Hastings hosts Federation Cup

Thirty-three boats from five clubs battled it out on the water in front of Marine Court last weekend.

The strong winds made for exciting sailing with a number of boats capsizing in the heat of the action and competition extremely fierce across the four classes with 16 different types of boat taking part.

Boats competing ranged from classic wooden dinghies such as the Merlin Rocket and Fireball to ultra modern light weight skiffs with asymmetric spinnakers such as the RS 700 and RS 800.

The only competitors to win both races in their class were Bexhill sailors Jon and Clare Day (Dart 16) in the catamaran fleet and Richard Eagleton (Europe) in the slow handicap fleet. Their consistently superior sailing contributed to an overall 2014 Federation Cup victory for Bexhill SC.

Hastings & St Leonards achieved a respectable second, with Eastbourne Sovereign third, Newhaven & Seaford fourth and Pevensey Bay fifth.

Best placed local sailors in the morning race were Mark Pettit - second in his Topaz 14 in the catamaran fleet - Philip and Margaret Blurton - third in their Tasar in the medium handicap fleet - and Steve Clark and Roy Sandford - second and third respectively in their Laser Radials in the slow handicap.

In the afternoon race, John and Richard Parmenter in their Merlin Rocket took third in the medium handicap fleet, and Sandford was third in the slow handicap fleet.

The management of the event passed off smoothly under the eye of Mick Lane, principal race officer at the club.