What a contrast between last weekend and this; sailors in light wet suits, shorts and t-shirts; RIB crews going from full winter to roasting summer wear. A fabulous day of horizon-to-horizon blue sky and hot sunshine.

One older member suggested the race had gone from goose grease to keep warm to sun screen to prevent burning. Race Officer Henry Metcalfe moored Oyster off Loe Beach in a very convenient patch of open water between the harbour moorings and the channel.

As racing started to lay the racing marker buoys the wind was almost nothing, three to five mph from ESE. Splendidly by the racing starts some thirty minutes later we enjoyed eight to ten mph mostly from due East.

Race three of the summer series was a little bit of a parade at times but closer to the channel spinnakers were lifted and some close haul sailing was enjoyed around the windward marks. A slight adjustment was made in the gap before race four that again improved the spirited racing enjoyed by all fleets.

Special mentions to Sam Hollingsworth in his Laser radial who won both his fleet races, Stuart and Sandie Sly managed the same in the catamaran fleet in their Dart 18 and Patrick Clarke in the medium fleet likewise in his Aero.

Many helms took the lighter winds and lovely weather as an opportunity to crew with club juniors and give them a wider experience of sailing. Adrian Bolton in his Dart 18, aptly named “Teacher’s Pet’ was crewed by Florence Luxton, Martin Eagan in his Mirror crewed by Felix Hofferman; we are used to seeing Nuala Sellwood crewing with Ralph Singleton but Emma Sellwood and brother Tristan in their Mirror were both ‘in charge’. The helm changed hands but no arguments were over heard!

Racing has a serious side but on such a glorious summer day the gains are from sharing boats and learning in conditions far more conducive to instruction than we’ve enjoyed lately. Come join us sailing every week in glorious Carrick Roads.