Nikki Lidstone, skippering Mike McCarthy's Yachting World five-tonner Elfreda, won Maldon Little Ship Club's annual ladies' race on Saturday.

Five boats competed in the race, which was sailed in a brisk north-easterly wind on a course which took the fleet from Osea Island to racing buoys No 3 and 12 near Bradwell power station.

There was an exciting finish between Elfreda and the Vindo 32 Swedish Lass (Janice Frost) for line honours, but second place on handicap went to Tish Woulds in Mirembe.

Ten other yachts joined the racing quartet for an evening barbecue on Osea Island, followed by a race on Sunday for the Osea Pot.

The fleet clawed their way in light airs against the flood to round Thirslet Spit and two yachts had to retire in order to get back to their moorings on the tide, leaving Swedish Lass, skippered by John Frost the winner by a huge margin. Mirembe (Derek Woulds) gallantly battled on to take second place.

Derek Gardner from Marconi Sailing Club, sailing Killara II, won the opening BJRC (Blackwater Joint Clubs Committee) race of the new season, the Woods Cup. Stone Sailing Club yacht Carolanti (Rolland & Co) was the runner-up.

The second race in the series is the Stone Cruiser Cup next Sunday, from the Thirslet Spit buoy (0930 hrs).

Marconi Sailing Club's Mona's Trophy was won by Tim Wallace, who finished ahead of Mike Boreham.

l Ron Laurie, of Harlow Blackwater Sailing Club, finished fifth at the Halfway Yacht Club s Solo Open meeting at Thorpe Bay at the weekend. He had a best result of fourth in the four-race meeting.

RESULTS

JRC Woods Cup: 1, Killara II (D. Gardner, Marconi SC), 2, Carolanti (Rolland & Co, Stone SC), GAD (P. Smith, Dabchicks SC), 4, Forza (J. Hardie, DSC), 5, Out Of Focus (R. Brown, Stone SC). Marconi SC Mona's Cup: 1, T. Wallace, 2, M. Boreham, 3, D. Eyles. Spring Points series, Race 2: Handicap: 1, S. Ash, 2, K. Williams, 3, S. Monks. Cadets: 1, T, Dowley, 2, Q. Hardwicke. RBYC/RCYC Saturday Etchells: Her Outdoors (R. Melville). Dragon: Quicksilver (R. Campbell). Hunter 707 Emu Excursion (N. Wood). Squib: Magic Roundabout (B. Meadows). RBOD: Jade (M. Smith). Sunday Etchells: Danish Blue (P. Ho-Jensen). Dragon: Hat Trick (M. Holmes & A. Allen). Hunter 707: Emu Excursion. Squib: Trophoblast (C. Goodfellow). Sonata: Sirocco (S. Tribe). Burnham SC Wednesday Evening series - Sportboat: Baby Beluga (J. Lewis). Class 1: Twist & Shout (P. & N. Elmore). Class 2: Xandra (D. Willshire & J. Haylock). Class 3: Red Jacket (D. Lenz). Class 4: Scirocco (S. Tribe). Squib: Trophoblast (C. Goodfellow). Maylandsea Bay YC Keelboat series, Race 2: 1, P. Goodman (Limbo), 2, W. Wright (True Blue),3, J. Primett (Wild Gull). Maylandsea Bay YC/Harlow Blackwater SC Spring series, Race 5: Fast Handicap: D. Griffiths (Contender, MBYC). Medium Handicap: P. Harris (Kestrel, MBYC). Slow Handicap: J. Rutherford (Solo, HBSC). Race 6: Fast Handicap: M. Batt (RS400, HBSC). Medium Handicap: P. Harris. Slow Handicap: J. Rutherford. Harlow Blackwater SC Laser Open: 1, B. Sargent, 2, R. Sharman (HBSC), 3, M. Tarling (MBYC), 4, M. Cross (HBSC). Stone SC Summer Points series, Race 1: Hornet: Strangler & J. Hoyle. Unicorn: L. Harris. Fast Handicap: K. & G. Terkelsen (RS400). Slow Handicap: D. Dixon (Finn). Cadets: W. Rogers & E. Taylor.Race 2: Hornet: D. & G. Wood. Slow Handicap: D. Dixon.Cadets: B. Jones & J. Green. Maldon YC Commodore's Cup (single-handed in two-man boat): 1, A. Denniss (420); A. Hoy (snipe); P. Marshall (snipe). Saturday cup, Race 1: 1, A. Denniss; 2, I. Wright (Laser); 3, B. Clark (Int canoe). Sunday points series. Race 2: 1, I. and K. Varney (snipe); 2, B. and R. Foulds (sus); 3, E. Weatherall and I. Satterley (snipe). Helmsman Trophy: Race 2: 1, I. Wright; 2, J. K. Varney; 3, E. Weatherall and I. Satterley.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.