DESPITE some basic first-race errors, Poole Yacht Club’s team went on to dominate the annual Hotel du Vin Commodores’ Challenge 3-0 on New Year’s Day.

The event, a best-of-five match-race series between the under-18s of the Poole and Parkstone clubs, has become a ‘must do’ for the youth members of the two clubs and a ‘must watch’ for everyone else.

With Parkstone hosting the competition, it was their race officer, Nick Stone, who set the windward-leeward course in the crook of the main channel adjacent to Brownsea’s nature reserve.

Poole YC won the toss and elected to enter the race one pre-start from the starboard end.

Neck-and-neck for the first beat, they rounded the windward mark and made perfect spinnaker hoists for a fast run.

At the bottom of the course, Parkstone touched the leeward mark as they rounded and the umpires, Olympians Lucy and Kate Macgregor, flagged a penalty.

Then a poor tactical decision from Poole skipper Tim Lees saw his crew fail to cover allowing Parkstone to choose their own way up the second beat.

They went right and were dominant on the next meeting, forcing Poole to tack.

Although Parkstone crossed the finishing line ahead, their penalty had not been discharged in time so Poole won the heat.

Parkstone came into the pre-start of race two from the starboard end and the teams began their cat-and-mouse antics.

It was Poole who came out best from these to start in control and head the beat. This time they had learned the lessons from the first race and tacked time and time again to cover their opposition.

There were no handling or tactical mistakes from either side with pure boat speed taking the Poole team further ahead and on to a clear win.

In race three, Poole started |from the starboard end in Panache, the perceived faster boat. With confidence high, they controlled the pre-start with some interesting manoeuvers in tight situations.

The Parkstone boat was unable to keep clear and another penalty was awarded against them.

Poole started at full speed and dominated to gain a 30-metre lead by the first windward mark – a gap which Parkstone never threatened.

At the prize-giving, Parkstone’s vice commodore, Dick Linford, said that the event was a win-win situation whoever actually won.

The individual boat handling skills, teamwork and friendships that come out of this annual match-racing challenge will stay with the team members forever.

As is tradition, several members of the two squads stood to thank the opposition and the many people from the two clubs who put in so much time to make it all happen.

Poole: Amy Sparks (bow), Beth Wyatt (mid bow), Will Deary (mast), Jack Tate (mast sub, sailed Race Three), Suzie Taylor (pit), Rosie Watkins (pit), Emma Hattersley (pit sub, sailed Race Three), Ed Gillespie (main), Henry Sheppard (trim), Anna Watkins (trim), Tim Lees (helm), Kate Devereux (tactician).

Parkstone: Will Reid (helm), Jonathan Currell (main), Naomi Flack (trim), Isabel Hillard (trim), Ole Alcock (cockpit), Ella Cotton (mast), Liam Pardy (mast), Oli Lauste (bow), Alice Alcock (mid), Jack Bufton (mid).