CLACTON Sailing Club members competed for a historic piece of silverware.

The John Bedford Cup was first awarded in 1969 and its first winner, John Summerfield, also took part in Sunday’s race.

After a very enjoyable contest, the overall winners, after handicap had been applied, were Rob Mitchell and James Stacey.

They beat Pete Boxer and Eilish Dempsey by just 12 seconds.

Martin and Debbie Chivers were third, just 50 seconds later.

Only 90 seconds separated the top five boats.

With a steady force four wind, choppy sea and fierce ebbing tide, the stage was set for a challenging race.

Catamarans were required to complete three laps and monohulls two, of an intricate course of an interlocking long triangle and a sausage.

The five-minute warning signal was fired by Charlie Stacey, race officer of the day, and the fleet started vying for the best position on the start line.

Mitchell and Stacey, in the infamous yellow Dart 16, were first to cross the line, having squeezed Boxer and Dempsey within a fingernail width of the start bouy.

However, Team Boxer arrived at the first bouy with a narrow lead, with Martin and Debbie Chivers, in their Dart 18, hot on their heels, closely followed by Matt Burrell and J Wayland.

All three were striving to escape the slightly slower Dart 16.

Among the monohulls competing was Summerfield, accompanied with long-standing crew Martin Berryman.

The original winner in 1969 had steering failure at the start, resulting in his retaking of the start bouy.

This left Cathy Mitchell, in only her second race in her Laser this year, in clear view of the first bouy.

Martin and Debbie Chivers, in their Dart 18, chased Boxer and Dempsey and attempted to make a move on the leaders on one of the following bouys.

However, they ignored the raging tide, resulting in them hitting the bouy and losing time.

Team Burrell, in their Dart 18, closely following Martin and Debbie Chivers, also fell foul of the same bouy, costing them precious seconds.

Boxer and Dempsey were now in a clear race and it was between them and Mitchell and Stacey, who steered a perfect course.

Handicap was going to decide the victors and, eventually, the winners were declared as Mitchell and Stacey.

Cathy Mitchell deserves special credit for handsomely beating her husband and son team on handicap, sailing the Blue Dart 18.

Results: 1 Dart 16 - Rob Mitchell and James Stacey, 2 Dart 18 - Peter Boxer and Eilish Dempsey, 3 Dart 18 - Martin and Debbie Chivers.

The next club event is the 2015 Regatta on July 12.