Published: Thursday, 2nd July, 2009 1:00pm

Sailing success at Wraysbury

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Sailing

The prizewinners from Saturday.

WRAYSBURY Lake Sailing Club Optimist Open and Thames Valley Championships was a huge success on Saturday.

There were 80 competitors for the annual Optimist Class Dinghy Open race meeting at Wraysbury Lake Sailing Club sponsored by Purple Marine.

Optimist fleet captain Andy Newton said: 'This event has proved so popular that we had to close the registrations three weeks ago.

'It"s a great complement to all the club members who turn out to help that we are able to handle an event of this great size.'

The racing is divided into two flights - the main fleet for more experienced competitors aged up to 15 and the regatta fleet for those starting out in competitive racing with children as young as seven participating.

Three local sailors, Robert Baddeley (Maidenhead), James Taylor (Slough) and Jamie Webb acquitted themselves well in the fierce main fleet competition coming third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Baddeley made the most of his local knowledge to win the second of the two races. Another local sailor, Jenny Smallwood, was just pipped for first girl by one point in 30. The overall winner and 2009 Thames Valley Area champion was Murray Hampshire of Papercourt sailing club. He sailed consistently well in the light conditions gaining a first and second place in the two races.

In the Regatta fleet Thomas Newton did one better for Wraysbury, finishing in second to William Bedford of Spinnaker SC. These two were the class of the field, never being separated by any great distance.

'A wonderful day"s sailing,' commented. 'It was great to see these young people enjoying the competition and displaying their sailing skills.'