David HannantWith the winter series coming to an end the weather at Oulton Broad last Sunday was more suitable for the up coming summer series. It was a brilliantly sunny day but unfortunately the wind let things down and all races had to be shortened.David Hannant

With the winter series coming to an end the weather at Oulton Broad last Sunday was more suitable for the up coming summer series.

It was a brilliantly sunny day but unfortunately the wind let things down and all races had to be shortened.

The 17 dinghies in the first Fast Handicap race were over anxious and with half the fleet over the line at the start there was no alternative but to signal a general recall and try again.

The second try was not much better than the first but with time running out the OOD let them go as they were in a fairly straight line.

Four of the fleet were RS400s but none of them could get the better of Duncan Madin in his RS300 who finished first on the shortened course and held his place on handicap as the 400s took the next four places.

But this was nothing like good enough to save their time as the Lasers of Alan Cone and Steve Cole picked up places and although they only finished sixth and ninth this was good enough to give them second and third places on handicap.

Bryan Riley lead the Squibs by a comfortable margin throughout and there was a close fight for second and third between Owen Delany, David Gooch, Kerr Sinclair and Sam Cole but on the short final run to the finish they were watching each other so closely that they missed John Lockwood dropping down to leeward and staying in what was left of the wind as he picked up four places to move up to second - even more remarkable considering he was sailing single handed and had started almost two minutes late.

Only two of the second Fast Handicap starters stayed the course and Nick Barrett finished the length of the Broad in front of David Frary.

The Lasers had a good race with plenty of place changing back in the fleet although Steve Cole held the lead throughout. Flip Foulds picked up three places as she took second while Alan Gisborne did the same to take third. In the second squib race Bryan Riley had a good lead at the first mark with Kerr Sinclair slowly narrowing the gap and when the course was shortened these two were over five minutes ahead of Owen Delany.

Next Sunday is the final day of the winter series and there are still prizes to be won so a good turnout is expected. Following the racing there will be a buffet and presentation of the winter honours.