PETE Bell and the partnership of Alex and Jane Gibson shared the top honours as Highcliffe Sailing Club’s Early Evening Series closed with some keen racing last Thursday.

The evening kicked off with ideal conditions but the south easterly wind steadily dropped from 10 to five knots which forced the field to contend with a testing light breeze.

Laser sailors Jon Challenor, John Phelps and Alan Tarrant enjoyed a tight tussle at the front of the field in the first start race and crossed the line within seconds of one another before Bell (Europe) was named as the winner on corrected times.

A second consecutive race victory was enough for Bell to win the series overall having finished in the top three in each of his four counted races.

He ended up some seven-and-a-half points clear of Alex and Jane Gibson (RS200) in second, the duo crossing the line eighth from a field of 11 competitors. Peter Emerson (Laser/Standard) was fifth in the race and third in the final reckoning.

There was much more at stake with the overall standings nip and tuck going into the final round of the second race series, but it was the Gibsons who ultimately went one better.

With a brace of race wins from the opening two weeks in the bag, the duo crossed the line first but were pushed back into second behind Challenor in the last race.

It was, however, still enough to pip Bell by a mere three points in a frenetic finish to the action, while Emerson, fourth on the night, took another third place overall.

  • Poole Yacht Club will be holding a regatta on the weekend of July 19-20.

There will be family entertainment throughout both days which includes a swimming pool, crabbing, face painting and lots more, while there will be a hog roast and disco when the evening draws in.

Entry is free to members who have paid race and training fees.

Other members are priced at £15 while visitors pay £30. All fees are subject to entry by July 11.

Enter online by visiting pooleyc.co.uk.