SAILING
ROYAL VICTORIA YC
THE fast dinghies were set a triangular course for the first of the evening series.
The RS400 of Neil Griffiths and Mark Turner was soon in the lead, closely followed by the full-rig Laser of Ben Gibson and Derek Stroud’s Solo. Victory went to Griffiths.
Another capsize for Stroud saw Talbot take the honours among the Solos but behind Gibson in second.
The White boys were the Oppie fleet. Tom was the winner of a battle for first with Harry, and Charlie in third.
In the Squibs, the Downers opened up a commanding lead. A tussle for second was won by Sally Everitt and Julie Prime in Firestreak, over David Longford and Fred Angel in Kestrel. The next evening race is on May 31.
A week barely goes by without welcoming a newcomer to the Squib fleet.
Sunday saw the turn of Simon and Rebecca Roncoroni to join the fray in their beautifully turned out Seren Wib.
Ben Gibson’s Satu popped out in the lead at the windward mark to take first place with the Downers in second and Steve Warren-Smith and Martin Sinclair in Aquabat in third.
In the Laser fleet, Ben Gibson took line and handicap honours from George Downer in their full rigs, followed by Dom Mortimer in his radial. The fast dinghies had several close tussles within their designs, Neil Griffiths and Mark Turner prevailing over Chris Andrews and Steve Sheridan.
In the Oppies race, it was another one, two, three for Harry, Charlie and Tom White.
ROYAL SOLENT YC
On Saturday, Gleam were the winners, with Team Palmer in second and Sans Souci third.
On Sunday, the Royal Solent start lines were busy with both the Junior Offshore Group and the Royal Naval Sailing Association starting races before the three Royal Solent club starts. The Folkboats had very close racing with the lead changing hands several times.
With a long first beat judging the tide was all important, as Matilda II won the Folkboat class, Gleam the Xs and Diatom the Y.
YARMOUTH SC
There were some dramatic changes in positions during Saturday’s racing.
In the handicap class, Rachael Parsloe and Alex Gallimore in their Picos opened up a gap at the front and both had turns in the lead. However, following an incident between the boats, Joy Mowle overtook to take first place. Alex was second and Rachael third but Alex was the overall winner of the May series.
The wind dropped as the Scows were about to start, before Graeme Bowen looked to have put himself in an unassailable lead.
The wind disappeared as Nick Measor and David Hedley caught up with him, before David crossed the line in first place.
However, in proved in vain as he had unpicked his tracks incorrectly, meaning Graeme was first in the revised listings.
On Sunday, the second race in the All-comers series was sailed in a Force 3 north-easterly wind, contested by the Scows, with Tim Lee the sole Pico.
Roger, Graeme and Melinda set the pace and it was Graeme who took first place, ahead of Melinda in second and Roger in third.
BEMBRIDGE
The conditions were excellen for the Redwing Nicholson Trophy race on Saturday.
Matt Alexander was the eventual winner in No 18 Harlequin, followed by Colin Samuelson in No 11 Toucan.
Tom Scott in Siskin No 36 and Joe Robertson in Red Gauntlet No 24 were close at the finish with Tom crossing the line in third.
Meanwhile, the six One-Designs were set a shorter course, won by Peter Truman in No 9.
William Bland in No 11 sailed a safe course and came in second two minutes behind and Norman Marshall in No 7 with his young crew came in third, about two minutes later.
On Sunday, both fleets were down to three boats but they still had a good race.
Tom Scott in Siskin was ahead after the first round but Matt Alexander in Harlequin managed to overtake on the second beat and crossed the line 20 seconds ahead.
Rupert Gosling in No 45 was third some way behind.
The One-Designs had a very close first round but James Row in No 8 then managed to get ahead of Mark Grzegorczyk in No 9 to finish 46 seconds ahead.
Sarah Marshall in No 7 was third.