Folly Weekend

Sponsored by Vinyl Solutions

Vinyl Solutions

Photos by Geoff Cross         see Theresa's report  below

Results  Classes 1 and 2            Class 3

Poole –Folly Folly-Poole Races

16th & 17th August 2008

Following a mixed weather forecast indicating rain all weekend virtually, PYRA managed another dry weekend of racing! A gate start by our illustrious Captain got the fleet off to a good if mildly compact start with several boats trying to get through a gap which was slightly too small for all of them to pass through! (I love gate starts !!!). Setting a course, not directly start line finish line, was a good plan which threw a few who hadn’t heard the announcement!!

The change of start time meant that we all made it through Hurst before the tide really turned and with a strong south – south westerly wind it was a straight reach all the way to Cowes. (Hope these wind directions, points of sail are correct my captain is not here to verify them !).

Getting to Folly nice and early meant that plenty of socializing could a occur and several crews went ashore for a walk, while others  undertook minor repairs and some decided that a little siesta was in order after such an early start (5:30 in my house!).  Of course we were all up and raring to go at 18:00 ready for the rendezvous at the Folly Inn where tables had been booked and all the canvas shutters closed (it is August after all!) even with all these precautions most of us were in at least three layers!!

Vinyl Solutions did us proud with a wonderful selection of beverages provided by them, though several of us are still in the dark as to what the solution is with Vinyl? Some suggested they provided Vinyl names for boats and advertising ect., others flooring, but I particularly liked one crew members interpretation. She had miss heard early in the evening and thought our sponsor was “Final Solutions”  obviously offering euthanasia !!!

There of course followed the ubiquitous Dancing on the Tables with the crews of Two Fast and  Fire starter in particular doing us proud. At this point I feel a special mention is required for a certain member of the crew of Temptation from Lilliput Sailing Club who excelled him self on the dance floor!!

Out in the “tent” area there was an excellent demonstration of jive by the most important member of the “Shebeen” crew. Can you please share your secret Miriam!!

With a reasonably civilized start time for our return, things were very relaxed next morning and several crews went ashore for showers and breakfast before we all headed off down the Medina to be started by Green Magnum under the Venezuelan Embassy Flag!!  Again an interesting start with everyone on the right side of the line but Albi, who then decided to turn against the entire fleet, all on starboard, in order to re cross the line!  

It was then a long and in my opinion tedious beat up the Solent which wasn’t helped by a rising wind! By Yarmouth our weather helm determined that we should put a reef in and as most of the fleet seemed to be ahead of us (due in part, to my poor performance in speed tacking).It was worth taking the time as the boat was much more settled. Through Hurst and into open water it got much lumpier, with a strong westerly over a strong spring tide. We, along with most of the fleet took a long tack east of Hengistbury Head  which took us almost on a direct port tack to buoys 1 and 2 at Swash. Unfortunately we did not judge it as well as Shebeen and had to take a second tack to get us up to them! However we were gratified to see one or two other boats coming up from Bournemouth behind us.

All in all although it was a hard sail back the journey there made up for it and the rain didn’t come in as had been predicted, so another PYRA success !!!!