The race officer deliberated about whether it was safe to race, but decided to try.

Quite a number of boats went out with a couple of rolls in, but not all reached the start line.

The course was the customary triangle-sausage configuration, but before the leading boats had reached the weather mark for the first time, there was a big gap between them and the middle and end of the fleet.

Downwind, the leaders managed very well, but the less experienced behind them were quite often knocked down by the gusts on the first reach, and the gybe took its toll.

With the fleet increasingly spread out, and the leaders nearly lapping the backmarkers who were still racing – 12 had retired – and the run proving tricky with the shifts, the race was finished after one round and the boats sent ashore.

Some of the rescued sailors, exhausted after their struggles, were brought ashore in patrol boats, who went out again to tow the abandoned boats back.

The committee boat returned as well, and a second briefing was held to discover whether it would be possible to complete the programme of three races.

Only three hands shot up in answer to the query "Who wants to race again?" followed by a few more, less enthusiastically, and the decision was made to abandon racing for the day.

This proved wise, because the wind increased as the afternoon wore on. Eight prizes had been prepared, so slightly more than half of the finishers got one – though observers took the view all finishers had done well.

Results: 1 No 45367: Thomas Weeks, Maidenhead SC; 2 No 46259: Alex Benbow, Spinnaker SC, 3 No 42993: Matthew Hall, Spinnaker SC; 4 No 45968: Ben Chapsall, Dell Quay SC; 5 No 45121: Alexandra Orton, Chichester YC; 6 No 46255: Karen Thomas, Royal Lymington YC; 7 No 40517: Kevin Druce, Datchet Water SC; 8 No 45369: Philippa Hollingshurts, Spinnaker SC.

DELL QUAY

Strong winds led racing to be cancelled at Dell Quay, so with only one race to go, Chris Ede and Laura Hughes, sailing a Laser 2000, have won the second Helm series. But the first series is wide open with one race left.

Sunday started stormily but by the afternoon, the wind had eased and the sun broke through to provide a contrast to the black rain clouds.

Julie and Andrew Rooker, sailing their Wayfarer, won both handicap races with Chris Turner second in his Solo. The Rookers have secured second place in both handicap series behind Malcolm and Jean Buchanan in a RS 400.

In the Laser fleet, Chris Ede wrapped up both Laser Trophy series with two firsts. Helen Dignum finished second in both races to move to third overall in the second Trophy series.

Ben Chrystall won all three junior races in his Laser Radial, so the series goes to its final weekend with any one of four juniors up for the prize: Sam Denyer, Ben Hoddy, Lucy Goff and Ben Chrystall. Also to be decided is the Longmore series.