Poole Regatta
May 2008
Poole Regatta, organised by the combined yacht clubs of Poole, is held biennially during the later May bank holiday weekend having been introduced eight years ago to mark the millennium. This year it attracted over 120 entries.
The event has become such a success that several classes held their local, southern and national championships, not least the J24’s, Sonatas, Sigma 38’s and Dehlers competing for the Dehler Cup.
Despite being sponsored by International Paints and Plastimo, Coleman with its strong links to Parkstone Yacht Club, were on hand on the Saturday to assist with any insurance-related matters and as is customary, Darren Billington and Steve Risk (our very own ‘Rodney’ & ‘Dell Boy’) assisted by Louise Starkie handed out well-earned complimentary chilled beer.
Those who enjoyed a ‘Coleman’ beer and chat with our staff were also entered into a competition to win a £50 meal and complimentary bottle of wine for two at the Ocean Bay Restaurant, North Beach, Swanage.
We are delighted to announce Mr Tom Coe owner of the J24; ‘Clewless’ as the winner of this prize who I’m sure will thoroughly enjoy a mouth-watering evening at Ocean Bay.
On Saturday, the weather was predictably challenging for all yachts, with a strong north-easterly wind gusting to over 30 knots at times and a sizeable swell in Poole Bay all making for some challenging although exhilarating conditions.
A number of yachts retired with damage following tough beats and sleigh-ride downwind legs resulting in some spectacular ‘Chinese gibing’, including Coleman-sponsored ‘Firestarter’ which resulted in exploding mainsheet sliders, an unusable main sail and a DNF (did not finish) during the 3rd race. Sunday was the absolute opposite with glorious sunshine, a gentle southerly breeze and flat calm bay…. as evidenced by the difference in these pictures! Monday reverted back to gale force conditions and a deluge of rain with only the bigger boats out racing.
The evening entertainment was well-attended and received at both Parkstone and Poole Yacht Clubs with ‘The Secrets’ playing on the Saturday and ‘Mission Impossible’ on the Sunday. Good food, lots of alcohol, the day’s prize giving and racing pictures supplied by David Harding of www.sailingscenes.co.uk completed a great two days of racing.
The overall prize giving was held at the Royal Motor Yacht Club with ‘first’ prizes given to the winners of the 16 different classes representing a truly diverse regatta, appealing to a wide section of boat owners and areas including the exciting catamarans and trimarans in the MOCRA (Multihull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association) class.
Coleman were delighted to have been involved once again, both on land and on the water and look forward to seeing you at the next regatta in 2010!
As a specialist marine broker, offering a truly unique service to anyone wishing to arrange their insurance sailing and racing throughout the world, why not ask us for a no obligation insurance quotation?
Contact our Yacht Insurance Team on 01202 647400
Steve Handy
