With the majority of the Scorpion fleet away at the national championships last week, much of the fleet at Sidmouth was made up by Laser sailors. On Wednesday evening, 15 boats took to the water for some close Laser racing, accompanied by three Toppers an

With the majority of the Scorpion fleet away at the national championships last week, much of the fleet at Sidmouth was made up by Laser sailors.

On Wednesday evening, 15 boats took to the water for some close Laser racing, accompanied by three Toppers and two Scorpions.

In a 10 strong Laser fleet, Dave Martin took the win in the Lasers, with Gerald Woodley second and Bob Vine third.

It must have been fairly breezy as Nick Benson didn't finish after capsizing around 10 times and losing his rudder, and H Thompson failed to realise he was over the start line and was therefore disqualified.

In the Scorpions, Simon Price and Imogen Dinham-Price won, beating John Nicole and Sally Stevens into second place.

Paul Kennedy won the Topper fleet with John Jones also racing, and also a mention for Connor Fitch, sailing well as one of this year's beginners, and completing the course in a Topper.

Saturday's race didn't have such a good turn out, only eight boats in total making the racing. In the force 2 southerly, racing wasn't even all that exciting.

Alex Hayman and James Salter, fresh back from The Nationals, dominated race one in the Scorpions, flying the spinnaker and ending up winning by over a lap.

Colin Walls and Mark Wearing finished a convincing second over Laura Mitchell and Imogen Dinham-Price.

In the Lasers, H Thompson took the win, also in convincing fashion. Paul Kennedy finished second, Louise Cody was third. Saphire Smith sailed well in a Topper, completing the course and improving every week.

The second race followed the same pattern, awfully unexciting. Alex and James still won by a lap, despite being over the line at the start and choosing not to use the kite, Laura and Imogen snuck a second in front of Colin and Mark. H won the Lasers by a clear margin, sailing round with Alex and James for a few laps. Saphire Smith just about made it round the course, sailing not the issue, more keeping track of triangles and sausages!

Last week, most of the Scorpion fleet were over at the National Championships in Lyme Regis, with varying degrees of success.

In a week of moderate, then massively light, followed by stonkingly windy conditions, the sailors were sufficiently challenged.

The overall championship was won, with a day to spare, by Tom Jeffcote and Andy Smith from Speed Sails, not Sidmouth. The first semi Sidmouth finisher was Nick Keast crewing for John Mursell finishing in third. Kevin Gosling and Max Hayman, sailing for Sidmouth although Kevin hasn't sailed here properly for many a year, finished in seventh the only Sidmouth boat in the top ten.

As for sailors that regularly sail at Sidmouth; Chris Clapp and Tom Francis finished 19th (and a daily prize for a 12th), Amy Hayman and Sam Gosling 26th (blagged a daily prize for two top 20 finishes and no mug), James Salter and Ross Hutchings 33rd (no prize, despite a 17th on Wednesday), Ollie Salter and Heather Martin 38th (daily prize for 21st (!) - on Thursday, John Keast crewed - Mike Holmes and Jayne Clancy 38th, Nick Jennings and Philippa Rob 49th. In an attempt to cover the other week's goings on, Max Hayman gained the nickname Max the Tramp, due to his camping.

James and Ross put a hole in Miles's boat on Thursday due to an unfortunate turn of events at the gybe mark, earning the Pecker, and Ollie and Heather capsized in the harbour mouth. On Friday and Alex Hayman, the dirty northerner, crewed in to 14th, sailing for Notts County.

This weekend is the Sidmouth Regatta and the usual long distance/pursuit race on bank holiday Monday, racing starts at 10.30am on Saturday.

As always, thanks to the race management, even though we clearly weren't over the line on Saturday!

Good Sailing