I EXPECT MANY OF YOU, might be asking yourself the question, (as did my namesake), “Where are the songs of spring?”, as we enter into the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’. Yes, indeed autumn has begun and summer over, so let’s dwell a little on what has passed.

NATIONAL NUDE DAY was in July, and, as Michael Caine might have observed, I bet not a lot of people know that. But one who most certainly does is Courtenay, and I’m sure he’ll be willing to tell you his story, especially if you offer to buy him a pint. I am sworn to secrecy but I can say that I used to be fond of roller skating in my youth but I can no longer look back on those days without a startling image entering my head. What’s this got to do with sailing? Well, this subject arose in great après sailing conversation on our last Monday evening. The formal series had finished the previous week, and, in an attempt to defeat the onset of early autumnal twilight, we started just after 5pm, running a series of six, fun races with sailors joining in when they could. We were blessed with perfect sailing conditions so somewhere in the region of twenty sailors joined in the fun. How many were laughing, when Chris Guy was moving more quickly than them as he sailied 3/4s of the run backwards, is a moot point! There were some liquid prizes on offer for race winners and other outstanding performers, e.g. Chris, already mentioned, and Becky Walters, for the most graceful capsize to have been seen in many a year. There was a number of race winners, so it’s invidious to pick out one, but I’m going to anyway. Well done to Sheila Burton who won the last race of the evening (with only a tiny bit of help from the Race Officer). Both Sheila and Pam Woodall were able to experience the beauty of free air on the beat – lucky them I say!

FOR THE RECORD, the Monday Series (part 2) was won by Roberta, followed by Ann and then Trevor Annels who managed to oust Colston from his podium position. Courtenay failed to repeat his success of 8^th from last year (by two points), finishing 9^th, and I had a similar failure in not making the top ten, finishing 11^th, one point behind Bob Cudmore who seemed to go AWOL for the last half of the series! Luke Normington must be really pleased with his improvement, finishing in 15th place, up from 26^th last year. With 58 sailors sailing at least once and 19 sailors achieving a full series, Monday night sailing continues to be our most popular format.

THE WEDNESDAY SERIES HAS FINISHED and my prediction that we should watch out for Ann was only marginally out – I hadn’t factored in a guest appearance from Giles. The duel between Roger and Mike was as closely fought as ever. On this occasion Mike’s boat must have banged the right corner more often than not because he was victorious! 41 sailors made at least one start and nine achieved a series. Here they are:

 

 

 

Last year 51 sailors made at least one appearance and 10 sailors achieved a series. Last year’s top three included the same names but Mike and Ann have swopped positions this year.

YOU WILL ALREADY have heard some of the stories from POOLE WEEK but you may not be aware of the various prize winners. This year, although we had a joint start for Standards and Radials, the results were separated. Below is a list of the Standard prize winners:

Not many surprises here you might think but if we had managed to sail in the very light winds of Wednesday and Thursday, I’m sure Roger would have been anxiously looking over his shoulder. Whether he was worried about Andrew or Giles, I’ll leave you to decide. Had Mike been able to sail in Sunday’s wind the leaderboard may well have had a different complexion. One other piece of news was John Lyon’s defeat at the hands of his son (by 2 places and 6 points). Is this a sign of things to come John?

Now for the Radials:

 

Is it a surprise to see Ann and Roberta on equal points? Not if you are a student of history it isn’t! You can see by the numbers that Daniel (a young buck if ever I saw one) had things pretty much his own way but both Ann and Roberta did manage to best him – Roberta did so twice!.

Although, not in the prize winners’ list, mention must be made of Emma Hartley who had a fantastic day in Friday’s two races, finishing with a 3^rd and a 2^nd. She’s another sailor who would have profited by sailing in the very light winds of Wednesday and Thursday. I know at least one sailor who is very glad this didn’t happen. Finally, well done to Gayle Moore who came 4^th in the last race but also commiserations for capsizing when in the lead – there’s always next year Gayle.

THE WEEK-END OF THE 10^th & 11^th saw the Laser Masters Qualifiers event come to our club. It was a great chance to see just how good you can be in later life! Admittedly most of the Standard sailors looked like they were still the right side of forty! I don’t know if you have sailed a Standard rig on the run in 28kts of breeze but I can tell you it’s an interesting experience. Parkstone’s version of the ‘three amigos’, myself, Courtenay and Gary Wakefield, all had ‘interesting’ moments in those first two windy races. Judging by the carnage at the gybe and leeward marks, we weren’t the only ones with a tad of steerage difficulties, talking of which, I should apologise publicly to Courtenay for calling him a lot of naughty names when I was on the end of what I thought was a particularly vicious luff in one howling gust as we approached the leeward mark – I discovered later that luffing was the last thing on his mind at that particular moment: only survival. Shame he didn’t manage it! Spare a thought for poor, visiting David Casale, who, at the gybe mark, managed to injure himself to such an extent that a visit to A&E was required. I don’t know how much blood it takes to fill up a club rib, but Martin Foden and James Hartley will be able to give you a pretty good estimate as it was they who transported the unlucky victim to the shore. None of this affected Bob Cudmore and Andrew Hartley who sailed in these big winds like Aeolus himself! The rest of the weekend was a much less breezy affair giving lighter sailors like Iain Reid the chance to shine, taking line honours in the fifth race. Such is the ephemeral nature of fame, however, a capsize in the very light sixth race meant he had to fight his way around the course with the Dog Robber. It was a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show and all that! Congratulations to Dave Pointer who jumped into the Laser only a couple of weeks ago and managed to walk off with a prize- I think, though, he should show a little more respect to those of us who’ve been trying to master the boat for ages.

including some illustrious names so the racing was fierce. Your Commanding Officer had a very successful week-end, finishing 3^rd, winning two races in the process which meant, satisfyingly beating one of those illustrious names who happens to be a full-time professional sailor. One member of our fleet remarked that it was like watching the Ann of old – maybe she’s our version of Oscar Wilde’s creation, Dorian Grey? Mention must be made of Ninian Eadie,from Queen Mary, sailing at the ripe old age of 75+ and managing a very creditable 12^th place. I mustn’t forget, either, our very own Hayley Hughes who made her way serenely around the course during those first two windy races – looking back twelve months Hayley, there would have been a very different outcome. Bob and Andrew weren’t the only ones enjoying the wind. Pete Taylor had great fun and some success too, achieving finishes of 7-10-7 on that first day. He carried on his enjoyment well into the evening drinking until there was no-one left to drink with! He’s not a great fan of poetry I think but I can almost hear him saying to Rachel the following morning:

“My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains my sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk.”

Well done Pete, you may not be a legend in age, like Ninian, but you are one in status!

ALL THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE, is the small matter of our sailor of the month award. Hayley was well in the frame for her heroics in the first two races of the Masters event but she’s already a winner so has disqualified herself. Dave Pointer also had a shout but too much success in his Laser sailing career might not be good for him! I did consider awarding it to Mike Atkinson for being such a good dad and missing a great day’s racing to carry out parenting duties. But, for her fantastic efforts on and off the water during the month, September’s sailor of the month award goes to Ann Keates. And, in case, you think I have a vested interest, I solemnly swear in public that I will not be the one to drink her prize!

Sail fast and fair,

Ann & John
Commanding Officer and Dog Robber

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