West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Parkstone Yacht Club

West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Parkstone © Louisa Archer

Two phrases were frequently repeated over the course of the glorious weekend at Parkstone: 'it's so hot' and 'wacky races'.

On the Saturday, two warm-up races were run alongside club racing in the tidal part of the Harbour, whilst Sunday planned four races to count as the open meeting in the top triangle, aiming for more consistent racing - it was not to be.

Saturday was eventful - it took 3 general recalls for the small but high quality fleet to get under way! (Much to the dismay of the waiting club racers). The first beat of Race 1 set the tone for the weekend - half the fleet got stuck in a hole on the middle/right with the wind seemingly coming from every direction at once whilst those on the left smugly sailed around them. Ewan Wilson & Rory Gifford held off challenge from Paris Thomas & Marta Uncio Ribero and Warsash winners Rob Henderson & Rebecca Videlo to take the win.

Race 2 was more consistent but far from the usual use of the term - still, Ewan & Rory took the win again from Ben Whaley & Isobel Stewart followed closely by Charlie Whitaker & Lucy Gates (looking fast in their new boat). The fleet duly returned ashore to the bar, asking locals if this was normal, what the Parkstone tides meant and then waited to see what Sunday might bring.

Sunday was not more straightforward at all - in fact, it was the complete opposite. Highlight of the day was the beat turning into a run and then back to a beat again, with spinnakers raised and dropped in unison, and everyone carrying on as if nothing happened. The wind was varying from absolutely nothing to planing conditions, though usually in the 5-8knot zone.

After a short delay Race 1 got under way with snakes and ladders up the first beat. Rob & Rebecca managed to grasp the lead by the last windward mark from Sunday-comers & previous event winners Richard & Paru Edwards, but a freak gust (and accompanying classic 30-40 degree shift) mixed the order behind for Richard and Paru to plane around the outside to take the win, with Paris and Marta sneaking into the 3rd spot. In Race 2 Ben & Isobel lead round the windward closely followed by Ewan & Rory and Rob & Rebecca.

Some more planing mixed the order around with Ewan & Rory in the lead round the leeward. Up the next beat two converging winds meant Ben & Isobel and Rob & Rebecca ended up pointing the same direction (straight to the windward mark) on opposite tacks and opposite sides of the beat. Ewan & Rory had the stress of covering both but managed it well to hold on to take the win from Rob & Rebecca (team consistent as we shall see).

West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Parkstone - photo © Louisa Archer

By this time, it was getting later in the day but the race team were admirably determined to get all 4 races in despite the nightmare conditions. The fleet once again played snakes and ladders up the first beat of the 3rd race, but a right shift (of no small magnitude) at the top put Ben & Isobel and Rob & Rebecca in a strong position to fight it out for the win after extending down the run (that was more a reach at points) from the pack. Ben & Isobel ended up closing out the win from Rob & Rebecca with Ewan & Rory leading the remaining fleet.

This set up an exciting finale with 4 boat vying for the event win going into the last race with a discard to come - including that discard, Rob & Rebecca were on 4 points, Ben & Isobel on 4 points, Ewan & Rory on 4 points and Richard & Paru on 6 points. It was all to play for. Another game of snakes and ladders up the first beat ended with Ben Swyer & Eve Rogers leading at the first windward with Ben & Isobel close behind and Ewan & Rory and Rob & Rebecca chasing not far away, but Richard and Paru found themselves deep in the pack.

A large pressure change from the right of the downwind flipped everything on its head again (seems to be a common theme here). My recollection is a bit murky from this point on (this is also when beats started turning into runs), but I believe Charlie & Lucy lead round the leeward and after some more wind shenanigans, Richard and Paru incredibly emerged to win the race from Charlie & Lucy with Rob & Rebecca close behind.

Overall in the event, this meant that Rob & Rebecca deservedly took the win for an incredible show of consistency in very tough (an understatement) conditions. Richard & Paru finished a point behind in 2nd with Ben & Isobel another point behind in 3rd. A fitting finale to a close weekend that will be unlikely to be forgotten by those participants.

Huge thanks to Parkstone's fab race, safety and shore teams for working tirelessly to ensure all races were completed with quick turnarounds. Thanks must also go to the tour sponsors: West Country boat repairs and Sailing Chandlery for their constant support of the tours and providing some excellent prizes.

Next stop for most boats will be the Nationals at Torbay, then the SWUT continues with Exe Sailing Club in September!

West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Parkstone - photo © Louisa Archer

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