STRONG south easterly winds were not perhaps what John Curtis would have chosen as he sought to clinch the Royal Windermere Yacht Club's Classic Fleet averages in his 1934 vintage Deva on Saturday.

Deva has always been regarded as a light weather flier, but not so effective in a blow.

John had only to finish the last of the three Trapp Cup races to qualify for the averages, but did rather better than that, finishing second overall in a fleet of 12 yachts and leading the Classic Fleet home.

Saturday's winner was John and Tim Baron's Mistral and the result also clinched overall victory in the Trapp Cup series.

In the early stages, Miss Gay Crossley's Whisper, ideally suited to the conditions, seemed a likely winner as she led round the Rough Holme and Wray marks.

Deva was always close behind, however, with Brian Cartmell's Wind'ard III - another yacht built in 1934 - and Les Gorton's Snark II, consistently in the leading group.

On the second round, Mistral surged through into the lead and though never far ahead of the older yachts, was never seriously threatened.

In the end, Deva won her battle with Whisper and Wind'ard III was fourth

The result had little effect on the overall 17ft Class averages.

Chas Ingham's Chameleon had already made certain of her ninth averages success in ten seasons.

This year she won 17 times in 25 starts and had three seconds and three thirds to finish with an average of 94.55 per cent.

Her 347 points completed another Points and Averages double.