Poole AB

The Poole AB was designed in the late 1950's by Harry Poole who lived in Poole, so no real surprises with the name! (He also designed a 11' dinghy called the C-Dog or CD). It was promoted as a safe family dinghy although looking back it seemed optimistic to think that two adults and three children could sail an 8'6" long dinghy, but we did.

We bought AB 50 in 1960 and I still remember the test sail I had with Harry. I gather he was impressed that a 5 year old could handle the jib sheets so well. Like all classes the AB's have had their ups and downs. When I raced them we regularly had fleets of 40+ and although numbers later dropped off it's currently undergoing a revival in Poole with several new boats built.

1962 was a memorable year. It was the first year I genuinely sailed by myself (in the upper reaches of the Yar river, Isle of Wight) and also because of the trip I describe below. Cowes, Isle of Wight to Southampton is about 13 miles. I've done it since in under an hour in a multihull (beating the ferry), but it was an ambitious trip in a small dinghy. This article is of historic significance (!) because it was the first one I ever wrote that was published, furthermore I don't remember having any help in writing it.

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"Instead of the Ferry" by Richard Woods (aged 8) from Poole AB Newsletter December 1962

"On the last day of our holidays in the Isle of Wight my father and I sailed across from East Cowes to Southampton docks in Poole AB no 50. When we started we had the wind on the beam and the tide under us, once we got out of the shelter of the trees it began to get rougher and even rougher... We did not speak a word until we got past Calshot light vessel which marks the mouth of Southampton Water. Then we went on and on until we got to the seaward side of Hythe pier.

We turned in here because we saw some boats there, we thought there would be a place to eat our lunch although the time was nearly four o'clock although we had started out at half past twelve... When we got in we found that it was Hythe Sailing Club. The people there very kindly said we could have our lunch there. While we were eating our lunch we had a good look round. After a time a sailing canoe came in and we had a good look at that too... Some people said they wished they had a camera.

Soon after that I wished I had my camera because as soon as the canoe went out it capsized. I wish I had that capsize with the capsize of the Duke of Edinburgh I had taken the day before. As we had some time to spare we sailed up to Eling to almost the bridge, it was about five hundred yards away from us when we turned back. as the tide was running out fast we turned round and went to the boat slipway to land.

Then we unrigged and ate our tea and then waited for the car to come to put the boat on the roof. Thus we ended our adventurous voyage, Mummy was so surprised to see us at the pier, because she had expected to go down to Netley to fetch us."

You can see more on the AB HERE, and on my Biography page. I was National Champion in 1968