2009 Open Sun Report

The Piplers of Poole GP14 Open Meeting Report by David Bracey - Pictures by Mike Millard

Sunday If the fickle winds of Saturday hadn’t humiliated enough, amongst the entry of 20 boats were Mark Lees and Josh Irons (two youngsters representing Poole YC) waiting to add insult to injury. The patience of everyone was tested as our excellent race officer Bill Frewing postponed the fleet on shore only to be followed by a further postponement afloat. The first race eventually got away in breezes approaching F2 S.E, at least it was still sunny and warm. Mr Brightside (Mark Lees and Josh Irons) led the fleet home.

	Race 1 1st Mark Lees / Josh Irons - Poole YC 2nd Richard Lord / Hannah Rose - Seahorse SC 3rd Jim Faulkner / Martin Hime - BTYC
To ensure at least two races were sailed, race 2 was initiated causing slight concern ashore with the kitchen closure imminent, so a general recall was inevitable. However similar breezes to race 1 with over 4 laps produced the same winner.
	Race 2 1st Mark Lees / Josh Irons - Poole YC 2nd Ben Kaplan / Sue Burridge - Seahorse SC 3rd Andy Macgregor / Chris Doe - Poole YC

After lunch (big thank you to the kitchen) the wind improved to an impressing 6 knots SW. Going into race 3, Mike Arrow and Ian Aitken lead Richard Lord and Hannah Rose by one point for the overall winner of the five weekend races. You can guess the winner of race 3 but Richard and Hannah completed their high aggregate finishes with a second place to once again take the overall prize.
	Race 3 1st Mark Lees / Josh Irons - Poole YC 2nd Richard Lord / Hannah Rose - Seahorse SC 3rd Andy Macgregor / Chris Doe - Poole YC

Tea and prizegiving was as usual a very pleasant occasion featuring the Poole GP14 class captain’s daughter, Rachel, presenting the prizes. Both Mark Lees and Richard Lord for the visitors warmly expressed their appreciation of the events and organisation, singling out the race officer Bill Frewing for handling the shifting conditions so well.


Final results : 1st Mark Lees and Josh Irons (Poole Y.C.) 2nd Richard Lord and Hannah Rose (Seahorse S.C.) 3rd Ben Kaplan and Sue Burridge (Seahorse S.C.) 4th Andy Macgregor and Chris Doe (Poole Y.C.) 5th Za and Libby Jelliffe (B.T.Y.C.)