With a blustery north-westerly, a hard beat downriver was in store for sailors at Beccles Amateur Sailing Club on Saturday for the start of the 2008 racing season.

With a blustery north-westerly, a hard beat downriver was in store for sailors at Beccles Amateur Sailing Club on Saturday for the start of the 2008 racing season.

The Series A trophies, the RNLI Pennant for seniors and the Poyser Cup for the juniors were up for contention, and many hardy souls braved the conditions, keen to get back on the water after the four-month winter lay-up.

After a hectic start which saw some gusts of up to force 5, the race settled down to a more steady, moderate breeze which saw the Lasers fly out in front.

R and M Deller, in their Enterprise, worked hard to keep up close behind.

With the wind and showers not easing, inevitably there were a few retirements, including M and S Roll in Yarebeat, which parted company with her centreboard.

R Kelsey and Joe Brackenbury cruised round in their Norfolk to take first place on handicap.

The second senior race of the day saw fewer entries due to the continuing poor weather conditions, but that didn't prevent Rory Kelsey and Joe Brackenbury doing the double with another win in Tankard and 'Team Deller' in Cuddles and Ryan Langston in PDQ taking second and third respectively.

In the juniors, the Oppies certainly looked a safer bet under the gusty, grey skies than the Toppers.

The rescue boat team were kept busy, especially after some Toppers were thinned out trying to make it round the No 2 race buoy after a fast run past the clubhouse.

Casualties here included H Shipley and M Phillips.

A bit of cold Waveney didn't deter the remaining Topper helms, with B Ashcroft coming in second and R Gilchrist a respectable third place in race one.

A dry Hugh Braidwood secured first position on handicap with his Optimist in both races, giving him a great start to his Poyser Cup campaign.

The BASC fleet now look forward to their annual Downriver Race on Sunday to Burgh St Peter Staithe and back.

The BASC annual Open Day will be held on April 27 at 11am, so if you want to get into sailing and make some new friends, you will be made very welcome.

All information about the club can also be found on website, www.becclesasc.co.uk

Results. Seniors Race One: 1 R Kelsey and J Brakenbury (Tankard), 2 R and M Deller (Cuddles), 3 M Langston (Ozzy), 4 R Langston (PDQ), (J Shipley, M and S Roll and D Elliot/ M Thrower, retired).

Seniors Race Two: 1 R Kelsey and Joe Brackenbury, 2 R and M Deller, 3 R.Langston.

Junior Race One: 1 H Braidwood, 2 B Ashcroft, 3 R Gilchrist, 4 O Baylis. (M Phillips, H Shipley, K Roll, R Curtis, retired).

Junior Race Two: 1 H Braidwood, 2 B Ashcroft, 3 R Gilchrist, 4 M Phillips, 5 K Roll.