SAILING
GURNARD SC
AFTER rough weather put paid to Wednesday evening’s racing, Sunday provided ideal conditions with enough wind for speed but not enough for breakage.
In the RS400s, Mike Acton took the win with Chris Symons second and Paul Tyson third.
The RS100s dominated the medium group, led by Barry Watkin with Andy Dore and Rob Procter next in line. Martin Bean was first Laser, ahead of Chris Hobday and Pete Bowen.
In the fast group, RS700s were out in force with Keith Hayden winning from Ben Willows and Bob Preston after a close race.
The cats enjoyed their race with Robin Leather’s Shadow and Paul Jennings’ Hurricane having their usual tussle on the water. Behind them, Mike Martin just pipped Jennings to second place corrected.
The large final group included the venerable Mirror of the Schofields, which just missed a podium place, behind the more modern machinery of Sam Metcalf, Tom Blowers and Adam Coventry.
YARMOUTH SC
The third race of the July series was sailed in extremely light winds to make it a frustrating night for sailors.
Competitors struggled against the incoming tide on the long leg back from B via C, and the signal for a shortened course was a relief to all.
Alex Gallimore made the most of his opportunity among the Picos in the handicap class to take first place, just ahead of Joy Mowle second, with Tim Lee third.
In the Scows, after a tricky race, Mike Sheaf took the win ahead of early leader John Bennet and Roger P-E third.
Stronger winds greeted sailors on Sunday. The Picos of Alex and Rachael Parsloe alternated at the front of the handicap class but Alex made it a weekend double, with Rachael second and Tim third again.
In the Scows, David Hedley — in the only wooden boat — was fouled at the start but did brilliantly to take the lead and hold it for victory. Martin Palmer was second with Mary Lord third.
The weekend before, all racing was cancelled on Saturday but it was all change on Sunday for the first of the two Top of the River races which started in a Force 3 WSW breeze, increasing to Force 4 by the end.
The handicap class was won by Joy Mowle with Alex Gallimore second, while the scows race was won by Chris Jones, with Peter Giles second.
BEMBRIDGE SC
A Redwing team event was enjoyed by sailors on Saturday.
After an tactics session by the club coach Matt, six Redwings went head to head in teams, and the captain’s team Colin Samuelson, Mark Andreae and Joe Robertson defeated the honorary secretary’s team of Robin Ebsworth, Nick Wakefield and Tom Scott.
On Sunday, there was close racing for the Redwings, the first seven finishing within four minutes of each other, with Tom Scott winning from Meri Benham and Michael Macinnes. For the One-Designs, Martin Bonham led for almost all the way but young Oliver Joy squeezed past on the final beat.
Meanwhile, 11 XODs took part in the 125th Jubilee Canvas.
Alastair Shaw crossed the line a minute ahead of Richard Neall after almost four hours racing. Barry Field and Spencer Wrigley were five seconds apart to finish in fifth and sixth, while Peter Taylor and Chris Blevins were two seconds apart for seventh and eighth.
On Friday, Bruce Huber, with his 12-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son were the only ones racing on Friday evening’s race.
ROYAL SOLENT YC
Once again last Wednesday evening’s racing was not for the faint hearted.
Class 1, with reefs down, was won by Fiskardo who got line and handicap honours. Thursday’s Child chose a hard race for her first outing of the season but came a creditable third.
Although some Class 2 boats came out of the harbour they thought better of it and went in before racing started. However the Folkboats and Class 3 raced an inshore course that was a bit sheltered from the blustery wind. Cloud Cuckoo won the Folkboats and Westwind, Class 3.
Only two Lasers raced, definitely a day for the men and even they seemed to send nearly as much time up side down as the right way up.
In the end, Miles Norris got the better of Alex Leonard.