The six-race series, hosted by the Isle of Man Yacht Club on Saturday and Sunday, was characterised by extremely light winds which presented a tough test of skill and patience for competitors and race officials alike.

In superb demonstrations of light airs sailing, visitors Flynn and Niamh Davies took the lead after three races on Saturday. Flynn took two wins and a second to lead local sailors Greg Kelly (with a win and two seconds) and Ffinlo Wright (three thirds) in the Pro fleet. In the Sport fleet, Niamh had an impressive three wins, with Matthew Petts lying second with two seconds and a third.

With close competition in both fleets, Sunday produced a little more wind, providing excellent racing. In the Pro fleet the keen rivalry between Flynn and Greg continued, with the IOMYC sailor using his local knowledge to take races four and five. Amie Shute, who had missed Saturday’s racing, pushed into third place in the first race to be be passed by Ffinlo again in the fourth. In the Sport class Owen Williams, after struggling on Saturday, had splendid starts and won five and six, with Patrick Cope also pushing through to a second in race five.

With the results so close, the final race would prove to be the decider in both fleets. Greg had to beat Flynn to take the Pro championship, while Niamh had to resist Owen’s challenge in the Sport class. In a dramatic race in the Pro fleet, the leaders were so close and keen to cover each other that marks were hit and penalties taken, allowing Ffinlo Wright to seize the advantage. He led the fleet at the penultimate mark with Flynn second and Greg third, but Greg managed to squeeze past Flynn to follow Ffinlo in and claim the title. In the Sport class Niamh again showed her ability by winning the race to take the series, followed by Erin Murphy and Patrick Cope.

Many thanks to race officers, rescue boat crews and all the clubhouse support including the mums and dads. Thanks to Appleby Global for theirkind sponsorship and the Isle of Man Steam Packet for their support.

Results (all IOMYC unless stated), Pro Fleet: 1, Greg Kelly; 2, Flynn Davies (Burnham SC); 3, Ffinlo Wright; 4, James Kelly; 5, Tony Pitt; 6, Amie Shute. Sport Fleet: 1, Niamh Davies (Burnham SC); 2, Patrick Cope; 3, Owen Williams; 4, Matthew Petts; 5, Erin Murphy; 6, Griff Davies (Burnham SC); 7, Matthew Billinghurst; 8, James Humphreys; 9, Cameron Findlay.

Thanks to Brian Partington for the report. Images from Saturday can be viewed in the MSR Gallery, full results are here.

1000 BST (Monday) update: After most of the fleet found themselves drifting in no wind, there were a slew of retirements overnight.

Out of 17 starters only four boats finished this year’s race: X442 Xanadu was first to finish, crossing the line at 0213 BST, followed by Polished Manx at 0351 BST. Ralph Kee’s E-Boat Eliza Bee finished at 0732 while the crew of Get Kraken pulled an all-nighter to cross the line in Ramsey Bay at 0855, an elapsed time of 22 hours 25 minutes.

Full report and results to follow. The prizegiving will take place in the MS&CC clubhouse at 1300 BST.

Images from the start can be viewed at the MSR Gallery.

2030 BST update: Leading boat Xanadu has rounded the Calf and is currently off Kallow Point at Port st Mary, where there is reported to be very little wind.

The tide will continue to run anticlockwise around the South of the island, carrying the boats around the course, until around 0100 BST Monday. After that the current will turn against the fleet but the southeasterly wind is forecast to gradually increase from 2130 BST, potentially reaching up to force six overnight.

Further down the fleet, four boats have confirmed their retirement so far: Chablis and Penny Diamond from Glasson Sailing Club, Douglas Bay Yacht Club’s Maggie May and Sam’s Lord from Peel Sailing Club.

1700 BST update: Making the most of catching the breeze first, the three leaders seem to have left the rest of the fleet behind. Staying well offshore, Xanadu has carved out a clear lead and will be first to round the Calf, while Polished Manx and Eauvation are close together at Niarbyl.

1540 BST update: A breeze of around eight knots has filled in for the leading boats as they approach Peel. Leading the fleet is Clyde Sailing Club’s X442 Xanadu, with Sigma 33 Polished Manx second and Benetau First 31.7 Eauvation third.

1230 BST update: Despite very light winds the 2012 IOMA Fund and Investment Management Round the Island Race got underway this morning.

As the 10.30am start approached, a rain squall delivered a consistent Southeasterly breeze in Ramsey Bay which carried most of the 17-yacht fleet around the Point of Ayre by midday.

