LILLIPUT Sailing Club's Regatta resulted in wins for one of the club's most prominent and popular members, Steve Reynell.

Sailing with his son Mark in the Magnum 27 Opus with another local helmsman, Poole's Mike Riley, they won four of their races at the weekend and took home most of the silverware.

The event featured races for yachts in Cruiser Classes One and Two plus Sadlers around Poole Bay and for dinghies in Poole Harbour.

The GP14 dinghies were competing in the Southern Bell Open Series and after some very close racing Poole YC's David Brann and Colin Rainback took first place ahead of clubmates Mike Arrow and Ian Aitken with Dennis Valentine and Clyde Elliott third.

The Dinghy Series, raced over the two days resulted in a win for Lilliput's David Goodliffe in his 420 ahead of Stuart Swift's Laser with the Wayfarer of Nigel Clark third.

Goodliffe also took the Poole Lions dinghy race for the Jack Peate Trophy, sailed on the Sunday.

There were three races in the bay for the cruisers on Saturday and in Class One Opus, helmed by Mark Reynell, gained two firsts and a second.

Woolley Knickers, the Evolution 26 of Nick Woolley from Christchurch SC, secured a second and third while Revolution, the Evolution 25 of Ian Wall, took a first and fourth.

The Sadler fleet saw some close racing with Peter Lynk's Phoebus getting two firsts and a second, Shorty with Andrew Richards a first and two seconds, Thumper helmed by Frank Hackforth, two thirds plus a fifth and Jane Montgomery's Suzi a string of fourth places.

In races for Class Two Cruisers, Rob and Sue Brackstone's Hunter 275 Cabrelle gained two firsts and a second place, while Valri, Rod Openshaw's Jaguar 21, took a first, second and third, and Moombattoo, Gill and Bob Downes' Albin Vega, a second, third and fourth. Jim Gavin's Elfin (Splinter) had two fourths and a third.

On Sunday, the first Cruiser race for the Regatta Points Series saw another win for Opus in Class One with Hubert Lea's Parker 27 Leaway II second and Woolley Knickers third, giving overall victory and the series trophy to Opus with Woolley Knickers second and Revolution third.

In the Sadler class, Shorty won the race and series with Phoebus second in race and series and Thumper third.

Valri won the fourth race and the Series Trophy for Class Two with Cabrelle second and Moombattoo third.

The second race was for the Poole Lions Trophies, Opus winning Class One with Leaway II second and Revolution third while Phoebus won the Sadler Class with Susie in second place and Thumper finishing third.

Manitas won Class Two ahead of Valri in second place and Moombattoo third.

There was drama at the National Optimist Team Racing Championships at Ringwood at the weekend.

The Royal Lymington team won the first race of three in the final, only to have a team member adjudged to be over at the start. The next two races went one apiece leaving Gratham Water Sailing Club the title after a tense last-minute manoeuvre at the end of the last race.

Under the watchful eye of organiser/race officer Geoff Jackson, the 20 teams of three, all aged under 15 with one team member having to be under the age of 12, competed around an 'S' course that unusually gave a beat-reach-run-reach, with a final beat to a separate finish.

Gratham made their way to the final with a win over The Bowmoor SC Bums in the semis, whilst The Royal Lymington trio of Greg Carey and Robert and Maria Claridge won the local derby with Lymington Town.

A variable Force 4 from the North East welcomed the 26-strong to fleet of Cadets to Highcliffe Sailing Club for the south coast qualifying event.

From the start Sam Pearson and Sam Crowe showed their dominance over the fleet being well in the lead by the windward mark.

Local brothers Will and James Rusden fought furiously to steal the lead but their persistence was unrewarded.

The final result saw Pearson and Crowe take first with the Rusden brothers second and Will Lyon and Charles Hatfield third.

The breeze eased for the second race of the day providing the competitors with plenty to think about.

On an even line, the fleet got away promptly, however, as the breeze continued to decrease the race officer was forced to shorten race.

Luck and conditions remained very variable and a wind shift at the start of the third race induced a largely port end bias line.

Charlotte Lawrence and Pearson spotted the shift early and broke away swiftly off the start and the later was able to maintain the healthy advantage and went through to win the race, taking his second victory of the day.

A fresh Force 4 welcomed the saolors back onto the water for the second day of racing, and having sailed low on the first reach, Ben Lyon and David Brewer pulled out a convincing lead by the time the fleet had reached the leeward mark.

Even under increasing pressure from the closing pack Lyon was able to hold out to the finish, taking a deserved victory.

The breeze remained fluky for the second and final race of the day.

Adam Richards and Sam Muskett fought most successfully, achieving a great start that they were able to maintain to the finish. They were followed by Ben Lyon.

Overall victory went to the Rusden brothers in 9156. Second place went to another local boat sailed by Ben Lyon and Dave Brewer (9043) and Charlotte Lawrence and Molly Bridge were third in 9000.