Sailing: Squadron under fire for faulty radio fiasco

THE ROYAL Yacht Squadron was under fire again yesterday. From the local council and heritage campaigners, for replacing wooden sash windows with plastic alternatives and then failing to change them back. From Classes Two and Three in Skandia Cowes Week, for dithering over how to resolve the results following a change of course on Tuesday. And from countless hosts for using faulty equipment to radio instructions at the start of the Britannia Cup yesterday.

A general recall delayed the Britannia for 20 minutes, but was not enough to prevent a brilliant day's racing in a Solent with barely a cloud in sight and, for most of the day, up to 15 knots of south-westerly to drive everyone along. An eclectic mix of contenders were in the frame at the end: third was Richard Matthews' 12m Crusader, while Victric 4 was runner- up for Tony de Mulder. On top of the podium was the new J90, J Lance 2, by just 15 seconds because of a two per cent time penalty for hitting West Lepe buoy.

Closely following them is the French yachtswoman and formidable competitor, Marie-Claude Heys. And again in danger of being denied any silverware despite winning was Stephen Fein's Swan 48 Full Pelt. In theory he won the Aisher Salver on Tuesday, but that was because he sailed the course finally announced by the Squadron.