But the windless conditions have returned as the fleet progresses down the west coast of the Isle of Man, as seen here from onboard Douglas Bay Yacht Club’s Eauvation.

Thanks to Chris Hill for the onboard photo.

Up to 20 Tera dinghies are expected to contest the six-race series hosted by the Isle of Man Yacht Club, beginning with three races starting at 2pm on Saturday, May 5. A further three races are scheduled for Sunday morning.

It will be the largest junior dinghy racing event to take place in the island this year and has attracted a number of entries from around the UK, thanks to the support of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Five sailors from the Manx Youth Sailing Squad will compete following winter training both on and off-island as part of Team GBR. Greg Kelly, Tony Pitt, Ffinlo Wright and Amie Shute will race in the Pro fleet, while Matt Petts will sail in the Sport fleet. This is the squad’s first Tera regatta of the 2012 season.

Supper will be served at the IOMYC clubhouse for all competitors and their families on Saturday and prizes will be presented by a representative from Appleby at the competitor’s BBQ on Sunday lunchtime.

Entry forms, Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions can be downloaded from the IOMYC website.

Hosted by Manx Sailing and Cruising Club, the annual race runs anticlockwise around the Isle of Man, covers a total distance of around 80 miles and attracts yachts from around the Irish Sea.

The race is a great test of sailing skills and is known for its challenging conditions, complicated tidal streams and varied local weather patterns. Competitors in the 2011 race, won by Glasson Sailing Club’s Chablis skippered by Ian Sharples, were hit by squalls reaching 46 knots off Port Erin before finding themselves becalmed near Laxey a few hours later.

The event is sponsored for the third year by IOMA Fund and Investment Management. Entries are separated into three divisions for racing yachts, cruiser-racers and multihulls, with the three fleets starting at 15 minute intervals from 10.30am BST.

This will be the 57th edition of the historic race which was first contested in 1953 for the Coronation Cup. Yachts will gather in Ramsey harbour during Friday and Saturday and the MS&CC’s clubhouse on Queen’s Promenade will be almost permanently open through the bank holiday weekend to welcome visiting yachtsmen and act as race office. The prizegiving is scheduled to take place in the clubhouse at 1pm on Monday, May 7.

Spectators can enjoy grandstand views from the Point of Ayre from 11am, where the fleet will pass only metres from beach to avoid the stronger currents offshore.

Yachts will be visible from many vantage points around the island’s coastline through the day and the fleet will pass close inshore at Peel. Most of the boats will have rounded the Calf of Man by the evening and will be racing to the finish in Ramsey, where some yachts have finished mere seconds apart after over eleven hours of racing.

Notice of Race and Entry Forms are available at the MS&CC website.

Castletown has quietly become one of the island’s most popular sailing venues in recent years, with CDMYC’s races regularly attracting up to 20 boats at the height of summer.

The usual variety of craft took part on Sunday including traditional gaffers, dayboats and cruisers, with the recent dry weather helping to ensure most boats were ready for the first race of the season.

Making a dramatic entrance was a beautiful reconstruction of Ching Ching, painstakingly rebuilt by Mick Kneale over the last two years into a gaff-rigged dayboat of his own design.

The boat hit the water for the first time on Saturday and has been christened Genesta II in homage to the original Genesta, which was rebuilt from a National 18 into a cruiser by the late Harry Harrison.

Despite the flukey winds in the shadow of the castle it was a good start for all, with Fruit and Nuts showing her pace alongside the Deltas of John Cringle and John Qualtrough, Mark Quayle in O’Hara of Scarlett and Mick Kneale in Genesta showing everyone the way to the bell-buoy.

During the race the wind dropped very light and shifted to the west, leaving the less sprightly boats drifting. But the lighter competitors kept moving to finish in remarkable time considering the conditions.

Results: 1, Chris Heselton (Dillema); 2, Mark Quayle (O’Hara of Scarlett); 3, John Cringle (Rupert Bear) 4=, Robin Wooton (Fruit and Nuts) and Mick Kneale (Genesta II); 6, Brian Forster (Amy); 7, Mike Pollard (Shearwater); 8, Adam Kelly (Wombat); 9, John Dowling (Popard); 10, Tony Knowles (Tamarind); DNF Roger Harper (Dulcibella).

Thanks to Mike Pollard for the report, more images are available in the Gallery.

The crews enjoyed some exciting racing in the variable breeze, which ranged from flat calm to occasional gusts up to force three.

In the first race the GP14 of Keith and Ted Holden was first over the line followed by the RS Vario of Delia Jackson. Mike Swales in his Topper was next, ahead of Harry Eastham and Lynne Hadman sailing a GP14.

