I LIKE the Lilliput Regatta, it's a slightly more casual, friendly and social affair.

It's still competitive though, with a fair amount of argy-bargy on the line and at the marks.

This year's event took place after a week of strong winds but the weather forecasters had given a glimmer of hope for the weekend, moderate to fresh on Saturday, decreasing on Sunday.

So, optimistic as ever, off my entry form went... never believe the forecasters!

The strong winds meant only two of the scheduled three cruiser races were held on Saturday.

For race one a windward/leeward was set, with the Class One boats starting first.

In the testing conditions Colin Stewart's Evolution, Temptation, took first place ahead of another Evo, Ian Wall's Revolution and my SK700, Skullduggery.

LSC's Commodore, Rod Openshaw, won Class Two honours in Nipper and Peter Wadham's Blue Dancer won the Sadler 25 Class.

Then all Class Two, the Sadlers, and most Class One boats, retired due to the gusty force seven.

The three remaining Class One boats battled round an Olympic course with Temptation again finishing ahead of Revolution, this time chased by Spring Onion.

On Sunday conditions were much improved and Class One was this time won by Skullduggery. Nipper took Class Two, whilst Red Imp headed the Sadlers over the line.

The final race of the weekend was for the Lions Trophies.

In strengthening winds, Class One and the Sadlers started first on an Olympic course with Spring Onion leading Skullduggery and Revolution. By the time the fleet reached the windward mark, Temptation had taken a slim lead with the leading group close behind.

The order remained until the final downwind leg.

In still increasing winds all the leading boats launched their spinnakers and broached, some more spectacularly than others, allowing Skullduggery to pass Revolution and take second position.

Line honours were taken by Temptation followed 40 seconds later by Skullduggery, which took victory on corrected time, and Revolution.

Class two again saw Nipper win and Blue Dancer took the Sadler prize.

Meanwhile, the Dinghy Regatta was underway in the harbour after a 24-hour delay.

In the first race of a mixed handicap fleet, the 5O5 sailed by Pete Harlow and Rachel Samson led all the way to the finish, but a navigational error allowed Stuart Swift in a Phantom to beat them.

In the second race they were again first on the water but were beaten by the Phantom of Chris Shelton, with Nigel Clark in his laser finishing a close second.

The third race was sailed for the Jack Peate Trophy, donated by the Poole Lions, with Shelton's Phantom narrowly beating the 505 and the Laser.

In the GP14 Open fleet, Matt Burge won the first two hard fought races, but a spectacular capsize at the finish of the third allowed Mike Arrow to win with Andy Welch a close second.

Overall results - Cruisers, Regatta Series Class 1: 1= Temptation (Colin & Laura Stewart) and Revolution (Ian Wall), 3 Skullduggery (John Withers).

Class 2: 1 Nipper (Rod Openshaw), 2 Jagged Edge (Dave Caruthers), 3 Bob The Dog (Steve Wright).

Sadler Class 1: Blue Dancer (Peter Wadham), 2 Red Imp (John Ovington).

Lions Trophy Class One: 1 Skullduggery, 2 Temptation, 3 Revolution.

Class Two: 1 Nipper, 2 Bob The Dog, 3 Half Pint (Gillian Downes).

Sadler Class: 1 Blue Dancer, 2 Red Imp.

Dinghies - Regatta series: 1 Chris Shelton (Phantom), 2 Peter Harlow and Rachel Samson (505), 3 Nigel Clark (Laser).

GP14 Open: 1 The Big Floater (Matt Burge/Simon Wheeler), 2 White Knuckles (Mike Arrow/Greg McLaughlin), 3 Moby (Andy Welch/Tars Palamarcuk).

Jack Peate Trophy (Lions Race): 1 Chris Shelton, 2 Peter Harlow and Rachel Samson, 3 Nigel Clark.

Mudeford Sailing Club hosted an open meeting last weekend as part of the Laser South Coast Grand Prix Series.

There were three races, with one discard, and this turned out to be the most important factor in deciding the winner.

With the wind blowing southwesterly over Hengistbury Head, 16 to 18 knots and rising, the stage was set for a challenging day of sailing.

James Anderson from Spinnaker Sailing Club comfortably won the 4.7 event by winning the first two races, this enabled him to avoid the deteriorating weather and head for shore and a welcome cup of tea.

The remainder of the fleet contested the final race, which was won by Robert Spencer of Mudeford SC which secured him second place overall, the only home club boat to feature in the prize list on the day.

Third place went to Chloe Martin of Bough Beech SC.

The Radial fleet provided the most closely fought contest of the day.

The first race was won by Nicolas Van Tienon of Stokes Bay, but he had to settle for second place overall as Sean Hilton from Calshot SC went on to win the remaining two races.

Andrew Smith, from Wilsonian SC, taking the final podium position.

The Standard rig was won by Robert Goodwin of Hayling Island SC, who arrived late, missed the first race and was about to leave. However, the Beach Master persuaded him that with one discard, he could still do well despite having missed the start of the first race.

He went on to win the remaining two races by a good margin.

Second place overall went to Colin Symes of Weir Wood SC who counted a win from the first race.

A close third was Ian Morgan from Weston SC counting two second places.

At the prizegiving many thanks were given to the Race Officers, Ken White assisted by daughter Lynnette, and to Mudeford for putting on the event.

For details of Mudeford Sailing Club and it's racing calendar, contact Mike Roach on 01202 477553 or email: roachfoxwood@aol.com