7:00am Wednesday 17th September 2008
A rare sunny day and strong winds greeted dinghy sailors at Walton and Frinton Yacht Club for the second of four races in their Autumn Series.
Race officer Anna Brooke set a course which embraced a club start, spit buoy, twizzle, hedge end, watch boat, wade, spit buoy and back to the club.
After a lively battle at the start line, the fleet of Jewels and fast and slow fleets quickly established positions and, with the wind continuing in strength, the competitors’ skills were tested to the full.
In a keenly-contested race, the Jewel fleet saw Simon Hipkin first over the line, followed by Robin Cooper.
In third place was Martin Wilberforce, followed by Chris Brooke.
Fifth was Jonathan Brooke and sixth Richard Marshall.
The slow fleet saw Sally Bucklitsch first over the line in her Laser Pico, followed by Ned Phillips, competing for the first time in his Winkle Brig.
Third place went to Steve Garney’s Mirror.
The fast fleet produced another win for John Summerfield in his Blaze, followed by Tim Brooke’s Laser.
The Laser of Martin Berryman was third.
Trevor Hall, in his Bosun, finished fourth and the Laser Radial of Tom Berryman was fifth.
Tim Chapman’s 420 was sixth and James Oxley, in his OK, seventh.
The next race in the dinghy series is planned for early next month, while the club’s cruisers are planning a cruise to Royal Harwich Yacht club this weekend while racing for the coveted Crosby Cup.
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