THREE races were the focus of the Royal Windermere Yacht Club’s first big weekend of competitions this season on Windermere.

All racing took place in the North Lake following a windward-leeward course and in very ‘shifty’ conditions. The winds were easterly, 9-14 knots but at times dropping to near zero.

There were two ‘Flying Fifteens’ races on Sunday. In the first, Nigel and Gavin Tullett (Niffty) led from the start and maintained a strong lead. John Atkinson and Elizabeth Moreton ('Funny Enuff') came second,and David Heron and Pierre Labat (Pitch Perfect”) were third.

The second race saw stiff competition, with David Heron and Pierre Labat (Pitch Perfect) giving the Tulletts in Niffty a run for their money!

Pitch Perfect led around the windward mark. Niffty closed in and took the lead at the leeward mark. A fierce battle took place for the overall lead, which Pitch Perfect regained – wining the second race. Niffty came a close second and Funny Enuff third.

Sunday also saw the first of the cruiser races. Despite maintaining a lead throughout the race and crossing the finishing line first, the MG Club 19 Slippery When Wet (Craig and Jules Allwood) narrowly lost out on handicap by just eight seconds to Kontiki (Julian and Claire Maclaine).

Kontiki won the first Cruiser Race of the season, followed by Slippery When Wet. Ted Parker’s Beneteau 21 Ben O2 came in third and John and Trish Burns’ Heartbeat came in fourth.

Steve Bewsher was race Officer for all three races.

For anyone interested in the excitement of racing on Windermere, the Royal Windermere Yacht Club provides a wide range of training opportunities for both children and adults. All training is run by fully qualified instructors.