WITH the first two races of the South Windermere Sailing Club spring series having been cancelled due to no wind, everything was to play for in the two concluding races.

With perfect force 2-3 winds from the south, and even some sunshine, it was an ideal day for racing on the south of the lake.

Race One saw an audacious port tack start by Julie Tompkinson crewed by Owen O'Donnell in one of the club's new Argo dinghies (funded by Sport England). However the power of the FF15s and Mark Fearnley in the Blaze dinghy showed, as they soon made up the deficit and pulled away.

Fearnley led round the first mark, but was overhauled downwind by James and Judith Downs in the leading FF15.

Fearnley got ahead upwind again, and managed to stay ahead whilst the ever tight group of 5 FF15s raced closely over the next three laps.

The Downs stayed ahead of the pack, with Jo and Eva Marsland maintaining second.

Behind the FF15s Tompkinson and O'Donnell in the Argo swapped places a number of times with the RS200 of juniors Izzy Abbott and Ed Russell, with the latter coming out on top. On handicap Fearnley won, followed by the Downs then the Marslands.

Jon Abbott in a Laser started best in the second race of the day, and looked good for a handicap win until his toe strap snapped and he catapulted backwards into the freezing lake to end his challenge.

Fearnley used the close reach to hit the afterburners and was never headed. In the FF15's the Downs had a tight battle along the full race course with Pete and Lynne Holt, but managed to stay ahead at the finish.

Sailing under the radar in his Streaker was Chris Dukes, who was rewarded with a second place when the handicaps were worked out.

Overall Fearnley took the spring series, followed by James and Judith Downs and Pete and Lynn Holt.