Club sailors turn out for Surfers series

But this wasn't a weekend race, it was the regular Thursday Cadet night. With the emphasis on fun on the water, cadets of 10-18 practiced their racing and sailing skills. And this was following a Wednesday evening series with over 20 boats sailing.

A similar number of sailors were disappointed when poor visibility resulted in the Saturday Evening Series race being cancelled.

But on Sunday, despite light winds, 36 boats were on the water for the first of the eight charity races, Surfers Against Sewage Charity Race.

When the results were published, Bexhill Sailing Club President John Baber presented Tim Murray, Surfers Against Sewage local representativ,e with a cheque for 86. Tim thanked the club for its support, emphasising again the important work that is being done to make the sea safe for bathers, sailors and surfers.

The Charity races are all handicap races, which means that each sailor has to sail at peak performance all the time. This was made more difficult by the falling wind and tide.

The Catamarans, starting last, were caught when the wind dropped on their last lap. Pat Graham & Hazel James stayed ahead of the field. Paul Viner had succeeded in getting ahead of the Dart 16s and looked to be taking 1st place on handicap when the wind dropped, and he had to work very hard to finish at all.

The 14-strong slow handicap fleet was led home by Sarah Pullen in her Europe.

Only Chris Beadle in his Topaz Race was close to her at the end of the first lap, with the Turners in their Firefly 3rd.

By the finish, Helen Bradshaw had come ahead of Beadle, and Pippa Barrie's (Europe) strong finish was not enough for her to finish ahead of Nick Wilson's Feva on handicap.

The experience and expertise of Jim Ingam allowed him to coax his Laser into 1st place. although he had to get past the Laser of Alastair Thomson to do it. Lynne Ratcliffe & Carol Peddlesden sailed well to handicap, but although crossing the line first, were not quite far enough ahead of Ingram to win.

The Surfers against Sewage race was preceded by an Early Worm race. Again light winds made life difficult, but there was less of a tide, and only one lap was sailed.

In the Catamarans, Rob Shoesmith & Trevor Lippiatt came home ahead of the rapidly improving Neil and Daphne Hosie followed by John & Clare Day.

The small Slow Handicap fleet showed Sarah Pullen again sailing her Europe into 1st place. Although Sally Clark was second to cross the line, Lesley Corke sailed her Topper well to take 2nd on handicap.

Fast handicaps are obviously a hungry class, as eight of them went out before having a "full English" provided by Lillian Ray in the galley.

Bob Sear & Barrie Wells enjoyed the conditions in their Albacore enabling them to take 1st place both on the water and on handicap. The Lasers of Geoff Slater and Alastair Thomson were separated on the water by the RS200 of Lynne Ratcliffe & Carol Peddlesden, a result that was confirmed on handicap.

Surfers-against-Sewage Charity Race

Catamaran Handicap:

1) P Graham & H James (Dart 18) 2) P Viner (Dart 15)

Slow Handicap:

1) S Pullen (Europe) 2) H Bradshaw (Race) 3) N Wilson & crew (Feva)

Fast Handicap:

1) J Ingram (Laser) 2) L Ratcliffe & C Peddlesden (RS200) 3) A Thomson (Laser)

Wednesday Evening Series

Catamaran Handicap:

1) R Shoesmith & T Lippiatt (Dart 16) 2) N & D Hosie (Dart 16) 3) J & C Day (Dart 16)

Slow Handicap:

1) S Pullen (Europe) 2) L Corke (Topper) 3) S Clark (Europe)

Fast Handicap:

1) B Sear & B Wells (Albacore) 2) G Slater (Laser) 3) L Ratcliffe & C Peddlesden (RS200)

p This weekend has the first training weekend, for New Sailors, as well as Saturday Series and Summer Series races in the afternoons.