As a part of its Coastal Series, JOG enjoyed stunning racing conditions for its annual yacht race to and from Poole, Dorset sponsored by ourselves at Stoneways Marine Insurance over the weekend 21st and 22nd September 2024.
A varied fleet of 69 entries ranging from Alastair Shanks – Pogo 44 – ‘Tally Too’ and Cameron Davis’s – Farr 40 to the lowest rated yacht: Oli Hawkins well prepared GibSea 90 – ‘Sailfish’.
The overall winner across 4 IRC classes for the race to Poole, was Toby Gorman’s; Sigma 33 – Stan the Boat, following up with a highly creditable 3rd overall when factoring in the return race to Cowes.
Peter McConnell and Aaron Goodman – Simpson’s J109 – ‘Karaboudjan’ took the overall IRC win for the return.
Within the ever-popular two-handed class, Rob Craige and Deb Fish were pleased to win in Rob’s, SunFast 3600 – ‘Belino’. Followed by taking 2nd place on the return. 
On arrival in Poole, Rob enthused:
Great day, great weather, a great course.
The course was changed half an hour before the start, always a bit of a panic to get it all done, but really good and very interesting. We won the two-handed class, so really pleased with that.
Stoneways Marine support is really important, makes an event like this just work, looking forward to a pontoon party and I think it’s just great.
In the highly competitive Class 4; Stoneways Marine’s own yacht manager; George Beevor was racing his classic S&S, Sagitta 35 – ‘Ugly Duckling’. Mid fleet positions in both races did not dampen George and his crew’s enjoyment of the event:
What a cracking weekend of passage racing.
Saturday really was the sort of challenging champagne sailing we all dream off with plenty of opportunities for overtaking and sadly, for being overtaken too.
Perhaps it got a little light for Ugly Duckling in the latter part of the race, but it’d be daft to complain after such a compelling and sunny day of downwind racing.
The staff at Poole Quay Boat Haven did a cracking job of getting us all organised and it was a classic JOG social both at the prize giving and later in the pub where class four appeared to have taken over the whole place. If the hangovers weren’t sufficient penance for all our fun, then the rain certainly was on Sunday morning.
Once again, the good breeze at the start died away all too soon for us but there was still plenty of trading places in the short (three and a half hours for us) beat home.
Oli Hawkins on ‘Sailfish’ entirely sailed, skippered and crewed by Generation JOG members, JOG’s very own youth development and support vehicle for members under 30 to gain support, sailed ‘nip and tuck’ with ‘Ugly Duckling’.
Oli gave his view of the weekend:
The JOG Poole race provided exciting racing, with the Spring tides forcing the fleet to hug the Island shore to stay out of the worst of the East going tide, whilst staying offshore enough to keep good wind. Having the support of a relevant brands that we use like Stoneways, adds a personal touch.
Overall, a classic JOG weekend, superb on and off the water, close racing and fun socials.
The full race results can be found here: https://myjog.jog.org.uk/results
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