Sailing: Violent Impulse

COMPETITORS in CHS Class I had more incentive than usual to win in the overcast and breezy conditions here yesterday, because for the first time the winner will receive not only the Brittania Cup but also his own weight in champagne.

No doubt the winner Richard Matthews, owner of Crusader, will be eating well before the weigh-in which takes place on Friday.

One owner who will not be claiming the champagne is John Corby whose boat Joyride was rammed by Impulse racing in the same class. Impulse subsequently retired having towed Joyride to safety.

It was another day of incident for the Royal sailors, Prince Edward took the helm of an Etchells 22, The Ashes, but must have been extremely frustrated when he grounded the boat in front of the Green, adjacent to the Royal Yacht Squadron.

The Duke of Edinburgh's yacht Yeoman XXVIII finished fifth in its class but there was concern over the helmsman, Peter Dorman who received a head injury.

The Dayboat classes had another windward start along the Gunard shore but without the laborious tacking endured on the previous days racing. Once again Arbitrator took line honours in the Sigma 38 Class - its fifth successive win - maintaining an unbeaten record.

Don Wood, racing in the Class I yacht, Red, and Graham Walker, a guest on Camp Freddie, also of Class I, have agreed to race each other. The loser will donate a 100 pairs of wellingtons to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.