Welcome to PB Racing, the site to map our progress through the 2008 sailing season.

New Addition to the Shore Crew

Happy days for the Gillett family as baby Amelie finally arrived on Friday 22nd Dec 2006 at 9:11pm. A baby girl weighing 7lb 7oz with lots of lovely dark brown hair. Looks like PB III or PB IV could be an opi !!

Garmin Hamble Winter Series - Results

After a long 8 week series of 16 races, Royal Thames Lucky Lady hung on to take the win in the SB3 class at this years Garmin Hamble Winter Series as well as taking the overall "Sports Boat of the Series" title for 2006. With PamBere missing a couple of weekends and having a number of "retires" this meant that the overall series score didn't look to healthy.

Speaking after the event Mark Gillett said, "Once again the Hamble River Sailing Club and event sponsors Garmin have put on an excellent series. If we had managed to follow my advice and sail the whole series then our overall position would have looked alot healthier. We are pleased with our speed and set-up now, so a little more practice on the big starts and we should be in good shape for 2007."

Garmin Hamble Winter Series from 8-Oct

Having missed the last couple of regatta's of the summer season, SB3 PamBere and co-owners Ian Harrison, Nick Jones and Mark Gillett are itching to get back out on the water when the Garmin Hamble Winter Series starts on Sunday 8th October.

Speaking to Yachts&Yachting magazine, Mark Gillett commented on his memories of last years success having won "Sports Boat of the Series" in the 707 Class, aswell as providing some insight into what it takes to win your class in this competitive 16 race series.

"My best memory from last year sailing 707 Pocket Battleship is from week six. Towards the end of any long series, things always get a lot tighter at the top of the fleets. Within the White Group, with two races per day this presents lots of opportunities for the leading boats to attack each other and this is especially true within the competitive one-design classes. In theory we all have equally matched equipment and therefore the top boats have generally all worked out how to go at the same speed in all directions around the course.

"During week six, I recall having our hands full on Pocket Battleship with our nearest competitors Sword and Royal Thames both working to sail us off in different directions around the course. We managed to jump out early and escape in the first race of the day to take the win, but the second race was a totally different story. Rounding the leeward mark behind Royal Thames and with Sword in hot pursuit we chose to tack soon after rounding as Sword peeled early to work the favoured left shift. What ensued up the entire length of the beat was the sailing equivalent of ping-pong as Sword and Royal Thames forced us to sail up the middle out of phase with the shifts as they lee-bow tacked or slam-dunked us each time we tried to escape to the favoured side. We finished the beat some way back in third place, but with good downwind speed and a lucky break as the breeze dropped coming into the final leeward mark we were able to sneak back thro into the lead and hold this to the finish. Great racing, and something we hope gets served up in large white group platefuls during this years Garmin Hamble Winter Series."

Asking about some pointers for this year, "There are many tips I could list about the Hamble Winter Series…after all this will be our 5th year in a row…and at the last count the boat has only ever missed two Sundays" commented Mark.

(1) This might sound obvious, but maximising the number of races that you sail will improve on your chances to win the overall series, so if you feel comfortable get the crew organised to sail the boat in your absence.

(2) With two races per day within the white group, we have found that carrying a few key spares prevents you from losing races due to simple breakages. We always carry the spare spinnaker, and a spare rachet block aswell as main top batten and jib batten are good bets.

(3) Early dock times and early starts are things we all struggle to contend with, but we have consistently always been out on the course 30mins before our start time. This is important to give you time to set-up the boat, get the crew warmed up and the rig tuned for the days forecasted conditions. Sail a good lengthy upwind leg to pick up on any wind phases and work out your favoured side of the course – tide and wind.

(4) Lastly, and I am sure I say this every year…...once the starting sequence has commenced make sure you pay a great deal of attention to the first fleets that start. Watching who starts where and how they progress up the first beat is one of the most valuable sources of “real” information you are going to get. Validate this against your thoughts and use it to help you fine tune that all important first beat strategy.

Full Y&Y article covering the Garmin Hamble Winter Series can be found in the 22-Sept issue of Y&Y magazine.

MARINEONTHEWEB.co.uk - 14th Overall

After retiring from the final day of racing at Skandia Cowes Week, MARINEONTHEWEB.co.uk finished in 14th place overall amongst the competitive class of 89 Laser SB3s.

Reports are available on the Cowes Week 2006 page, with full results at www.cowesweek.co.uk

SB3 PamBere to fly the flag for Dyer Burdett & Co at Cowes Week 2006

With just over two weeks to go before Cowes Week starts, PBracing are very pleased to confirm that they will be sailing under the black & gold colours of Marine Law Specialists - Dyer Burdett & Co for the duration of Skandia Cowes Week 2006.

“This is an exciting prospect for both Dyer Burdett & Co. and PBracing at such a prestigious event as Skandia Cowes Week “ commented Mark Gillett. “Sailing in what will be the largest fleet with 85 boats racing in the LaserSB3 class it should provide lots of exposure and excitement.”

The boat is entered under name of MARINE ON THE WEB.co.uk with sail no. 3149

http://www.marineontheweb.co.uk/

707 Pocket Battleship finds a new home

After a fantastic 4½ years racing in the 707 One-Design Class, and a successful 2006 campaign it is a little sad to report that 707 Pocket Battleship has departed for a new home back up in Burnham on the East Coast. Although the 707 Nationals title still eludes the PBracing team, I am pleased to report that new owner Andrew Prestwich and his keen family plan to be out racing regularly in Burnham as the local fleet there continues to grow in strength & numbers. Perhaps we might see the Pocket Battleship name back on the 707 East Coast Championship trophy in the years to come.

707 PB wins Southern Area Championships

Despite some strong competition from the East Coast teams of Cacciatore, Beaver Hunter and Emu, Pocket Battleship came away with the overall win in the 5 race no-discard series run by Royal London YC at Cowes. See "News" for a brief report.

707 PB wins RTI

After an 11hr marathon, Pocket Battleship won the 707 class in the 2006 Round the Island race. Begorrah were second and Star Born 3 were third. See "News" for a full report.

Top Stories

PB Racing at Irish Nationals & World Championships

PB Racing Summer Break 2008

SB3 Grand Prix Series 2008

Raymarine Warsash Spring Series 2008

SB3 Autumn Championships 2007

SB3 National Championships 2007

Swan45 World Championships 2007

SB3 European Championships 2007

Raymarine Warsash Spring Series 2007