FOUR youngsters took part in their first sailing competition at the weekend when Ely Sailing Club held their 11th Annual Open Meeting for Toppers on Saturday. Jamie Cammann, nine, Jack Cammann, 10, Martin Mills, 13, and Stuart Macer, 14, only started sa

FOUR youngsters took part in their first sailing competition at the weekend when Ely Sailing Club held their 11th Annual Open Meeting for Toppers on Saturday.

Jamie Cammann, nine, Jack Cammann, 10, Martin Mills, 13, and Stuart Macer, 14, only started sailing in May when they attended the "Set Sail" courses held at Ely Sailing Club.

Jack finished 20th, one point ahead of Martin, and was presented with a tankard inscribed 'First Helm Ely'.

The lack of wind proved a problem for Race Officer Alex Tory, however the 22 cadets, and two adults, managed to sail slowly around the courses, situated mainly in the centre of the main Lake.

Matt Johnson from Great Moor S.C. was the convincing winner as he won all three races.

Marina Brassington from Aylesbury S.C. was fourth with seven points and took the first girls prize.

The first under-12 prize went to Edward Sharrock from Priory Sailing Club. Chris Johnson from Great Moor finished sixth to take the first adult prize.

On Sunday 17 different helms competed for the Bank Holiday Roswell Monster Handicap trophy.

With slightly more wind than on Saturday, the gusty conditions, with some calm patches, were not conducive to easy sailing.

Six helms took part in the first race but, on corrected time, there was only four minutes between the first and last boat.

Line winners Gerald and Anthony Copsey lost out by 50 seconds to Alan White.

After lunch the fleet grew to 15 and Gerald Copsey, crewed by his younger son Nicholas, finished two minutes ahead of Alex Tory.

Despite Gary Ungless going for a swim he still managed to be two seconds ahead of John and Mollie Wells on corrected time to finish third.

In the third race Gerald and Nicholas Copsey pulled out a commanding lead, finishing three minutes ahead of Eric Christan and Marie Brown. John and Mollie Wells were 12 seconds behind for third place.

Gerald took Anthony in the final race and, although they had line honours, they lost out to John and Mollie Wells, by 39 seconds.

The solo sailors were seven minutes behind the winners, five of them finished en mass within five seconds of each other - a race officer's nightmare!

Overall Results for the Roswell Trophy.

1. Gerald and Anthony/Nicholas Copsey, National 12, 4 points. 2. Eric Christan and Marie Brown, Enterprise, 8 points. 3. John and Mollie Wells, Enterprise, 10 points. 4. Gary Ungless, Solo, 13 points. 5. Clare Christan, Comet, 15 points. 6. Alan White, Solo, 16 points.

SAILING THROUGH: Ten-year-old Jack Cammann, above, with his tankard

Photos: SUPPLIED