BOATS caught on port tack as they tried to clear the island caused congestion at the Flying Fifteen fleet's Saturday start in the south lake.

In the cool force three southerly wind the fleet then spread across the lake on a series of long tacks to Graythwaite.

Frank Kelly and Doug Douglas in Fiscal Folly were first round, narrowly ahead Nigel Tullett and Sam Rayner in Flotsam, Andrew Kirk and Litton Ledger in Zephyr and Michael and Frances Bentley in Folly, who stayed together for the rest of the first lap.

As the wind continued gusting and backing, the leading boats separated from the rest of the fleet, with Flotsam taking a decisive lead.

The fleet completed a good race just before the wind dropped away to nothing.

On Sunday a lighter breeze from the south east took the fleet into north lake to sail an X-shape course.

Andrew Kirk and Howard Knowles in Zephyr were first round the Henholme mark, with Terry Tinn and Hugh Stanistreet in Flying Ferret and David and Sarah Brockbank in Fever close behind.

As the breeze came round more and more to the south, the course gave fewer opportunities for tacking, and boats relied on taking advantage of the current or expected line of the breeze to get to each mark.

On the first spinnaker leg to Claife, Nigel and Gavin Tullett in Flotsam, sailed across the lake and up to the mark to catch the leaders, and fight a close battle with Fever.

During the final beat to Henholme boats further down the fleet picked up chancy light airs.

Flotsam crossed the finish line first, with Fever second, while Doug and Joyce Cartwright in Ffor Joy came up through for third.