THE sailors of Morecambe and Heysham Yacht Club took part in the Walter Bell Cross Bay race at the weekend and although the conditions were windless, the contest of light-airs sailing was highly eventful.

Paul Long was away the quickest, his Solo crossing the start clear of Nick Milner's Osprey in second with Anne Smith's Scorpion and Nigel Simpson's Javelin close behind.

After some confusion, all but Milner returned to the start , giving him a lead as he approached the first inshore mark and allowing Milner to pull away from John Steedman in second while John Parlane took third in his Enterprise.

The leaders Milner, Steedman and Maguire elected a direct approach, while Parlane, Long and Shelling attempted to sail into the tide to prevent drifting.

This tactic allowed Parlane to take the lead while Shelling took third.

However Milner finished first, Maguire finished second and Parlane crossed in third.

Once handicaps had been calculated the race proved to be decided on tactical sailing with the three slower boats of Parlane, Shelling and Long taking the honours.

Parlane's victory, his fourth in succession, and credited to his eight-year old son for some outstanding crewing, guarantees more silverware for an already straining trophy cabinet.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.