SAILING

NEW sailor Simon Fleets is one to watch at North Devon Yacht Club.

Fleets, who only started racing Sprint 15s in April, gained his first top-three finish in a riotous race on Sunday.

Featuring three Fast Cats, ten Sprint 15s and two mono hulls, perfect sailing conditions were enjoyed on the Instow waters.

With half the Sprint 15s eager to start their race at the pin end, Barry Vincent and Fleets got out quickly towards the first mark at Club.

Vincent made best use of the clear air and arrived there first while Keith Heason overhauled Fleets for second as they set off for Skern and Inner Home.

Come the end of the first lap Vincent was in charge, and that is the way it stayed, with Heason taking second and Fleets third.

The Fast Cats race was won by Nick and Sarah Williams from Steve and Isabella Smith with Thom Flaxman, sailing single handed on his Topaz 14, third.

The last race of the Sunday Series takes place this weekend with the top places still to be decided.

Starting on October 16, the Winter Series will be raced over Saturdays and Sundays for three weekends.