Chinese Moccasin and Zuri claim respective races in small fleets

It could have been the strong easterly with gusts up to 25 knots that caused so few yachts to compete last Saturday.

Maybe some skippers were reluctant to go out in those conditions or was it that skippers couldn't find crews to fill their yachts?

In any case there must be some concern at Princess Royal Sailing Club when only four yachts in two fleets took part in harbour course handicap-start races when there are usually up to five fleets.

In division 2 Neil Worrell was away first and because he opted to go JAM with Zuri was given a 14-minute start over Stephen Brown's Mary Maitland.

This was a huge lead for Zuri but Brown was undaunted as he gave chase.

Zuri was doing OK in the brisk winds but was slowly but surely under pressure with Mary Maitland chopping down the enormous lead with each speedy spinnaker run.

But Worrell kept his nerve and led all the way to the finish line to take the race.

Brown had knocked off 11 minutes of Zuri's lead and took second place after a mighty effort and also recorded the fastest time.

Zuri is now on a hat-trick of wins so all interest will be on its performance this Saturday.

The two Vipers started their short harbour course together and it was Murray Howson in Chinese Moccasin who had the better of Michael Cameron in Bite Me.

Howson with slick crew work was in the lead throughout as Cameron was having all kinds of strife with his spinnaker hoists and retrievals, leaving Howson well in front to take the race and fastest time.

They then sailed a second short race and Howson repeated the dose to Cameron who after all was having his first outing for the season and was a little rusty.

Hopefully this Saturday there will be more boats on the water.