ONE of the world's most popular and keenly contested yachts, the J24, is enjoying some of its best racing in British waters this winter in our own Poole Bay.

Parkstone YC has the reputation of offering prime competition in its J24 winter series, attracting not only its own enthusiastic sailors but visitors as well, like National Class Association secretary Phil Owen, from Weybridge.

Together they regularly bring a 14-strong fleet to the start line, with five crew to a boat, drawn from ex-dinghy sailors and cruiser owners, needing to work hard as a team.

Last Sunday 16 boats lined up when the first of the day's two races got away from the offshore Robson Cotterell mark, beating into 11/12 knots of NNW breeze.

Conditions became tricky with the wind shifting under the cliffs, as the boats headed for the windward mark, and the pecking order also went through some shifts.

Then it was back, on a colourful spinnaker run, to Robson Cotterell, and a repeat performance round the tight windward-leeward course. "This is what we like - short courses with lots of roundings which make for close racing," said Owen Kerr, skipper of Owen's J, who dropped back to finish 11 after catching himself round a lobster pot line and losing valuable time.

David Ellis, in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, scored a first and second to take overall series lead, with Rory Barnes, of Christchurch SC, winner of Sunday's second race, in Fruit Cakes, runner-up four points behind. Phil Owen lies a close overall third.

Other Parkstone Winter Series results - Class 1 cruisers: 1 Jim Macgregor (Flair 111), 2 Martin Pearson (Ruthless), 3 Mike Riley (Jammin of Poole). Class 2: 1 Mr and Mrs C Welch (Effusion), 2 Chris Blackburn (Mistress), 3 Mike Fox (Matchmaker 11).

Poole YC Open Cruiser Winter Series, Class A: 1 M Dover (Florin), 2 R Lees (Reflex of Poole), 3 B Thompson (Bamps). Class 2 1 J Waters (Skullduggery), 2 P Mecklen-burgh (Spellbound), 3 C Hawkes (Minx). Class 3 1 S Gill (Odin), 2 K Cross (Salty Sparrow), 3 F Hackforth (Thumper).