Inlands at Oxford

Early morning worries about lack of wind were quickly dispelled as a brisk force 4/5 northwesterly set in before the first race in the Blaze Inlands at Oxford Sailing Club.

A dozen Blaze sailors enjoyed the beats and reaches in the trapezoidal course set by race officer Mike Hobin.

The first race started with defending champion Mike Lyons from Burghfield SC over the line and spending the rest of the race working his way through the fleet. He wasn't fast enough though, as national champion Steve Cockerill at the front from start to finish with Chris Coleman from Warsash behind him.

The second race followed much the same pattern with Mike Lyons again over the line and Steve Cockerill leading from start finish. Ralph Jones from Bala SC showed good speed to come second followed by Chris Coleman, Dave Evans from Calshot and Roger Williams from Burghfield. The wind had dropped to force 2/3 and turned to a southwesterly by Sunday morning and these conditions proved more to the liking of Paul Taylor of Burghfield, going well up the first beat in race 4 and David Annan of University of Surrey.Steve Cockerill and Mike Lyons took the first two places in both of Sundays races with Ralph Jones and Chris Coleman taking it in turns for third and fourth.