Sailing: FELIXSTOWE Ferry Sailing Club played host to 102 dinghy sailors from all round the country at the Laser 4000/5000 open meeting.These exciting boats specialise in short races of no more than one hour with plenty of high speed downwind sailing – asymmetric spinnakers to the fore.

FELIXSTOWE Ferry Sailing Club played host to 102 dinghy sailors from all round the country at the Laser 4000/5000 open meeting.

These exciting boats specialise in short races of no more than one hour with plenty of high speed downwind sailing – asymmetric spinnakers to the fore. The weather last weekend, for once, could not have been better with competitors greeted by warm sunshine accompanied by a perfect force three-four south westerly breeze.

Quickly rigged, following their long drives, the sailors found the elements taxing on their sail out to the committee boats with the gusty wind making life tricky for some of the less experienced sailors. The tidal conditions also caused some confusion with the 4000's experiencing a number of restarts as the tide pushed competitors over the start line.

Once under way the rescue boats were kept busy with some spectacular capsizes punctuating close and exciting racing. On the 4000 course Peter Barton from Royal Lymington showed his class recording first place in each of the day's three races whilst Mark Emmett, sailing under the RYA burgee, repeated his achievement on the 5000 course.

Elsewhere Chris Balding from Lympstone suffered the misfortune of a lost rudder in the first race and was forced to retire and return home to Devon.

Some close racing between the other lead players in both fleets provided the race organisers with exciting viewing as the sailors revelled in the conditions planing at high speed around the buoys.

Once ashore boats were quickly packed up and the competitors adjourned to the clubhouse veranda to mingle with their hosts and indulge in the dinghy sailors' favourite pastime - reliving the day's events over a barbecue and a pint or two.

Sunday brought more fantastic weather and an early start – not welcomed by all sailors some of whom had done far too much "reliving" on the Saturday night.

Out on the 4000 course Pete Barton did not have things all his own way and was pipped to the line by Luke McEwen from Locks in Race Four and Andrew Shorrock from Frensham Pond in Race five. However his second and third respectively was enough to give him victory in the event.

Highest placed local boat was Alan Krailing in ninth overall.

On the 5000 course Mark Emmett picked up where he left off on Saturday with another first in race four followed by two second places in races five and six to finish clear ahead of the pack. He was pushed by Steve Tylecote from Spinnaker SC and Mike Thomson from Hayling Island.

Highest placed local boat was David Evans in sixth overall.

Laser 4000 Crewsaver Grand Slam Series

1st P Barton S Knatchbull Royal Lymington YC

2nd L McEewn E Evans Locks SC

3rd D Ellis R Andrews RYA

Laser 5000 UK Series

1st M Emmett J Backhouse RYA

2nd S Tylecote F Coates Spinnaker SC

3rd M Thomson T Porter Hayling Island