The second race of the Mylor Chandlery and Rigging series was held at Mylor YC on Friday in a brisk south-westerly wind and, until the very end at least, no rain. This was a welcome change from the dire weather so far, writes Chris Davis.

It has been interesting to see the fastest class, E class, grow in numbers and become increasingly competitive since its inception just over two years ago, with some fairly aggressive tactical ploys becoming commonplace. Twelve boats competed on Friday and all boats were sailed very well, the first four particularly so. Once again, Stargazer, the Dufour 32 owned by Liam and Sue McGrath, and the Albin Nova Aura (Euan Beattie) battled it out all round the course for line honours. Aura coming home 19 seconds ahead of Stargazer. However, this margin was not enough once the handicaps had been applied. Stargazer won the race on corrected time, with the Dufour 2800 Xanadu IV (Chris Bye and Sandra Wakefield) coming second and Aura third. In U class, once again the Contessa 26 Mary Boon (John Cruise) won by a handsome margin, both on the water and on handicap.

John and his crew sailed an almost faultless race. Levity (Guy English), a relative newcomer to racing at Mylor, but a boat well known in the port, came second on the water, ahead of the Hawk 20 Pickwick (Peter Marsden). However, these placings were reversed on handicap.

Just four boats competed in Q class. The Sadler 26 Souchong (Colin Sadler) won easily and the Trintella 29 Meka (Mike Lithgow) came a well-deserved second, ahead of Chalonnaise (Steve Pendray and Fiona Pascoe). Finally, in G/H class, Vagabond (Simon Sugrue) came home ahead of fellow Shrimper Grace of St Just (John Benge).

Full results were as follows - E fleet: 1st, Stargazer (Liam and Sue McGrath); 2nd: Xanadu IV (Chris Bye and Sandra Wakefield); 3rd: Aura (Euan Beattie).

U fleet: 1st: Mary Boon (John Cruise); 2nd: Pickwick (Peter Marsden); 3rd: Levity (Guy English). Q fleet: 1st, Siuchong (Colin Sadler); 2nd: Meka (Mike Lithgow); 3rd: Chalonnaise (Steve Pendray and Fiona Pascoe). G/H fleet: 1st: Vagabond (Simon Sugrue); 2nd: Grace of St Just (John Benge).

n The weather was much the same for the fifth race of the Skinners Brewery Pursuit series, held on Sunday, July 1, and it was pleasing to see so many boats new to racing turn out and have a go. In a pursuit race the slower boats start first, perhaps 15 or 20 minutes before the faster boats; the aim for the slower boats is to make sure that no-one overtakes them before the finish and, of course, the faster boats aim to overtake them all and come first. It is an interesting format: inverse racing, as it were. One of the last to start was Stargazer (Liam and Sue McGrath) and they made steady and inexorable progress through the fleet, overtaking everyone in turn.

They finished about a minute ahead of the Beneteau 311 Gazelle, sailed by Andrew and Sue Nancarrow and their three young children, who all three played their part in sailing the boat. Mary Boon (John Cruise) came third, ahead of Alias (Trish Adams), Riduna (Mark and Rosie Briggs) and Flamingo Blue (Will Parkinson). As for the series, at this half-way stage Mary Boon has a clear lead, but there are several boats fighting it out for second, third and fourth places. It will be interesting to see how the series placing develop as the season progresses and the permitted race discards come into play.

Results: 1st: Stargazer (Liam and Sue McGrath); 2nd: Gazelle (Andrew and Sue Nancarrow); 3rd: Mary Boon (John Cruise).