ON a sunny evening Helford River Sailing Club's race officer, Richard Winfrey, set a special course for the third race of six in the Late Summer Series which kept the fleet near the mouth of the river, using the light northerly breeze.

There was trouble for Jacobi at the start when Demolition forced her the wrong side of the committee boat, sending the fastest yacht to the back of the fleet. Forza! led the way to the first mark at Toll, followed by Big Purple. Spinnakers were hoisted for the second leg towards Nare Point, and Jetta, with ten crew on board, managed to squeeze past Jabadeo close to the north shore.

Meanwhile, Jacobi found good breeze down the middle of the river and gave chase to Forza! and Big Purple which were sailing closer to the south shore. Forza! still going well, rounded the Nare mark first about 30 seconds ahead of Big Purple, with Jacobi rounding a minute or so later.

Demolition was well up with the leaders at this stage and was probably in the lead on handicap. The beat back to the committee mark was followed by a series of four shortish legs, running down wind to the Dennis mark, and then beating back up to the committee mark.

After Jacobi's unhappy start she was able to take revenge, overtaking the rest of the fleet and establishing a lead of 15 minutes.

As the sun set over Calamansack, the breeze died away, and with yachts at the back of the fleet struggling to make headway, Origo retired.

Jacobi recorded another easy win, 11 minutes ahead of the second boat, Forza! on corrected time, with Big Purple in third place.

Race Results IRC: 1. Jacobi, (Tony Statham); 2. Forza! (Andy Dennis); 3. Big Purple, (Garth Weaver); 4. Demolition, (Simon Kearsley); 5. Jetta, (John Jane); 6. Jabadeo, (Wally Royall).