There was not much enthusiasm to get ready when people arrived at Snowflake Sailing Club.

This might have been the thought of going outside in the grey and cold, or the enticing smell of bacon cooking inside the club house. The first set of races started on time with a fair breeze.

Two Yeomen, Kittiwake (Ian Hanson and Q Stewart) and Topaz (Gary Ross and Steve Dixon) started the first race using their spinnakers going up-river. Four minutes later a third Yeoman, 'Misty Morning' (Bernard Westgate and Andrew Fryer) joined the race. Almost immediately four dinghies (a Laser, two Toppers and a Splash) started, with a National 12 following a few minutes later.

By the end of the first lap both Yeomen and dinghies were spread out and they were even more so by the end of the second lap.

Laser, Custard Cream, sailed by Edward Wildman, was a long way ahead of the other dinghies. The National 12 sailed by Toby Pearce and Chris Haslam managed to move up to third on the water after their late start. With handicaps applied, Edward kept onto his lead with Ellie Edwards (Splash) second and Pippa Edwards (Topper, Bubble) third. The Yeomen race remained spread out, with Kittiwake taking first place and Topaz second.

The two Toppers sailors decided to take out Yeoman Lavinia, Richie Dugdale helming and Pippa Edwards crewing, so there were four Yeomen for the second race.

The wind started to get up and the Yeomen managed to be in two pairs this time. Topaz and Kittiwake stayed together, as did Lavinia and Misty Morning.

The three dinghies were much closer together at their start, but Toby and Chris were leading by the end of second lap and, despite the gusty conditions, they kept upright and came over the line first by five minutes. After handicaps were applied they slipped to second place with Ellie Edwards (Splash) taking first.

The Yeomen race caused the biggest excitement at the end. The two pairs of boats were very close coming past the clubhouse, but in both cases the lead swapped as they rounded the last mark.

Topaz was first, followed a minute later by Kittiwake. Less than three minutes later Lavinia crossed the line with just five seconds to spare before Misty Morning crossed.