After days of wind and rain the weather gods shone brightly on Dittisham Sailing Club's new year race for the Iceberg Trophy. 

A small but keen fleet were directed over towards Galmpton for the start for that was where the wind was to be found, but also the strongly ebbing tide.

Race officer John Phillips laid a compact triangular course and the fleet set off beating against the tide.

Jonathan Weeks in his Solo led, followed by Mike Bennett and Brian Perks in their Devon Yawl ahead of Bob Thomas, also in a Solo.

These three boats were heading for the wrong mark until a helpful safety boat redirected them. It was then Thomas in the lead at the end of the first lap. 

Mindful of the strong tide, Thomas made a long starboard beat towards Gurrow Point but overstood to the windward mark, allowing Bennett to slip through.

A drop in wind prevented the later boats from making progress round this mark and the fleet strung out. On the final beat Bennett led Weeks by some margin but failed to cover him. He came very close to the finishing line but could not get over. Weeks in the mean time took a long starboard beat, tacked and reached over the finish line and then promptly capsized in a gust.

Bennett just managed to avoid Weeks's Solo and managed to cross the line. 

Mike Bennett and Brian Perks narrowly beat Jonathan Weeks on handicap by six seconds and took the Iceberg Trophy. Bob Thomas was third.

There is no more racing until March.

 

Iceberg Trophy results: 

1 M Bennett and B Perks, Devon Yawl; 2 J Weeks, Solo; 3 B Thomas Solo.