SAILING
BEMBRIDGE SC
GRAHAM Sunderland retained his Piers January Jacket title after a close contest last weekend.
In wintry conditions, 18 sailors braved the water on Saturday, racing a long course set out inside Bembridge Harbour.
Sunderland won the opening race, followed by Mark Downer and newcomer to the class, David Lenz, in third. With the wind softening, light airs specialist James Meaning won the next two races.
Another new sailor, Steve Warren-Smith, scored his best result with a fourth place in race three.
Sunday brought perfect conditions, and after a general recall in the first race, Sunderland blasted away, with Downer in hot pursuit and they match-raced each other in each race.
Julia Bailey showed she can match the boys for tactics and boat speed sailing more close winded than anybody else and scored a third, a fourth and a third again in the last race of the day.
The youngest in the fleet, Robbie Southwell, 18, did very well on Saturday but broke his bilge pump and sailed home early sitting waist deep in icy cold water.
In the end, Sunderland won overall, with Downer second and Meaning in third. Bailey was top woman, while the over-80s winner was class admiral Philip Woodford.