack shows outstanding efficiency without compromise in performance of Scania V8 Engines Scania, one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines, announced today the successful demonstration of the performance and viability of renewable marine diesel fuel in a Viking 48 Convertible powered by twin Scania 1,150 HP DI16-liter V8 engines. Posted on 10 Jun
Sportfishing industry applauds decision by NOAA
Elimination of proposed South Atlantic bottomfishing closure The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries withdrew the proposed bottomfishing closure from Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic. Posted on 10 Jun
Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted on 7 Jun
Maritimo M75Palm Beach Motor Yachts