After many sunny days, grey skies and mist over the cliffs were a bit of a disappointment yesteray for the Kangaroo Poo-sponsored Albacore International Regatta & UK National Championship at Lyme Regis.

However, this was relieved by a Force 4 south-south-westerly filled in producing three foot waves.

Chris Turner dominated the first race and the close fighting for the afternoon race came to an end when Mike McNamara suffered a gear failure that forced his retirement from the race. When asked what had broken, his reply was: “Only my heart.”

In race seven in the morning, local Lyme sailors Chris Turner and Simon Maguire led around the first mark and went on to build a substantial lead which they held to the finish. US sailors Barney Harris and David Byron were second after a close tussle with Orlando Gledhill and Jon Frary and Mike McNamara and Robin Barker who finished third and fourth respectively.

In the afternoon, race eight was held in less wind and a little sunshine. Orlando and Jon led for most of the race but were overtaken by Chris Turner and Simon Maguire almost at the finishing line with Mike Holmes and Colin Smith in third.

These final positions in race eight meant that Chris Turner and Simon Maguire have already won the Albacore International Regatta and the (Canadian) Governor General’s Trophy with a race to spare. This leaves four or five boats fighting for the runner-ups spot in the last race on Friday.

After these main regatta races, a Junior Cup race was won by Adam Nicholson from the Canadian Bala Sailing Club, followed by Alice Rook, who had to do two turns for a Rule 42 violation, and Robbie Blackburn of the nearby Sutton Bingham SC.