A FLEET of 14 Windermere 17-foot class yachts raced in the south basin in a light south to southeasterly breeze.

Pilgrim, sailed by Steve Goacher, led at the windward mark, set in the middle of the lake off Storrs Temple, closely followed by Chris Ducker in Falcon, James Nield in Amira, Mistral and Liberty.

These boats were largely in contention until the last leg of the course when the wind died.

Pilgrim and Falcon maintained their positions to finish first and second, but Chris Peters sailing Vanity spotted some light airs on Windermere's west shore and sailed into third place overall and first classic boat.

This was a welcome return to the fleet for Peters who has been busy on the golf course this year. Niaid and Amira were second and third respectively in the classic fleet.

n On Saturday with a light southerly wind the Royal Windermere Yacht Club's Flying Fifteen fleet was set a course from a start line at ferry to a dan buoy off Temple with a zig-zag run back to the turning mark at Seals via Sandy Nab and Storrs.

Andrew Kirk and Litton Ledger in Zephyr took an early lead closely followed by Nigel and Jean Tullett in Kiffs, Miles and Cathy Thompson in Across the Lake, and Frank Kelly and Doug Douglas in Fiscal Folly.

At the windward mark Kiffs had taken the lead with Zephyr closely behind. The leading boats slowly pulled away from the rest of the fleet.

By the third lap the wind was dying and boats chose different sides of the lake hoping to get the wind first. On the finish line David Brockbank and Carole Drury in Five found the wind and sneaked past Fiscal Folly to take third behind Kiffs and Zephyr.

Sunday brought a strong easterly wind and a course was set in the north lake with a start near FBA south to a dan buoy near Roughholme Island then a long run to Wray before beating back via Fisherfield and Belle Grange.

The strong wind brought an exciting run to Wray with David Brockbank and his daughter Sarah in Five fighting for the lead with Nigel Tullett and Sam Rayner in Kiffs.

Frank Kelly and Brian Garvey in Fiscal Folly led the remaining boats with Bev Armer and Andrew Whitehead in Ffidget, Miles Thompson and his daughter Miranda in Across the Lake and Andrew Kirk and Carole Drury in Zephyr all fighting for third place.

The Pussycat trophy for races held in July was won by Zephyr.

Results: Saturday: 1 N. & J. Tullett, Kiffs; 2 A. Kirk & L. Ledger, Zephyr; 3 D. Brockbank & C. Drury, Five.

Sunday: 1 N. Tullett & S. Rayner, Kiffs; 2 D. & S. Brockbank, Five; 3 F. Kelly & B. Garvey, Fiscal Foll.y.

n ROYAL Windermere Yacht Club was well represented in the Mirror Class European Championships, held at the Lough Derg Yacht Club, Dromineer, Co Tipperary, Ireland, last week.

Five boats were helmed and/or crewed by members of the club.

The week long series involved eight races in conditions from a whisper of a breeze to a thunderstorm with forked lightning, that passed directly over the fleet of 120 boats.

The best individual race for the group was race one, where Anna MacKenzie (RWYC) and Nicola Brook (Hollingworth Lake SC) finished seventh.

Other individual bests were: Katie MacKenzie (RWYC) and Holly Scott (Shustoke SC) ninth in race two; Patrick Houlihan (RWYC) and Inge-Lisa Hansen (Covenham SC) 17th in race eight; Emma Houlihan and Emily MacKenzie (RWYC) 21st in race four; Gavin Tullett and Henry Westropp (RWYC) 25th in race eight.

Patrick Houlihan was disappointed to have his second place in race three discounted, An error by the race management team sent several boats on the wrong course and the race was re-sailed later in the week.

The RWYC group all managed to finish the Championship in the top 50.

Overall RWYC positions: 6 Anna MacKenzie & Nicola Brook; 17 Katie MacKenzie & Holly Scott; 37 Patrick Houlihan & Inge-Lisa Hansen; 38 Emma Houlihan & Emily MacKenzie; 48 Gavin Tullett & Henry Westropp.

The next big event in the Mirror Dinghy calendar is the National Inland Champion-ships, at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club over August Bank holiday weekend.