Fierce conditions wear down fleet in Hastings Spring Series racing

Winds gusted force 4 to 5 from the north-west, with particularly shifty and fierce wind changes in the lee of Marine Court.

Numerous sailors capsized during the racing; discretion over valour was the call for many resulting in a steady flow of competitors heading ashore as the racing progressed.

In the Laser Handicap Fleet, Lucy Barrie (Laser 4.7) took the first race, just ahead of Hugh Ashford (Laser Radial) in second, and Sergio Velluti (Laser 4.7) third.

Ten Lasers had started the first race but only five were still on the water to begin the second, and capsizes in the testing conditions continued to affect the running order.

This time it was a win for Velluti, with Mat Windley (Laser Radial) second and Ashford third; Velluti leads the series overall. Philip & Tristan Blurton (Buzz) lead the General Handicap Fleet after wining both races ahead of Juan Ces & Catherine Derry (Buzz). Maurice and Janey Nash (Dart 16) were the only catamaran sailors on the water and took the points in their fleet.

The final race of the day, the Sovereign Handicap, had boats of all classes competing against each other on handicap.

Only five of the thirteen boats that originally launched were still sailing. Ashford had the best start but a capsize at the second mark allowed chasing boats to sail past him.

The Blurton’s Buzz took the lead and held on to the end, crossing the line first. Ashford caught most of the boats but once again fierce gusts and wind shifts played their part; Ashford looked to be overtaking Windley close to the line before he was flipped over again.

With handicaps applied, Sergio Velluti (Laser 4.7) was first and Mat Windley (Laser Radial) second.