MULTI World Champions Steve Goacher and Phil Evans showed that they are still the pair to beat when they won the

first four races of the

Flying Fifteen Northern Championship organised by the Royal Windermere Yacht Club.

With one discard allowed in the five-race series, the pair did not even have to take to the water on Monday as the rest of the 30-strong fleet, including a strong contingent from Ireland, scrapped it out for the minor places.

On Saturday in steady Force 3 Goacher and Evans showed their strength on home territory by rounding the first mark narrowly ahead of Justin Waples and Graham Wadley in Sparks and holding on to win from Whiskey in the Jar with Rupert Mander and Chris Hewkins in Men Behaving Badly third. After a skilful start in the second race, Goacher's 3721 was again first round the windward mark, some way ahead of David McKee and Andy Farmer in Full Monty and Whiskey in the Jar. Follwing a good spinnaker reach over to Storrs the wind dropped and 3721 built up a substantial lead. Full Monty held on to take second, with Whiskey in the Jar third.

Sunday morning's race in the north lake, under a Force 3-4 saw 3721 established a comfortable lead, with Men Behaving Badly and Bryan Willis and John McPeake in Re-finned Gold taking second and third respectively

In the afternoon the fleet divided as boats chose whether to keep to the shoreline or tack out into the middle. Nigel and Graham Tullett in Kiffs rounded the windward mark first, with Full Monty second and 3721 briefly back in third. Very soon 3721 sailed back into the lead and went on to cross the finish line in with Full Monty second and Neil Platt and A. Gerrard in New Order third.

With four firsts Goacher and Evans had won the title, but Monday's final race was crucial to decide the places. A short course was set in the south lake as the wind freshened to Force 4 and New Order took the lead and held on to win from Men Behaving Badly and Full Monty.

Overall result:- 1 S. Goacher & P. Evans, 3721; 2 D. McKee & A. Farmer, Full Monty; 3 R. Mander & C. Hewkin. Men Behaving Badly.

Classic Fleet: 1 J. Arnold & M. Pearce, Reservoir Dog; 2 G.D. Lamond, Fettercairn; 3 R. Finch & J. Reid, Vega III.

May 9, 2003 13:30