WEYMOUTH Sailing Club (WSC) ended the year on a successful note when more than 100 competitors took to the water.

On a miserable Boxing Day morning, cruisers, squibs and dinghies gathered in Weymouth Bay to compete in the Frostbite and Ice Breaker Trophy races.

In keeping with the club’s annual tradition, the boats finished the race by sailing up the harbour to cross a finishing line outside the club’s headquarters on the Nothe Parade. They were greeted by cannon fire as they crossed the finishing line and were cheered on by spectators who lined the quay side.

Unfortunately, the dinghy fleet were given a shortened course in the bay so some were unable to receive a cannon fire. However, a few of them did sail up the harbour to be given a cannon fire.

The event was very much a family affair with competitors of all ages reflected in the overall results.

The youngest competitor of the day was Charlotte Lane, 13, who was visiting her grandparents in Weymouth for Christmas.

Having watched the event from the side-lines last year, Lane, who is a keen Optimist dinghy sailor from Cambridge, wanted to take part this year.

She joined her uncle, Mark Bugler and his wife Rima, together with their crew on the family yacht Saskia VII.

Lane obviously brought the boat good luck as they managed to win the cruiser class des- pite suffering a torn headsail on the last leg of the race.

In the dinghy fleet, husband and wife team Phil and Ali Ashworth secured the race win while David McCune and Edwin Page won a tight battle in the squib class.

The WSC Cadets were well represented with Sara Shelley and Alexandra Stevenson compet- ing on Laser Radials in the dinghy fleet and Harry Owens and Sam Avant onboard Jammy Dodger in the yacht fleet.

The event was rounded off with a bring-a-plate buffet held in the newly re-furbished long shed.

It was very well supported by the hardworking social secretary, Jane Buckle and the legendary cake-maker Cheryl.

Although most of the boats have now been taken out of the water, a busy social programme has been planned for the long winter evenings.