WHAT a difference a day makes for North Devon Yacht Club.

After struggling with light winds and big tides on Saturday, sailors relished perfect conditions on the estuary at Instow on Sunday.

A steady force 4 blew as 24 boats competed in some of the closest racing of the season.

Salty sea dogs John Mitchell and John Barnett won the fast cat race, followed by Rob Way and Penny Slee, while Garry Jennings and his wife were third.

The Sprint 15 race was hotly contested, with the leading pair separated by a matter of yards for most of the contest.

Keith Heason held off the strong challenge of Barry Vincent to win.

Dave Warren claimed his second third-place finish of the weekend.

The handicap one race was won by John Farr, with Colin Stinleichtner runner-up.

On Saturday, ten Sprint 15s took to the water, only to be hindered by poor conditions.

In a rare moment of excitement, the pack chased down and caught leaders Dave Parkin and Barry Vincent.

Places changed hands several times on the final leg as the sailors tacked up the Instow beach to make the most of the available wind.

Picking the best route to the finish was a lottery, yet Parkin emerged as winner ahead of Vincent and Warren who sneaked through on the line for third.