The Holdens took the win on corrected time, with Swales claiming second and Jackson finishing third.

Slightly stronger winds made for a tight contest in race two. The Holdens finished first on the water but were pipped on corrected time by Swales who had managed to stay within seconds of the GP14s to secure the win.

Thanks to the safety boat crew, the race officer and his officials. The series continues on Saturday for the Peake Trophy.

Results, race one: 1, Keith/Ted Holden (GP14); 2, Mike Swales (Topper); 3, Delia Jackson (RS Vario); 4, Harry Eastham/Lynne Hadman (GP14).

Race two: 1, Mike Swales; 2, Keith/Ted Holden; 3, Harry Eastham/Lynne Hadman.

Thanks to Keith Holden for the report.

Two young dinghy sailors made their mark at the IOM Copiers Easter Regatta hosted by Manx Sailing and Cruising Club.

13-year-old Greg Kelly and 10-year-old Ben Batchelor, both members of the Manx Youth Sailing Squad, took first and second overall in their RS Tera dinghies out of 14 boats that contested the series on Easter Saturday.

Windless conditions caused an hour’s postponement and the abandonment of the first race after a huge wind shift, before a steady northerly breeze settled in Ramsey bay allowing two races to be completed.

The faster end of the fleet saw some intense battles between the five RS 200s but the windward-leeward courses put the asymmetric dinghies at a disadvantage. Long-standing Isle of Man dinghy champions Russell and June Collister finished top of the 200s, but could only manage fifth in the final standings.

The real competition was at the other end of the fleet, as youth squad sailor Greg made excellent starts to win both races on corrected time, with Ben taking a third and a second to secure second overall.

The laser of Simon Pressly was able to split the youngsters in race one to take second, but an equipment failure only yards from the finish line in race two denied him a podium place and the chance to challenge the Tera’s dominance.

The annual Easter Regatta is the first offshore dinghy event of the year and one of six events which make up the Traveller’s Series, culminating in the Isle of Man Dinghy Championship in September.

It also offers a shakedown for new boats, sailors and crews, giving a taste of the season to come. With world-class racing for juniors in the Tera dinghy, the ever-popular Laser and the convergence around the RS 200, three dinghy classes now enjoy regular fleet racing to a high standard that promises great racing for the new season.

Thanks to race officer Keith Poole assisted by David Edwards, and Peter Hoosen Owen and Mark Corrin of IOM Copiers for manning the safety boat. Thanks also to the social committee for providing an excellent regatta tea.

Images from the event are available here

IOM Copiers Easter Regatta overall results:

1. Greg Kelly (RS Tera)
2. Ben Batchelor (RS Tera)
3. Ralph Kee (Laser)
4. Mike Pridham (Laser)
5. Russell/June Collister (RS 200)
6. Simon Pressley (Laser)
7. Brian Quayle (OK)
8. Rob Cowell and Phil Hardisty (RS 200)
9. Andrew Dean and Charlotte Corlett (RS 200)
10. Dave Batchelor and Amie Shute
11. James Kelly and Chris Hill (RS 200)
12. Jerry Colman and Charlie Edwards (505)
13. James Penn (RS Feva)
14. Angus Jolly (RS 600)

Thanks to Ralph Kee for all the Winter Series reports- With the reservoir like a millpond, the final races in the Manx Sailing and Cruising Club’s winter series were cancelled for a lack of wind on Sunday, leaving the overall results unchanged.

Simon Pressley retained his one point lead to take the overall win. Pressley and Mike Pridham have just returned from competing in Australia at the World Laser Masters, allowing Ralph Kee to catch up and challenge for the series win in the final races, but the abandonment meant he had to settle for second.

Top junior was Ffinlo Wright, who won several races towards the end of the series to finish sixth overall, only one point behind Andrew Dean and Lucy Connors in fifth place.

The mild winter has led to a successful comeback for sailing on West Baldwin reservoir, with up to 16 dinghies regularly taking to the water and virtually no icebreaking required. Only three race days were abandoned during the series, one for too much wind and two for no wind at all.

Many thanks to all the safety boat volunteers and stalwart race officer Pete Hinds, who has overseen virtually every race of the series.

Thanks also to the Isle of Man Water Authority for granting permission to use the reservoir. Competitors are reminded that all boats must be removed from the lakeside by Saturday, March 31.

