Parkstone Yacht Club Optimist Open incorporating the IOCA South West Regional Championship 2022

Main fleet start during the Parkstone Optimist Open © Elaine Hakes

Parkstone Yacht Club was once again host to the Optimist South West Regional Championships on 4 and 5 June, welcoming 80 young sailors for two days of racing and fun over the Queen's Jubilee weekend.

The club looked festive decked out in Jubilee decorations as sailors and their families arrived on Saturday morning. Main fleet (comprising 40 sailors) set out early to Poole Harbour's Top Triangle, where Race Officer Roger Hakes and his team facilitated five races in a shifty up-and-down easterly with anything from 10 to 20+ knots. This was a top-notch set of sailors, including the Optimist GBR Worlds and Euros teams so racing was highly competitive (although sailors did take part in the midday All Ships Salute by reaching for their whistles whilst racing up the final beat of the first race!). Overnight Joe Wimpory (Bewl/ HISC) was in the lead with Archie Munro-Price (Royal Lymington and Castle Cove) in second.

The 20 Regatta Fleet sailors raced closer to Parkstone's race platform and came in for a brief lunch and pit-stop. Race Officer Duncan McCarthy kept them busy, and they competently completed seven races. It was a little too windy for the 17 Coached Regatta fleet sailors, several of whom were competing in their first ever regatta. Instead, Race Officer Melissa Franklin and her team organised a Jubilee Relay race with flags and chocolates, utilising two club Optimists and sending teams on short laps in and out of the marina. A lot of fun was had and new friendships were formed.

Regatta fleet launching during the Parkstone Optimist Open - photo © Elaine Hakes

The sailors returned to pasta and everyone enjoyed drinks on the terrace in the sunshine before heading home for a night interrupted by some spectacular thunder storms.

Sunday dawned grey and still; perfect conditions for the Coached Regatta fleet who got out sailing quickly and completed seven short races in the shifty breeze. Regatta fleet managed a race before lunch and one after to complete their series of nine races. Main fleet sailors stayed onshore to wait for the wind to fill in, entertaining themselves with an orderly game of keepie-uppie until the call came to launch. They finally managed two races in 5-6 knots of breeze, returning through murky clouds and rain showers late in the afternoon.

Steve Tyler (Rear Commodore - Sailing) awarded prizes on the upper deck as sailors enjoyed a Jubilee Oppie Tea. In Coached Regatta, Olivia McGuire from Royal Lymington Yacht Club finished first, followed by two Parkstone sailors; Kit McCarthy in second and Charlotte Davis in third. In Regatta Fleet Royal Lymington also had success with Isla Hutchinson and Ruby Coster first and second respectively, followed by Burghfield's Rupert Garlick in third. Main fleet was won by Joe Wimpory (Bewl/Hayling Island Sailing Club) with Arthur Greaves second (Hayling Island Sailing Club), Archie Munro-Price third (Royal Lymington and Castle Cove) and Parkstone's Tom Hakes in fourth. The South West Regional Champions were Archie Munro-Price, and Eliana Edwards from Parkstone Yacht Club who finished first girl and fifth overall.

Main fleet winners in the Parkstone Optimist Open - photo © Elaine Hakes

Congratulations to all of the sailors and best of luck to those competing for Great Britain at international events in the coming weeks.

Overall Results:

Main Fleet

Regatta Fleet

Coached Regatta Fleet