BRIGHT sun and a lovely breeze greeted us as we waited for the start of Flushing SC's Marine Bar Series, writes Harold Martin.

Eight boats in A class jockeyed for position before the signal, but only three of them were traditional cruiser/racers with most of them being sports boats of one kind or another.

The OoD chose a northerly group course which gave a fetch across the harbour and then a beat to Black Rock buoy. After leaving the shelter of the docks the competitors were surprised to find a white water as the southerly breeze worked against the falling tide and stood up quite steep short seas which slapped and banged against the hulls slowing down the lighter boats.

In E class the leading Red Gauntlet ran straight down wind from Black Rock but on Halcyon they decided to reach off towards Trefusis and Mary Boon followed suit. This caused consternation on board Red Gauntlet because they thought that they had misread the course instructions.

Halcyon went fast but too far on the reach and so at St Just they had to work hard to get away from Mary Boon once again who had taken a more moderate course and so gained ground. Sunglasses were needed on the close fetch directly into the sun from St Just to Pendennis but no matter how hard they tried on Halcyon they could not make ground on Red Gauntlet.

The large working boats were not all confident enough to hoist their deceptively large topsails in lively air. Those who did gained great advantage because Rebecca crossed the finish line five minutes ahead of Mabel who after a lash up in the rigging decided to do without their high flying friend.

In G class Magpie flew down the harbour to the finish powered by a high flying gennaker which gave them two minute advantage over their nearest rival. On handicap Sue Grigg helmed her less extreme boat to come a close second which made good racing for them.

RESULTS A class: 1, Shenanigan (C Mulcahy); 2, Pink Gin (P Knight); 3, Big Purple (G Weaver) E class: 1, Mary Boon (J Cruise), 2, Red Gauntlet (W Hunt), 3, Halcyon (H Martin) G class: 1, Magpie (Edwards/Duff/T homas); 2, Katy (S Grigg); 3, Myrtle B class: 1, Rebecca (P Slater), 2, Mabel (P Collett); 3, Moon (P Selman).