Sailing: Three wins give Mason and Giles autumn title

THREE race wins from four outings saw Pete Mason and Dale Giles claim the overall fast handicap class title at Paignton Sailing Club's Autumn Regatta.

Dave Whittle and Hannah Radbourne claimed the overall top spot in the medium handicap, while Carys Roberts was the best of the juniors.

In Saturday's first race, the Fireball of Mason and Giles got the better of Chris Cunningham's RS100 in the fast handicap, with Chris Blackburn's RS600 third.

The medium handicap soon followed, with 12 boats lining up on the start line.

In a close race it was Karl Lloyd and Trish Walker who prevailed in their Albacore, with Steve Ashford and Mike Holmes just behind in a Comet Trio. Third place went to Whittle and Radbourne's Albacore.

In the junior fleet there were six Toppers, which made for competitive racing.

Roberts started with a win, followed by Thomas Stephenson and Paris Thomas.

For race two, the fast handicap got off to another clean start, this time with Blackburn leading the fleet.

However, Mason and Giles managed to close the gap and win the race.

The medium handicap fleet saw five boats competing fiercely for first place, but in the end it was Lloyd and Walker who prevailed.

Whittle and Radbourne were second, with Ashford and Holmes third.

Roberts was once again victorious in the juniors, with Jack and Thomas Stephenson coming in second and third respectively.

A bright Sunday morning greeted race three, and Blackburn stopped Mason and Giles' winning run in the fast handicaps.

Amy Giles and Nigel Williams came home in third place, with only thirty seconds separating the two Fireballs.

Lloyd and Walker were disqualified from the medium handicaps for crossing the start line too early.

This allowed Whittle and Radbourne to take the win, with Ashford and Holmes second, andOllie Wright third.

Roberts continued her junior domination to win from Thomas Stevenson and Paris Thomas.

The final race of the regatta started with two Fireballs in the fast handicap engaging in a tactical upwind battle.

Giles and Williams rounded the windmark first, but it was Mason and Giles who prevailed and confirmed first place overall with their third win.

Giles and Williams took second place, and Blackburn crossed the line in third.

Whittle and Radbourne won their final race to claim first place overall in the medium handicap, with Ashford and Holmes crossing the line in second place. Arthur Phillips managed to claim third place.

And in the juniors Roberts made it four wins out of four to claim first overall, with Paris Thomas and Jack Stephenson rounding off the top three.

In the final fast handicap overall standings, Mason and Giles won from Blackburn in second, and Giles and Williams third.

Ashford and Holmes were medium handicap runners-up from Wright's Laser Radial, while Thomas and Stephenson claimed the minor podium positions in the juniors.

The prize-giving for the Spring and Autumn Regattas will take place on Saturday, October 16, at Paignton Sailing Club.

(thisissouthdevon.co.uk)