Winter series heat-two victory for Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland

Only four division-two skippers from the Princess Royal Sailing Club started in heat two of the six-heat winter series last Saturday.

Heat one was abandoned the previous week because of the foul weather conditions.

The four skippers and their crews must be the most dedicated sailors at the club and always make an effort to get out and enjoy sailing our waters.

Chris Oldham skippering Joker won the start but just couldn’t maintain his early speed.

Stephen Lee skippered Flasheart to the lead and then Stephen Brown, skippering Mary Maitland, found good air and was first around the top mark and away down the harbour under spinnaker.

Mary Maitland was looking the goods halfway through the flying start harbour course event with an unseasonal easterly puffing in around the 14-knot mark, which meant for quick times.

Neil Worrell in Zuri battled to stay in touch after an indifferent start but never gave up trying to bridge the gap to the leaders.

Joker and Flasheart were engaged in their own race within the race as they had many a spinnaker duel.

Brown continued to lead and was challenged by Lee on the final leg but the wily Brown managed to slip away to record the coveted first and fastest and to be top of the leaderboard.

Lee wasn’t disgraced with his second placing, with Joker not far off the pace in third place.

This Saturday heat three will be contested with a 1.30pm start.