Police National Championship at Poole Yacht Club

32 boats representing 13 Forces competed in the 2007 Police National Championship held at Poole Yacht Club. The racing, on Olympic style courses in Poole Harbour featured line-starts from Committee boat “Alchemist”.

A shifting south-easterly Force 2 caused race officer John Yonwin to change marks during Race 1, the conditions suiting former champion Alan Husk in his Phantom who registered a win, followed by former champion Pete Walters 2nd in the Flying Fifteen and the defending champion Frances Gifford in the National 12 in 3rd.

The wind steadied for Race 2 and remained southerly 2-3. The course brought the fleet across the tidal channel for the wing mark. The larger course allowed competitors to work their boat-speed and Rob Jones in his RS400 held an impressive lead on the water. At the finish Jones retained 1st with Husk 2nd and Walters 3rd.

Race 3 was strongly affected by a building ebb. The RS400 was again impressive on the water building a significant lead and was the eventual race winner from Walters 2nd and Husk 3rd. Positions after Day 1 had the leading 3 boats separated by only 1 point.

Day 2 brought southerly 3-4 which began to stretch the boat handling skills of the fleet. The Osprey of Andy Welch and Rob Gillespie started to perform on home waters, but also Gifford found conditions to her liking, as did Cook in his Laser. But it was the RS400 that again showed the way on the water revelling in the windier conditions and building an impregnable lead. Gifford finished 2nd with Walters 3rd.

In the final race Jones led off from the start line pursued by Gifford and the Laser of Cook. The Osprey lead at the windward mark but Jones soon established a lead on the reaches and never relinquished 1st place. As the wind dropped to F3 Husk in his Phantom sailed into 2nd ahead of Gifford 3rd with Walters 4th.

After discard Rob Jones and John Woodfield (RS400) from Hampshire took the championship with an outstanding performance in light and medium winds. Former champion Husk from Essex finished 2nd with Pete Walters and John Allen (Nottinghmshire) in the Flying Fifteen in 3rd.

Overall Results: