The first of the Dittisham Sailing Club new year races was held last Sunday.

The conditions were ideal, with a fresh southerly wind and glorious sunshine.

The small but keen fleet were set a course which took in the full racing area available with a beat from Waddeton to Galmpton and plenty of reaches. 

The wind direction was variable and gusty at times, and with one minute to go before the start, 2011 club champion Jonathan Weeks was caught out by one such gust and was unlucky to capsize and turn turtle in the process.

He recovered his Solo promptly but was some distance behind an otherwise clean start. 

Pete Jocelyn led the fleet, followed closely by Alex Johns, both in Lasers.

There was much place changing on the beat ahead of a developing battle between Joshua O'Brien sailing fast in his Topper, Jenny Richardson hoping not to test her new dry suit and Barry Kenyon, making a welcome return after a long absence from sailing due to injury. Joshua continued to take advantage of the gusts that prevailed and planed in short bursts in his Topper, the smallest boat in the fleet. 

After a one-hour long race, Pete Jocelyn was first over the line in his Laser and second on handicap.

Fellow Laser sailor Alex Johns was third but young Joshua sailed a faultless race and took a convincing win on handicap. 

The second new year race will be run on Sunday, January 29 at 1000. 

Results:

New Year Race 1 

1 Joshua O'Brien, Topper; 2 Pete Jocelyn, Laser; 3 Alex Johns, Laser.