Just another five knots of wind and Sunday would have been perfect.

Snowflakes got their Yeoman Open off after a 15-minute delay for the wind to arrive, but, even when it did, there was precious little downstream of the top of Swan Reach, and the start to a mark down the street wasn't the good idea it seemed.

Patrick Richardson and Julia Bennett got to the mark first, and were then blanketed as the other nine boats closed up.

New members Mike and Frances Holmes got away first and led for the rest of that round until passed by Pam Goodman and John Wright – who themselves were soon passed by the Dugdale cousins James and Richie. They went on to win and followed up with a second, and decisive, victory after overhauling early pacesetter Richardson.

Three retired from a depleted third race start in fading wind, Q Stewart and Ian Hanson's win sufficing to earn them third equal with Pam Goodman, behind the Dugdales and Richardson.

John and Caroline Ellis pulled a fast one at Frostbites when they swept into the lead in the first race and over the first round left a considerable margin between themselves and the following pack, from which Paul and Elise Carrington, and David Mackley and Caroline Lord ultimately broke clear to narrow the gap and finish in that order behind the Ellisses.

There followed the handicap race, the decision to defer the Three Race Day scheduled having been taken because there was insufficient wind.

The Carringtons fought it out with Ian and Laura Tims, who won over the water by 10 seconds, but, on handicap, saw the Carringtons take the honours by a margin which will probably result in an adjustment in the near future.

The big event of the day at Rollesby was the inauguration of their new state of the art Starters Box. Twenty-one boats helped celebrate the start of the winter series in appropriate, sunny, temperatures but a scant northerly giving two short beats.

Ian and Sharon Ayres had a good day, finding the long way round on the first race better than the straight line, and finishing second twice, in the first to John Saddington and Dennis Manning, and the second to Derek Page.

Meanwhile, the Solos in the single hander fleet were having a field day, Philip Davies winning the morning races, and only young Daniel Bull in his Topper breaking their stranglehold with a third.

The afternoon combined Allcomers saw victory for Ian Ayres, now in a Solo, while young Danny Bull teamed up with Val Hansion's grandson Bernard to take Val's Wayfarer into third.