Almond leads way in summer finale

GORING Thames Sailing Club held their grand finale summer series in sunny, gusty conditions over a challenging course.

The 10-strong fleet comprised Toppers, Comets, Laser Radials, Laser Standards and an RS Vision and were helmed for two races.

Helms of all ages launched, led out by junior Josh Spencer, 12, racing in a Topper for the first time. The handicap system saw him on the water for 10 minutes alone.

Soon after, nine other boats jostled hard for positions on the course and around every mark. The skill was in finding and using each gust to its full advantage as well as avoiding the many motor cruisers which also were making the most of the last of the summer conditions on the Thames which saw a couple of beachings and capsizes.

The second pursuit race was competed by nine helms, all starting together. Junior Will Almond, 17, took a risky but successful port flyer and saw him first, at the upwind mark.

Will Almond successfully steered his Laser Radial to win both races, narrowly beating adult James Barlow in his Laser Standard, on the line. Overall the summer series (fast fleet) was won by adults Mark Foster (Laser Standard), and (slow fleet) by Andrew Darke (Comet).