SAILINGGRAHAM Sunderland’s consistent sailing won him the Piers January Jacket Regatta last weekend, at Bembridge Sailing Club.
In unfavourable weather, 11 Illusion sailors came out for a close battle and, in the first race, the windiest of the day, Mark Downer won from Rudy Jurg and Graham Sunderland, in third.
In the second race, Sue Thomas won, from Graham and Rudy but the final race of the day saw Graham win from Mark and Piers Thomas.
Andrew Christie, who normally is hanging in there with the top guys, could not find his usual form and together with Philip Woodford made up the back end.
Sunday’s racing took place in sunshine, and the good weather brought 21 sailors to the start line.
In the first race, Graham was in a winning mood but the going got tough in the second race, with three windward beats.
Piers showed the way, closely followed by Graham and Raymond Simonds. Rudy had a good shift and was lying second for a while but lost the plot on the the beat to the finish and came fourth.
In the last race, everybody was fired up and with a very clean start it was difficult for those on the pin end to get across as everybody wanted to head up the left side of the course.
However, at the top mark Graham, Mark and Rudy had marked their territories and finished in that order.
In the middle of the field, former Finn sailor and class admiral Vernon Stratton, now in his early 80s, showed great consistency by finishing 12th, 13th and 12th despite not flying a spinnaker.