WINDS gusting five to six spelled big trouble for the five bold Arden Sailing Club dinghy racers who competed in the annual Icicle Race on the Avon at Defford.
Enterprise helms, Stuart Stephen and Jeremy Griffiths, made a fist of their chances after a clash on the start line, and then by failing to cope with a challenging wind, which wobbled both boats and crews about before flipping them over and out.
The GP14 sailed by David and Pauline Appleby, which initially took off in a fine plume of spray and with the hallmarks of a race winner, hit a full-frontal blast and capsized.
Ralph Evans with new crew Alan Browning took a full lap of the course before nose-diving his Enterprise and taking race-ending damage to steering gear.
Late stager veterans Alan Salerman and Ray Trace in the remaining GP14 with the river all to themselves, plugged on resolutely to complete the course to win the club's Brass Monkey Trophy.
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