Only experienced crews were invited to contest the fourth race of Lymington Town Sailing Club's Solent Dinghy Circuit last weekend owing to the severity of the weather forecast.

Around 20 dinghies took to the start line, despite the threat of force 5/6 winds with gusts to 40 knots.The fast handicap fleet got away under a strengthening breeze but got in three laps before the forecast came true.

As the wind increased, Toby Collyer and Simon Rosier built up a commanding lead, especially when the following boats beating into a stiff wind were passed close to windward by the ferry. The sudden lee and sharp backwind sent Geoff and George Havers sprawling, followed by Jon Heissig who showed powers of recovery that the Havers crew were unable to match.

A strenghtening breeze saw both Collyer's Int 14 and Mike Beggs' Vortex take a ducking, but Collyer recovered without losing a place, while Beggs lost to Heissig by ten seconds on handicap. Richard Russell and Tig Williams, in their 470, sailed through everything the wind or ferry could throw at them and, remaining upright, came in second.

In the medium handicap fleet, locals Tim and Miume Knight led all the visitors to the wrong leeward mark and, as they disappeared to sail a voluntary longer course, Tony Smee and Arthur Gormley sailed the correct course, giving them second place to the recovering Knights.