AFTER their annual trip to Saundersfoot, the majority of the Arden club's fleet retu-rned to sail at Defford last Sunday.

The first race was a pursuit contest and a sudden gust shortly after the start forced John Tildersly (Comet) to retire leaving Keith Stevens (Comet) contesting the early lead with Andrew Potts (Solo).

The gusty conditions favo-ured the large double-handed boats and halfway through the race Niall Campbell & Jane Smee (Enterprise) for-ced their noses in front followed closely by Jeremy and Michelle Griffiths (Enter-prise).

This left Potts in third with Keith Stevens a close fourth and with David and Pauline Appleby (GP14) and Caroline Stephens (Pico) completing the fleet.

The second race was a Strensham in which officer of the day Stuart Stephens took advantage of the full length of river available to the club laying the distance marker right down by the locks at Strensham.

Erick Ison (Laser) held the lead from Nial Campbell all the way to the locks some one-and-a-half-miles downstream of the start.

Due to their spotting the change of wind direction, Potts and Stevens caught up and for much of the return leg all four boats were lined across the river with the lead changing hands frequently.

Only in the last few minutes did Potts establish a lead though Stevens was eventually able to hold on to second place by seven seconds from Campbell with Ison in fourth.

It was a rewarding sight, especially for the instructors, to see recent trainees Keith Hodges, Ellie Jones and Cla-ire Bowie taking to the water to practice their newly acqui-red skills.

The next course starts on July 2 with a Taster Day this Sunday. Further details are available from Helen (01905 23298) or Alan (0121 453 6611).