ONE of Poole's raciest yachts, Jammin, winner of the J92 national championships earlier in the season, was on the losing side in its latest major contest in local waters. But, no matter, for the spirit of the "entente cordiale" was the real winner.

Certainly Jammin's owner, Mike Riley, of Poole YC, was honoured to put his boat at the disposal of the Royal Ocean Racing Club for its match racing event against the French Ocean Racing Club, the Union Nationale Course du Large (UNCL).

This special day of two-boat close quarter racing had its origins 21 years ago when the then commodore of UNCL issued a challenge to Chris Dunning, then commodore of RORC.

Since then the competition has been held every two years, alternating between France and Britain.

This year, for the first time, Poole Bay was the chosen venue, and two identically rated J-92s - the other was Hamble-based Vampire, owned by Frenchman David Moore - were the chosen yachts.

The fast 30ft planing boats were ideal as they use asymmetric spinnakers which enabled the rather elderly crews, five of whom were in their 70s, to experience the thrills of flying their kites in force 6 north westerly winds without having to wrestle with poles and other foredeck hazards.

Jammin, serving as the British boat, was helmed by current RORC commodore Peter Rutter with John Bourke on mainsheet, Don Parr on cockpit, David Edwards tactician, Mike Riley foredeck and Brad Bradberry grinder.

Vampire had French match racing expert Jean-Louis Fabry on the helm and ocean racer Pascal Herold on mainsheet, with current UNCL commodore Phillipe Serenon grinding.

In Race One, Jammin took the lead to the windward mark and held it on the next leg, despite Vampire hoisting a larger spinnaker.

But on the reach the RORC boat made a major error by not staying to windward of Vampire but bearing off to make the mark. Vampire established an inside overlap.

Jammin broke free on the next beat but Vampire managed to tack clear ahead to win by just two boat lengths.

In the second race Jammin again took an early lead but was later hit by an enormous gust and in bearing away big time had to drop her kite. Vampire took advantage and stayed in front.

So it was 2-0 to the French, who have won or drawn the majority of the contests. "This has apparently been good for relationships, with the Brits such good losers and the French gallant victors," said Riley.

"It has meant RORC and UNCL supporting each other on many major international events as well as other issues, such as rating systems and rules."

The winning trophy, the Cope des President (an old peaked cap), was presented to the winning commodore by event organiser Chris Dunning at a dinner party at Poole's Mansion House Restaurant.

The men from UNCL and their wives arrived in Poole aboard the magnificent 90 ft French racing yacht La Folie des Grinders, in which owner Pascal Herold is planning his second assault on the singlehanded monohull record for crossing the Atlantic, east to west.