Colin and Sarah Smith claimed Fast Division series honours despite failing to win either of the final two races in Chichester Yacht Club's Winter Snowflake Series.

Race one last Sunday was won by Phil Plumtree and Jill Blake in their Merlin ahead of the Smith pairing in their RS400.

They were followed by two more RS400s sailed by Carl and Juliet Mayhew plus Peter and Amanda Robson, another Merlin sailed by Ben and Mary Cooper from the Shoreham Sailing Club and the solitary Javelin of brothers Brian and David Earl.

In the second race, the results were slightly shaken-not-stirred. Shoreham's William Warren and Rachel Cooper won in their Merlin, Plumtree and Blake were second, and the Smiths were third.

Overall, the Smiths were first with the Earl brothers second, both from the Chichester club. Shoreham's trio of Merlin Rockets - Ben and Mary Cooper, Richard Bramley and Graham Elliott, William Warren & Rachel Cooper - were third, fifth and sixth respectively.

Fourth place overall, first veteran and first woman helm went to Ruth Rhodes and Bill Dawber from the Newhaven and Seaford Sailing.

In the final races of the Medium Fleet, Steve Lee had a first and a fourth in his Laser, Howard Sellars scored two thirds in his Finn while Mark and Jeremy Littlejohn took two fifths in their Miracle.

Overall, Lee was champion with Sellars second and the Littlejohn pairing was third.

In the Slow Fleet Anna Perkins and Jane Turner (Bosham) had two wins in their Mirror while Andy Clare had a second and a third.

Overall, Perkins and Taylor took the honours in their Mirror.

Jonathan Emmett is gearing up for the first leg of his Olympic campaign with a trip to Palma, Spain, for the first international event of the year, the Princess Sofia Trophy.

While the East Grinstead sailor realises there will be many far more experienced crews out there and a top result is extremely unlikely, it is the first and necessary step for his development which to date has seen him compete in only one race in the 49er class.

Godfrey Hix won the first race in Sussex Yacht Club's Meadows Mug Handicap Series last Sunday.

Graham Smallridge took second place although he was last over the line. Doug Beanlands was third, while first on the water but not placed on handicap corrected time was Mike Green on Challenger.

Shoreham held the final races in their Early River Series and with five races to count it was all up for grabs.

The Albacore of Neil Aldham with crew Tony Cheal and the Laser of Jan Thirkettle were level overall and they each took a first and a second in Sunday's two races which meant the series was tied.

Arun Yacht Club sailors were looking forward to races three and four of their March Hare Series but unfortunately a Dutch tug tried to join race four at the end of lap one so the committee had no option but to abandon the race.

Race three was won by Colin Meadows and crew Bernie Bingham, sailing a Tempest. Second place was taken by David Robinson and Nicky Horton and third was Bernard Still with Steve Verney, both sailing RS400s. First junior home was Adam Thompson in a Topper.

Neil Struys and Charlotte Duck took overall honours in Hastings and St Leonards Sailing Club's pre-season sail, The Rum Races. Roy Sandford was second with Ben and Jamie Farnborough third.