SAILINGGRAHAM Sunderland used all his sailing skills to win the Illusion Ice Breaker Trophy at Bembridge Sailing Club last weekend.
He took the title despite finishing sixth in the first two races, but won races three, five and six to finish a clear winner.
A total of 16 boats took part in the popular regatta, and in the first race, Rudy Jurg took the win from Bruce Huber and Edmund Peel.
In the second race the changeable wind conditions saw a lot of positional changes at the top but it was the formidable Peel who used the rules and his familiarity with Bembridge Harbour to take the win from Graham Bailey and Mark Downer.
Sunderland’s win in race three, just edging out Jurg, propelled him up the overall leaderboard, with Huber third.
Towards the back of the fleet octogenarian Philip Woodford proved age was nothing but a number as he gave younger sailors a run for their money.
On Sunday, the wind was very light but with a number of sailors on equal points there was all to play for.
The first race of the day was won by Graham Bailey, with wife, Julia, second and Jurg in third, but with Sunderland winning the next two races, he put himself three points clear overall.
Jurg finished second and Mark Downer, who sailed consistently throughout with a series of third and fourth places, was third.
Graham and Julia Bailey both finished on 22 marks lost, with Graham pipping Julia to fourth on countback.
BRADING HAVEN YC
Light winds under an overcast sky did little to deter the 15 boats that raced the first event of the club’s Open Icebreaker Series last weekend.
Two Picos, a Heron and a Mirror led the fleet up the harbour in what was to be a close race, with many individual battles taking place.
Marten Springett (Heron) shook off the strong challenges of John Whitehead (Mirror) and Phil Wright (Pico), putting almost three minutes between himself and Whitehead to take the finishing gun.
The handicap result was even closer than the race itself. Despite Springett’s big win, on count back he was only five seconds in front of Graeme Bowen with Trevor Pearce gaining third.
The second race saw Wright lead the fleet round the course, taking the winning gun from Springett and Bowen. On handicap, Bowen took gold with Wright second and Springett third.
A new winter series is being trialled for Solos, and in the first race, Richard Coleman won from Gareth Jones and early leader Steve de Boise.