POOLE Week celebrated its 58th year with another hugely successful event.

The regatta, organised solely by Parkstone Yacht Club, saw 178 entrants compete in 12 classes, making it the biggest single sailing week on the south coast, outside of Cowes.

Sailors had come from across the UK with 28 different sailing clubs being represented on the water.

A tired Bruce Gridley, the Principle Race Officer, announced his decision to step down after the final day's racing, having officiated at every Poole Week in this Millennium!

But thanks are due to so many others that also give up their valuable time.

Around 80 volunteers take their places on the water, either starting or finishing races or on one of 12 safety boats.

Although entries were down this year, partly due to a clash with the RS Nationals, some fleets had better turnouts than previously.

Winds were in the main fresh to strong, with Wednesday the only casualty.

The absence of the Havill family in the Enterprise Class led to an open competition which could have been won by anyone from four on the last day.

The home club's Ents came out on top with Robin Stewart and Colin Bere gaining second place on the last day to win overall.

In the Wayfarer fleet, Barrie French and Mark Fisher dominated with four first places, a feat bettered by Richard and Paru Edwards in the Fast Handicap Class.

Four bullets were also scored by Steve and Ali Tyler in the Merlin Rocket fleet and Nick Harrison in the Laser Class.

Among the classes competing was the 17-strong Flying Fifteen fleet who enjoyed some of the most exciting and competitive racing.

Phil Owen, sailing with Ron Elliott, who won Poole Week last year, were quick to take advantage of an error on the first day by the three leading boats who headed for a wrong mark during a course around Poole Harbour.

Going into the final day, Iain and Slade Lamey were on equal points with Keith Aldridge and Rob Schlachter, while only a point separated the next three boats with Brian Thake, Barry Rolfe and Ian Linder with everything to play for.

Rolfe led the fleet around the windward mark and soon shot off on a fantastic two sail reach, before the gusts eased and the crews were able to get their spinnakers up.

Ian Lamey and Keith Aldridge were locked in a battle with Lamey eventually pulling through to win the Poole Week Flying Fifteen Cup.

In the Darts it was a tussle to the end with club-mates Peter and Julia Stacey coming out on top of past Commodore Bryan Drake and crew Edward Lush after a stonking finale on Friday.

Next year Poole Week is set to become The Poole Yachting Regatta with a competitors' campsite nearby, this should ensure the event's future.

Results (all PYC unless stated):

Laser: 1 Nick Harrison (Stokes Bay) 2 Andrew Hartley 3 Donald Macdonald.

XOD: 1 David Tabb 2 Harry Evans 3 D Allpress/P Fisher (Royal Lymington YC).

F15: 1 Iain/Slade Lacey 2 Keith Aldridge/Robert Schlachter 3 Brian Thake/Richard Ledger (Grafham Water SC).

Wayfarer: 1 Barrie French/Mark Fisher 2 David Veal/Peter Keeping 3 Alan Chaplin/Terry Berrett (Shorham SC)

Enterprise: 1 Robin Stewart/Colin Bere) 2 Ian Sargeant/Patrick Simion 3 Graham/Clare Davies.

RS400: 1 Bob Alexander/Sam Moore 2 Phil Jackson/Jon Partridge 3 Andrew Freeman/Emma Jones.

Shrimper: 1 Philip Atha (SOA) 2 Peter Fontes (PYC/RMYC) 3 Norman Dyer.

Merlin Rocket: 1 Steve/Ali Tyler 2 Graham Scroggie/Frances Lovell 3 Nick Scroggie/Emma Jackson.

Dart: 1 Peter/Julia Stacey 2 Bryan Drake/Edward Lush 3 Geoff/Liz Sherwood.

Fast Handicap: 1 Richard/Paru Edwards (RS200) 2 John/Clare Warrington (Scorpio - Chipstead SC) 3 John/Susan/Steve Herbert (Tasar).

Dolphin: 1 Nick/Pete Young 2 Barry/Pat/Derek Harris 3 John Harris.

Slow Handicap: 1 Peter Marsden/Don Gilson (Hawk) 2 John Sparrow (Laser) 3 Alix Caiger/Giles Glass (420).

Kid's Club at North Haven Yacht Club, Sandbanks, is a well supported Friday evening event.

The younsters get to try their hand at a host of activities but the emphasis is on fun for all.

Several enterprising young ladies even tried walking the tender mooring lines, none too successfully but still all part of the fun.