AFTER their annual trip to Saundersfoot, the majority of the Arden Sailing Club fleet returned to sail at Defford on Sunday.

The first race of the day was a pursuits, a sudden gust shortly after the start forced John Tildersly (Comet) to retire, leaving Keith Stevens (Comet) contesting the early lead with Andrew Potts (Solo). The gusty conditions favoured the large double-handed boats and half-way through the race Niall Campbell and Jane Smee (Enterprise) forced their way to the front, followed closely by Jeremy and Michelle Griffiths (Enterprise).

This left Andrew Potts in third with Keith Stevens a close fourth. David and Pauline Appleby (GP14) and Caroline Stephens (Pico) completed the fleet.

The second race was a Strensham in which office-of-the- day Stuart Stephens placed the distance marker right down by the locks at Strensham.

Erick Ison (Laser) held the lead from Nial Campbell all the way to the locks, some one and a half miles downstream of the start. Due to the change of wind direction, Andrew Potts and Keith Stevens caught them up and for much of the return leg all four boats were lined across the river with the lead changing hands frequently.

Only in the last few minutes did Andrew Potts establish a lead, though Keith Stevens was able to hold on to second place by seven seconds from Niall Campbell, with Erick in fourth.

It was a rewarding to see Keith Hodges, Ellie Jones and Claire Bowie from the recent training course, taking to the water to practise their newly acquired sailing skills.

The next course starts on July 2 with a taster day this Sunday (June 12).

For further details of this and the club in general, contact Helen on 01905 23298 or Alan on 0121 453 6611.