THE weather held firm as Isle of Wight sailors competed for the Bembridge Illusions Stratton Trophy at the weekend.

A total of thirteen illusions competed on Saturday and the first race got away cleanly.

Raymond Simonds was first round the windward marks, with Mark Downer and Monty Irwin giving chase.

Downer and Simonds exchanged places for a time, and it was the former who finished on top.

In the second race, Simonds was again the first round the windward marks and built an unassailable lead over the chasing Downer.

Race three saw Simonds take the lead once more, closely pursued by Tiger Tellwright, Downer and Mike Issaias.

Simonds and Tellwright were the pick of the bunch, and it was the former who managed to finish a couple of boat lengths ahead of the latter.

On Sunday, with a strong tide threatening, organisers decided to run an in-harbour course.

After a good start in the first race, Owen Pay was the boat to beat, and found himself comfortably ahead of Simonds at the finish line.

The second race saw the two Downers, Morgan and Toogood round the windward mark well ahead of the rest of the fleet.

At the finish, Mark finished ahead of his wife.

Simmonds won the final race of the day, with Morgan in second and Downer third, clinching the trophy after a testing couple of days of racing.