Fantastic weather conditions, and a friendly welcome from Parkstone YC, greeted the RS200 fleet on Saturday.

The first start got underway in 12-14 knots of breeze out in bay. Roger Gilbert, sailing with his sister Katrina Gilbert, had a good start and won the first race, with Ian Pickard and Lucy Matthews, and Andy and Geraldine Peters in second and third respectively.

The wind picked up a few knots, and the Race Officer lengthened the course, for the second race. The Gilbert siblings showed the way again to win the second race, with Tom and Jo Hewitson back in their more usual position near the front taking second place, and Jon Lewis/Katie Nichols in third.

The wind had increased again for race three. Not all the fleet noticed that the Race Officer had put numeral 5 pennant up indicating 5 laps, instead of the 2 laps of the previous races. The hard work up the beats was rewarded by some exciting downwind runs in front of the photographer’s boat. The Gilberts showed great form to win a third race, with Hewitsons in second and Pickard/Loopie in third.

A fantastic day’s sailing was followed by great food, and live music from the Martin Kitcher Band, in the Yacht Club. New lightweight crews Max Sydenham and Hazel Jones were welcomed to the fleet.

Sunday morning brought blustery wind. Unfortunately, when the gusts increased to 35 knots, the Race Officer was forced to cancel sailing for the day. Roger and Katrina Gilbert won the event with three first places. Pickard/Loopie and Lewis/Nichols were tied on 13 points in second place, with Pickard/Loopie getting second overall due to their 2nd place in the first race. With no discard, consistency counted, and Mark Littlejohn/Mad Welsh bird Emma had hit the consistency button on Saturday to take 4th overall.

Will Storey and Kate Havill, from the host club, sailed consistently well to come 10th overall and win the Silver fleet. The Bronze fleet was won by the newly appointed Bronze fleet representative, Charlie Muir crewed by Jane Sands.