Lancing's Nick Muggridge led from start to finish to win the second round Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club's winter series last Sunday.

There was a good turnout for the event but as the competitors prepared their boats the bitterly cold wind blowing down the valley made over half of the entry decide not to compete.

The force five gusting six signalled to many that capsizing was more than likely and the water in the inland lake at Piddinghoe was not at all inviting.

Matt Springhall, sailing a Laser, bravely took to the water and was not deterred even by capsizing twice very quickly. It was not his day, though, as he capsized again just before the hooter sounded for the start.

Preston Taylor, sailing his Topper and competing in his first season of racing, was doing really well but in his keenness to get racing he forgot to put on his gloves. The cold wind turned his hands blue and he had to retire after two laps.

Muggridge sailed a superb race in his Topper, winning by a clear two minutes from the Miracle of Jerry and Henry Dean. Third were Stuart Little and Tom Nicholls, sailing a Slipper, and these were the only three boats to finish.

Overall position after two races: 1 Nick Muggridge (Topper), Lancing; 2 Jerry & Henry Dean (Miracle), Newhaven; 3 Matt Springhall (Laser), Newhaven.

Race three of the series will take place tomorrow. Details can be obtained from Kay Young on 01323 490798 or competitors are welcome just to turn up at Piddinghoe in time to sign on and be ready to start at 11am.

The wind was not so strong along the coast at Chichester where 67 dinghies launched for the eighth race in the Winter Snowflake Series.

Although there was a brisk easterly which discouraged a few entrants and led to a few capsizes and retirements, the sailing was exhilarating and the racing close over a figure of eight course.

The entry was boosted by a posse of RS800s that joined the Fast Division after their other Winter Series had been completed and they exhibited phenomenal bursts of speed.

Their placings were spoiled by the fact that coming to the second mark with spinnakers flying, they gybed and set off for the wrong third mark. Subsequently, they discovered the right mark was further windward and at their speed they could not fetch it under spinnaker.

Two of the RS800s scored fifth and sixth, while the first four places were taken by Merlin Rockets and the first two were from the Shoreham Sailing Club.

Alan Warren and Liam Dempsey won from Alan's son William, with Rachel Cooper, in second place. This second place puts William and Rachel in overall fourth place. Another Shoreham boat, the Merlin Rocket of Richard Bramley and Graham Elliott, could only manage 13th place last Sunday but still hold on to third place overall. One place ahead of them last Sunday were the Newhaven's Fireball pair of Ruth Rhodes and Stephen Turner, who are now fifth overall.

The host club take the first two overall places and it was a sterling effort by David Earl, who crewed for his brother Brian, to finish in seventh place. David was racing for the first time since suffering a bad back injury.

In the Medium Division first and second place went to Steve Lee in a Laser and Nick and Biddy Colbourne in their GP14.

Third place went to Graham Ponsford in his RS200, sailing with Peter Robson rather than his son James, who was ill.

Behind them came Mike Till in his Finn. He is second in the series while the leader Howard Sellars, in another Finn, was seventh. Ed Thorburn (Newhaven) could only 12th but he still hangs on to his fourth place overall.

The Slow Division saw the largest entry with 17 boats starting. Topper sailor Andy Clare came ashore gleefully recounting how he had nipped into the lead at the last moment of the race but when the results were calculated he had to yield first place to the Mirror of Anna Perkins and Jane Turner. Lancing's Mikaela Meik was pipped by another Mirror, sailed by Tessa Cooper and Rachael Williamson.