FOLLOWING a short break when the Evesham club visited Llangorse to experience the pleasures of open water sailing, last Sunday saw a return to the domestic programme.

The first race was a round of the Pursuit Series that was staged for an hour in bright sunshine and a surprisingly strong wind. With fierce gusts blowing from the south, quite a few crews were to be dumped in the river by the end of the afternoon.

Rod Stephens and Paul Donnahay were away downstream to lead the fleet. David Way soon realised the conditions were too much and, with Donnahay quickly having to swim, it left Stephens on his own to be closed down by the faster boats.

Green had pulled out a good lead but Edwards, after an initial mistake, steadily closed for a tussle for the front place.

The leading pair were out on their own but third was fought over tenaciously. Haywood having thought he had done it promptly capsized allowing Paul and Ann Baylis to regain that position and hold it to the end with Edwards eventually first and Green second.

The second race was held in strengthening conditions and several boats quickly called it a day.

Green, untroubled in the first race, was tipped out in a flurry of spray early on that left him a long way behind.

Haywood managed an extremely clean start as others got in each other's way and took the lead. The Baylis's, despite some frightening rolls from side to side, stayed just behind but couldn't get past.

Rob Berger stayed out of trouble and sailed freely to take third with Haywood charging over the line for first and Paul and Ann in second.