2004 Sat Report

Report by David Bracey GP14 Round the Islands Team Race Saturday 7th August
Morning Race – Brownsea Island to starboard, Green Island to starboard. As far as I was concerned Mike Arrow's boom hitting the Brownsea Island landing pier, the pier is part of the island, the island is a mark of the course, a penalty should be taken. This was the substance of Poole boats bickering over minor placings, here’s why.
The morning was misty (you could still see the pier though !) with light variable winds and the routes taken to beat through the harbour to Brownsea Castle covered all those available and before Mike took to scaring the holiday makers the top teams of B.T.Y.C. and Seahorse had established a good lead. So much for local knowledge. The visitors did however add interest by following the guide R.I.B. through the channels leaving close Poole boats the opportunity of a direct, brisk close spinnaker reach to the finish line. All to no avail as Richard Lord won for Seahorse A, giving them 1st and 3rd positions with B.T.Y.C. 2nd and 4th.
	Afternoon Race - Brownsea Island to Port. Please note, anyone chatting up my wife making us late for the starting line will in future be penalised, he knows who I’m talking about. Weaving through the starting fleet flying the spinnaker is not a technique I’d recommend. So, viewed from the rear the beat up blood alley ( so called because of a rather nasty encounter between smugglers and the revenue men) was enjoyed by all in sunshine and a steady F3.
This time Mike Arrow left the holiday makers alone and restored a little pride by winning, but without support of other Poole boats challenging for top places, the stars of Seahorse A and B.T.Y.C A from the first race were again left to fight over the spoils.
BTYC had a trick up their sleeves, by managing a dead heat by two of their boats for third place, they effectively shared a point of their total score to finish exactly level with Seahorse. We don’t like smart alecs and awarded 1st prize to Seahorse A.
Saturday Evening - Over 70 enjoyed dinner in Poole Y.C. and appreciated Brian Turgoose’s kind words on the days events and hopes that the ‘Round the Islands’ will continue even if next years GP14 Nationals at Poole interrupt the sequence. More would have been written here of Brian's eloquence if he had spoken three drinks earlier (mine not his !)