GURNARD Sailing Club's talented you Isle of Wight sailors have had a busy week on the Solent.

                                                       SUMMER SERIES

A FLEET of 20 boats got the first race of Gurnard Sailing Club's Summer Series underway on Sunday. 

The fleet was smaller than usual, with several cadets competing on the mainland — and it was Isle of Wight Festival Sunday. 

The dying breeze meant only one of the two scheduled races was completed, but sailors were treated to the spectacle of the Richard Mille classics sailing through the bay. 

As usual, all fleets had some close racing, with Martin Scott winning the Shadows from Thomas Leather, and there was an RS100 one-two in the Fast Handicap — Simon Davies beating Mark Harrison, due partly to a mysterious course detour by the latter. 

The Medium Handicap fleet saw Shaun Kellet hold off Mark Reynolds, while in the Slow Handicap race, only the Feva of Sammy Leather and Taylor Willows, was able to complete the course against the rising tide.

                                          SUMMER WEDNESDAY SERIES

PATCHY light westerly winds deterred any entries from the catamaran fleet last week.  

All other classes took to the water in the bright evening sunshine.

In the Fast Handicap class, all four boats completed the course, with Harrison showing his 'pond sailing' roots by skilfully coaxing his RS100 around the course, to win on corrected time.

Two Aero7s had a nail-bitingly close finish in the Medium Handicap, with the win going to Reynolds by a second.

The Slow Handicap was won by Kate Scragg in her Pico Race, but a special mention goes to eight-year old Alfie Price, who helmed his RS Feva, to lead the fleet for most of the race.

The potential for a match race between the two RS Teras was frustrated by the light conditions, with both boats retiring, so the helms could return to swimming.