A constant south east wind and sea mist greeted the sailors on the second Saturday of April, writes Chris Clapp.

Eight sailing dinghies took to the water for two races, shortened due to the cold temperature and advancing sea mist.

Two Lasers sailed to form a fleet. Paul Wilson arrived late and just managed to launch on the five-minute gun before the start, with the help of club members rigging up his boat for him.

He sailed well and went on to win the first race. However, he didn’t have it all his own way, as Bob Vine, in his first sail of the season, won the second Laser race having gained a convincing lead.

Two RS Fevas competed, with helm Richard Davies and crew Lisa Craig sailing well to take the win in both races. However, Christina Clapp and Sofia Abrahams also showed some potential and improvement during the afternoon by helming a race each.

All the other boats out were competing in a handicap scoring system, the points for which are accumulated over the sailing season. Simon Price and Emma McFayden in their Scorpion, won both races, showing good tactical sailing skills and teamwork. This was particularly evident in the second race, in which Ady Moreton and Jo Kinder in their RS 2000 had a good start but lost their lead with the Scorpion tacking underneath them and gaining a lucky wind shift to push them around the windward mark and into the lead.

Great to see father and son, Scott and Rudi Tobin competing against each other. Scott in a RS Quba and Rudi sailing in his own Topper, his first sail of the season.

Thanks to the patrol boat crew consisting of James Francis and Dave Clark, who sat out there in the cold and mist, setting the course and looking after the fleet.

This past midweek the club saw the start of the Wednesday series of club racing.

It’s a case of ‘be on the water for a 6.30pm start’ and the sailing is followed by food in the clubhouse kindly prepared by rear commodore Liz White.