WESTON Bay Yacht Club's first race out of the bay took place on Sunday, the course was from the start gate close to shore opposite the Sealife centre out to the Weston buoy near to Flat Holm.

WESTON Bay Yacht Club's first race out of the bay took place on Sunday, the course was from the start gate close to shore opposite the Sealife centre out to the "Weston buoy" near to Flat Holm.

The wind was a light North Easterly for the start and there were four contenders, two larger, faster class one boats, Trivial Pursuit and Sea Thrift, and two smaller slower class two boats, Gun Smoke and Mandala. They were all well grouped through the start with Trivial Pursuit trailing the others across the line.

The following wind was strong enough to give the larger boats an advantage and Trivial Pursuit, a racing tri-maran flew past the small fleet and gradually moved well ahead of the field. Sea Thrift, a heavier long keeled boat was in second place on the outward leg and of the smaller boats Gun Smoke faired best and established a lead over Mandala.

Rounding the buoy, the fleet had to beat into the wind back to the bay, Trivial Pursuit was well ahead and held her position all the way, passing through the finish gate opposite the Sea Life Centre in light airs. Close hauled and with the wind dropping as they entered the bay the heavier Sea Thrift found her speed dropping but crossed the line second, despite crossing it first in the wrong direction and having to turn around and cross the line for a second time to finish leaving the outer buoy to starboard. Gun Smoke came in not far behind and Mandala was fourth across the line.

Corrected times allowing for handicaps showed Don Sutherland's Trivial Pursuit to be the Class 1 winner and Tony Toskings's Gun Smoke the Class 2 winner, but with Gun Smoke beating all the other boats on corrected time.

Next race is on Friday at 6.45pm. New members welcome, why not come along and watch from the club house on the beach at Uphill (open 8pm).