With a flat sea and very light air seven yachts came to the line for the start of the eight race Winter Series.

With two races scheduled for the day, the morning provided very challenging conditions as the boats slowly made their way to the windward mark. Even with the planned three laps shortened to two laps only five boats recorded a finish time.

Defending Club Champion Port FM Mais Oui turned on a brilliant performance coming in second over the line fourteen minutes behind Magic and taking first on corrected time by eight minutes.

Ice crossed third and collected second on handicap ahead of Jimmie Blacksmith in third just 25 seconds ahead of Magic.

Ann Sea resumed her defence of the Club Championship leader board scoring fifth and the conditions proved to be too difficult for Indigo and Tau Ceti retiring after concluding there was insufficient time to complete the course.

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The breeze had lifted by 2pm to begin the afternoon race, and after recovering from a disastrous start Magic settled into a close contest at the front of the field with Ice.

The lead changed hands several times with one very close encounter on the top mark as the two yachts converged on the windward buoy.

Line honours again went to Magic holding off Ice on the final downwind run. With the lifting breeze the full three laps were completed by all and in a tight finish Indigo and Tau Ceti crossed just 28 seconds apart.

Corrected times gave the win to Ice followed by Jimmie Blacksmith in second and Indigo third holding off Port FM Mais Oui by 34 seconds. Magic was fifth followed by Ann Sea and Tau Ceti.

Ice leads the Winter Series on 3 points ahead of Port FM Mais Oui and Jimmie Blacksmith tied on 5 and the Winter Series continues this Saturday with Race 3.