THERE are some sure signs that the summer season at Exe Sailing Club has started, writes Mike Rice.

Apart from the sunny weather, the main clue is that the spring dinghy racing series is now over. ESC dinghy racing is split into two fleets: the Comet Trio, a Phil Morrison designed all-purpose dinghy of which there are now more than thirty at the club, and the rest, who compete on a handicap basis.

Competition at the top of the Trio fleet was, as ever, intense. Overall winners were Guy Farrant and Marilyn Booker, just two points ahead of Tony Brewster and crew. Third place went to Club Commodore Frankie Upton.

RS 400s dominated the handicap fleet. First place went to Chris Rhodes and Les Arscott, with Alex Horlock second. Chris James took third place in an RS200.

The cruisers have been out on Thursday evenings competing for the Esilman Cup. With five races started and two abandoned for lack of wind, fast fleet leader is Chris Rhode’s X332 Peanut, with Steve Best’s J80 Jammin close behind.

The slow fleet is headed by Wavelet followed by former commodore Hedley Saunders’ Delphin.

Exe SC juniors turned in some great results at the first of the Two Rivers junior series, sailed on the River Teign and hosted by Teign Corinthian YC. Chris and James Turl won the slow fleet in their Cadet, with the Topper of Tim Pearce third. Ed Mallinson was fifth in the fast fleet in a Laser 4.7. The next event of the series will be hosted by Starcross YC on 17 July.