Brett Hawker and Jesse James overcome nine-minute handicap to take mixed keelboat harbour race in 17-knot wind

Better sailing conditions at Princess Royal Sailing Club brought out six yachts from the mixed keelboat division to compete in a handicap-start harbour course race last Saturday.

The steady 17 knot south-easterly made for quick times around the marks.

Richard Hodgson, skippering Escapade, was the limit boat followed one minute later by Ines, sailed by Alastair Knowlden.

These two boats were locked together for the entire race with Escapade managing to hold the lead throughout with Ines always ready to pounce.

Neil Worrell, fresh from his win last weekend with Zuri, was next away a minute behind Ines and moved well to get ahead of both the earlier starters.

Stephen Brown followed Zuri five minutes later with Mary Maitland, and two minutes after that, Stephen Lee set off with Flasheart.

It took Lee quite a while to get past Mary Maitland as Brown, in the smaller boat, was flat out under spinnaker and the pair ended up having a match race within the race itself.

Meanwhile, Jessie James was waiting to start, having given Lee a nine-minute advantage.

It looked impossible, but Brett Hawker and his hard-working crew put in a sterling effort and sailed faultlessly to catch and pass all five others in the fleet in a great show of speed, especially under spinnaker.

Jessie James finished eight minutes ahead of second-placed Flasheart, which was the best of the division two boats and had sailed extremely well throughout.

Brown finished in third place after a fine effort.

Escapade and Ines continued their own private duel with Escapade finishing just ahead in an interesting contest.

Two flying fifteens were out on the water for the first time in a month, and they also had a handicap-start harbour course event.

Aileen Lucas, skippering Crazy, was given a three-minute start over Simon Lucas in FForever Young and used it to good effect as she kept her lead in conditions that really did not suit her.

FForever Young did manage to cut a minute off the handicap, but to no avail as Crazy went on to complete a handsome victory, leaving FForever Young in second place but recording the fastest time.