WALTON and Frinton Yacht Club's autumn dinghy racing series got off to a delayed start on Sunday.

Race one had been programmed to run two weeks earlier but was postponed due to the conditions.

A reasonable entry of ten boats launched and had a testing beat out to the starting area, before setting off on a good long course under the direction of race officer Ro Mason.

The first leg was a good long beat up to Boom buoy and Glen Bacon, in his TOY, immediately made his intentions clear as he powered into a convincing lead and rounded ahead of the Hadron of Simon Hipkin.

John Sewell led the gaggle of Solos giving chase and Beth Newland looked strong in her Laser 4.7.

The course took the fleet right across the Wade to Wade buoy, with some exhilarating reaches followed by a second beat up to Hedge End before running back to the club.

The TOY was looking uncatchable as he led the fleet throughout the race but, unfortunately, a part of his rigging snapped, leaving Bacon swimming around his dismasted dinghy.

Hipkin, in his Hadron, took over the lead and crossed the finish line ahead of the Phantom of Martin Jenkins, who was having an off-day, and the chasing pack.

Sewell had stretched clear of the other Solos and it looked like he or Newland in her Laser were going to be close enough to the leaders to win on corrected time.

After handicaps had been applied, the winner was Sewell.

Newland was second and Hipkin third.

Trevor Halls was the first boat in the slower class two fleet in his Bosun.

The next race is on Saturday.