Beautiful conditions

The Musto Skiff World Championship is taking place in Silvaplana

Following a two hour postponement for the wind to stabilise, race four of the Musto Skiff World Championships got underway in brilliant sunshine and a 13-15knot breeze.

Bruce Keen from Stokes Bay Sailing Club led at the windward mark, closely followed by a group including Richard Stenhouse, Pablo Arandia, Andy Peake, Graeme Oliver and Roger Oswald.

Stenhouse pulled through on the first downwind leg and consolidated a small lead to take the win. There was a very close battle for second place, which finally went to Bruce Kean holding off Graeme Oliver, followed by Roger Oswald and Dan Vincent from Stokes Bay Sailing Club in fifth.

The second race of the day saw Richard Stenhouse in the lead at the first windward mark, a position he maintained to the finish. Again there was an intense battle for second place with Dave Poston from Queen Mary Sailing Club, Andy Peake from Whitstable Sailing Club Jerry Wales from Queen Mary Sailing Club and Graeme Oliver all close together. Second place finally went to Dave Poston.

The breeze increased to 15-18knots for the final race of the day, but the sun continued to shine on Richard Stenhouse, who again led at the windward mark and took a credible win in more shifty conditions. Again there was close racing for second place, with Roger Oswald, Bruce Kean, Dan Vincent and Graeme Oliver taking the respective places. Andy Peake was pulled out at the windward mark having been in second place on the water following a premature start.

For those not fortunate enough to have sailed at Silvaplana, the lake is at 1815m above sea level, and then surrounded by some of the highest mountains in Europe; one of the closest peaks is 4049m. The spectators can be torn between watching the racing and the scenery, and a number of the participants join in between races. The mountain and glacial run-off turns the lake an incredible azure blue, which makes for some fabulous photographs.