The first major dinghy event of the 2012 season is the IOM Copiers Easter Regatta taking place in Ramsey Bay on Saturday, April 7, with the first race starting at 10.30am. Full sailing instructions are available at www.msandcc.org

Winter series overall results:

1. S. Pressley (Laser) 17
2. R. Kee (Laser) 18
3. B. Quayle (Laser/OK) 22
4. Keith/Ted Holden (GP 14)27
5. A. Dean/Lucy Connors (RS 200) 34
6. F. Wright (Tera Pro) 35
7. M. Pridham (Laser) 37
8. J. Whitelegg (Gull) 49
9. D. Williams(Topper) 52
10. A. Williams (Laser 2000) 52
11. R. Cowell/P. Hardisty (RS 200) 52
12. J. Hyett (Laser Vago) 54
13. J. Colman (RS Vision) 62
14. A. Jolly (Laser) 64
15. Dave/Emily Batchelor (RS 200) 64
16. Eric/Joe Whitelegg (Enterprise) 68
17. D. Roberts (Fireball) 68
18. M. Moore (Laser 4.7) 69
19. P. Melling (Topper Vibe) 80
20. C. Hill (Laser Radial) 83
21. J. Hendy (Laser Radial) 84
22. B. Batchelor (Tera Sport) 87
23. R. Collister (Laser) 91
24. T. Cope (Laser 2000) 98
25. G. Kelly (Tera Pro) 98
26. A. Hinds (Laser Radial) 101
27. J. Rowlands (Topper Vibe) 107

The race officer was able to set a course using the full lake and the fleet of eight was led off the line by Ralph Kee (Laser), closely followed by Andrew Dean/Lucy Connors (RS 200) and Andrew and Alish Williams (Laser 2000), even after 40 minutes of racing they finished in that order on the water. However, on corrected time junior Ffinlo Wright (Tera) took second place ahead of Andrew Dean and Andrew Williams.

With the wind seeming to build, five crews started the second race, again with the help of a special ‘blend’ of Injebreck gusts and calms Ralph Kee managed to stay ahead of Andrew Dean to finish first on the water, yet again it was Ffinlo who, on corrected time edged ahead of Andrew into second place.

Many thanks to the OOD and safety boat crew.  All competitors are invited to the MS&CC Clubhouse for a prizegiving and sandwiches after racing on Sunday 25 March which is the last race of the winter season.

Results, race one:

1. Ralph Kee (Laser)
2. Ffinlo Wright (Tera)
3. Andrew Dean/Lucy Connors (RS200)
4. Andrew and Aalish Williams (Laser 2000)
5. Michael Moore (Laser 4.7)
6. Keith/Ted Holden (GP 14)
7. Owen Williams (Topper)
8. Jim Whitelegg (Gull)

Race two:

1. Ralph Kee
2. Ffinlo Wright
3. Andrew Dean/Lucy Connors
4. Keith/Ted Holden
5. Michael Moore

With the junior squad training in Port st Mary and three local laser sailors competing in Australia, the fleet was smaller than usual. Mindful that the six starters could be becalmed, the race officer set the shortest course possible.

First off the line was Brian Quayle (Laser) followed by Joe and Eric Whitelegg (Enterprise) and Keith and Ted Holden (GP14).  After a shambolic start Ralph Kee (Laser) managed to reel Brian in to finish four seconds ahead on the water.  The Holdens came through to finish third to claim their first win of the season on corrected time, with Ralph second and Brian third.

With the sun out and the wind filling nicely, the race officer set a larger course using the top half of the lake for race two. An uncharacteristic good start put Ralph at the front of the fleet, challenged by Brian until he hit the bottom and fell out of contention..

The real duel was between the Whiteleggs and the Holdens, with the Whiteleggs once again winning on the water only to be beaten on corrected time. Keith and Ted claimed earned their second win of the day, beating Ralph by only 0.02 seconds.

Many thanks to OOD and safety boat crew. There are only two weeks remaining in the 2011-12 winter series hosted by the Manx Sailing and Cruising Club. After the final races on Sunday, March 25, all competitors are invited to the MS&CC clubhouse in Ramsey for the prizegiving.

Results, race one

1. Keith/Ted Holden (GP 14)
2. Ralph Kee (Laser)
3. Brian Quayle (Laser)
4. Joe/Eric Whitelegg (Enterprise)
5. Jim Whitelegg (Gul)
6. James Penn/Jerry Colman (RS Vision)

Race two

1. Keith/Ted Holden (GP 14)
2. Ralph Kee (Laser)
3. Joe/Eric Whitelegg (Enterprise)
4. Jim Whitelegg (Gull)
5. Brian Quayle (Laser)
6. James Penn/Jerry Colman (RS Vision)