THE highly-popular Parkstone Yacht Club's MDL Cobbs Quay Marina Youth Week returned again this year and attracted 157 boats from the 420, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, Cadet, Laser Pico, Mirror, Topper and Poole Harbour AB classes.

Sailors from Poole YC, Royal Lymington, and Swanage, joined in the action-packed week.

A typical English summer week started on the Sunday morning, competitors enjoyed everything from scorching sun to howers, hail storms, thunder and lightning.

The week kicked off on the Saturday night with the different class parties but on Sunday morning the start of the Regatta, the first of seven races.

Racing was in wind conditions from Force 0 to 4, so Parkstone's skilled safety crew, headed by Paul Freeman, were kept very busy.

The race committee, headed by Denis Brophy, set some challenging courses which most of the sailors coped with admirably considering some of the inclement conditions.

The next social activity saw approximately 200 children line up on the slipway for Water Wars and all sorts of team games on the water.

Other afternoon activities included Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting and trying different boats including RS400s, Darts and F18s.

Evening socials included a barbecue, pig roast and barn dance as well as PYC's very own Youth Week Idol contest.

Friday saw the under 14s participate in a harbour raid and a treasure hunt around Poole harbour with children divided into groups hunting for clues which parents had strategically positioned around.

The over 14s raced J24s in winds reaching 34 knots, an invigorating experience for everyone concerned.

The week culminated with the prize giving ceremony, followed by the customary Youth Week party.

Parkstone would like to thank the sponsors, MDL Cobbs Quay Marina, Ocean Health, Cad Software, Rhys Francis Ltd, McQueen Yeoman, Ellis Jones, John Pipe Ltd, Sabre Group, Oswald Bailey Group, Force 4 Chandlery, Quba Sails, Phil Jones, Lombard Marine Finance, Sailing Solutions, Powermann Ltd, Animal and Coca Cola for making this week possible.

Results - 420: 1 David Brewer and Oren Richards, 2 Alex Palmer and Christopher Bailey, 3 Adam Richards and Robbie Allam.

Laser Radial: 1 James Pipe, 2 Sam Pearson, 3 Thomas Dunne.

Laser 4.7: 1 Zoe Dunne, 2 Shane Terry, 3 Amy Davies.

Laser Pico: 1 James Nicholls, 2 Stephen Collier, 3 Richard O'Toole.

Mirror: 1 Giles and Piers Strong, 2 Sophia Card and Hannah Ridge, 3 Tom Ridge and Richard Tite.

Topper: 1 Duncan Keates, 2 Jane Law, 3 Peter Law.

Cadet: 1 Miles Blaver-Mann and Hettie Penman, 2 Kate Allam and Amy Yeoman, 3 Stephen Tiernan and Jacquetta Bridge.

AB Gold: 1 Robert Lord, 2 Jane Cutts, 3 Sophie Clark.

AB Silver: 1 Rowan Akin-Smith, 2 Gemma Batten, 3 Giles Kuzyk and William Reid.

AB child and parent: 1 Matthew Currell, 2 Thomas Cutts, 3 Hubert Aish-Lyons.

Talented youngsters from across Poole and Bournemouth concluded a week of sporting activity learning the skills of sailing at Rockley Watersports.

A total of 40 boys and girls from nine schools in the area were given the opportunity to experience a number of different sports in a week-long Gifted and Talented Athlete Summer Camp. The final day of the adventure culminated in a day experiencing watersports including sailing, windsurfing and powerboating at Rockley Watersports.

Managing director, Peter Gordon, of Rockley Watersports said: "The camp is now in its second year and yet again it has been a fantastic success.

"The week-long, intensive, sporting activities are a great way of tapping into unknown talent and we are delighted to have found that the children's favourite sport over the week is sailing.

"Rockley Watersports is very pleased to be involved in such an exciting project which grows in popularity each year."

Poole and Bournemouth Local Education Authorities joined forces with Bournemouth University and Rockley Watersports to provide the exciting opportunity for youngsters.

All children will attend further sporting sessions at the university to allow athletes to benefit and progress through their sporting life.

Poole Yacht Racing Association's gathering in St Vaast, France was a real success.

There was a good turnout in classes two and A and speed records were broken with a reach in beam winds gusting up to 35 knots. Damp crews and boats had a superb day to dry out and recover on Saturday.

The return start on Sunday was delayed until several miles out in the Channel when a light westerley gave enough breeze to race.

Thick fog for the duration of the traffic separation lanes kept everyone on their toes but all those that sailed managed to finish well within the time limit.