GLORIOUS weather made for a fine weekend of sailing for The Royal Windermere Yacht Club’s ‘Windermere 17 foot class’ yachts, dinghies and cruisers.

Warm temperatures, a steady southerly breeze and plenty of sunshine set the conditions for Saturday’s ’17 Foot’ racing, with race officer John Caffrey setting a windward-leeward course in the south lake, with the fleet beating to Beech Hill then downwind to Seals.

The steady breeze made for a highly competitive race, with Falcon II, helmed by Tony Rothwell, taking an early lead which was maintained throughout the race.

Chameleon, helmed by Nigel Tullett, sailed a very close race and came second, followed by Pilgrim which was helmed by David Milburn in third place.

It was an equally close race between the next three competitors Whisper, helmed by Gay Crossley, Liberty, helmed by Colin Bentley, and Atholl, helmed by Roy Gambie.

With the Windermere 17 foot class season almost at the half way point, Chameleon is in the overall lead, followed by Liberty with Fathom, helmed by Graham Murray, in third place.

Amongst the ‘classic’ Windermere class yachts, the leader board is headed by Atholl, helmed by Nick Aubrey, Whisper and Waterwitch, helmed by Richard Broughton.

Meanwhile, in the cruiser race, also in the south lake in lovely weekend conditions, the fleet competed in a southerly breeze on a triangle/windward-leeward course.

Slippery When Wet, an MG Club 19, helmed by Craig Allwood, was the clear winner, while a good battle took place for second and third positions with Va Va Voom, a Beneteau 21.7, helmed by Trevor Bonson just edging out Silver Mist, a Hanse 32 helmed by Nigel Smith.

The dinghies saw two keen races during the week.

In the Denis Hope Handicap, very challenging conditions faced the fleet in the south lake and Robert Richardson was the clear winner.

In the second of the week’s dinghy races, 22 boats competed and Richardson again finished first in his RS100, with Simon McVey and Judith Gore second in a GP 14, and third was John Richardson in another RS100.

The season’s leader board sees Nigel Hutchinson in his Solo UltraSONIC in first with John Richardson second in his RS100 and Judith Gore third in a GP14.