A beautiful sunny day, with a good but shifty easterly wind saw fourteen boats from eight different clubs competing at the Black Swan Sailing Club.

The first race saw a slow start with only Mike Gibson and Chris Watts going for the port end of the line. Mike crossed the rest of the fleet on port tack, but Chris was the one who pulled out an early lead by staying on starboard tack and picking up a shift off the bank. He held the lead round the windward mark only to loose it at the third mark when Richard Pakes who had been steadily gaining came into the mark on a gust. The back of the fleet had an interesting gybe mark when they all arrived together! The remainder of the race saw Richard Pakes, Mike Gibson and Cliff Milliner pulling out from the rest of the fleet, the three of them constantly battling for the lead. Richard took the honours followed by Cliff and Mike.

The second race saw Jeff Tucker being a bit too hasty to start. Mike Gibson again got a good start. Richard Pakes, Mike Gibson and Cliff Milliner pulled out from the rest of the fleet very quickly. Further down the fleet Mick Ogle and B Buzzard both gained several places by picking up a shift of the bank on the second beat. The second lap saw Cliff Milliner and Mike Gibson pull away from Richard Pakes. Cliff missed a mark and having to return lost ground to Mike. Cliff however sailed faster and came into the last beat just ahead of Mike. He retained the lead to finish ahead of Mike with Richard coming in third.

All to sail for in race three with Richard and Cliff having a first each. Jeff Tucker got a good start this time and reached the windward mark first closely followed by Richard Pakes and Cliff Milliner. Richard gained the lead down the reach from Jeff, who then lost another place to Cliff on the next leg. Richard and Cliff pulled away and Jeff was overtaken again, this time by Mike Gibson. Richard and Cliff battled it out for the rest of the race with Richard taking line and therefore Regatta honours.

1st Richard Pakes Haversham Sailing Club
2nd Cliff Milliner Cotswold Sailing Club
3rd Mike Gibson Bartley Sailing Club
4th Richard Hare-Winton Burghfield Sailing Club
5th Mick Ogle Black Swan Sailing Club

Full results here