Mike Dunbavin took overall honours when the Sussex Yacht Club staged the latest races in their Winter Cooler Series at Southwick.

Dunbavin was representing Redoubt Sailing Club but is soon to be joining Sussex Yacht Club.

In the first of the two races, Laser helm Graham Smallridge continued his good form to lead from start to finish over seven laps of the Shoreham Harbour course. Dunbavin took second place on handicap corrected time and Tim Holbrook, in another Laser, was third.

In race two there was a crowded start line and Smallridge was unable to get cleanly away. In a desperate manoeuvre to pass the leaders at the windward mark, he touched the buoy and capsized.

Dunbavin improved his position and went on to win comfortably from Holbrook.

The aggregated results for the day gave Dunbavin first place with Smallridge second and Holbrook third.

Seven hardy sailors took part at Piddinghoe in a race of Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club's Numbum Series.

Teenager Tom Bovington sailed well in his Topper, capsizing only once and a smart recovery aided him in taking the honours for the day. Preston Taylor (12), who has also sailed well in recent weeks, opted not to reef. It was a decision he may reflect on as Nick Muggridge, who has a few years more experience, did reef and finished second.

Penny Springhall, who is normally assistant race officer, decided to crew this week for Stuart Little in his Slipper and they came third.

The conditions ensured an incident or two. Eight-year-old Patrick Liddicote capsized just before the finish line while overall leader Paul Ryan broke the goose neck on his Laser and had to retire.

The most spectacular event saw the new Scorpion of Roy Williams and Kim Newland take off in a gust of wind and capsize none too gracefully.

Muggridge, from Lancing Sailing Club, now leads overall from Ryan. Miracle duo, Jerry and Henry Dean are third.

Shoreham Sailing Club's Helen Olsen and Wendy Wood plus Phil and Denise Popple took their Fireballs to Northampton to take part in the Steve Nicholson Memorial Race.

Steve, who died last year, was well known on the sailing circuit and his work for the sport on and off the water will be sadly missed.

A building south-westerly provided excellent conditions for the fleet of 111 competitors.

Olsen said: "With more than a dozen class and world champions in attendance the competition was keen and we were not surprised to finish way down the list."

Helen Armour from Hove, taking part in the round the world BT Global Challenge, is currently embarking on the next stage - a sprint of seven days from Wellington to Sydney.

This dash to Sydney is also dubbed "the executive" leg and a number of celebrities take part. Armour and the crew of Logica will be joined by Robert Powell.

In the overall race Helen and Logica are now in joint fifth place, just one point behind the fourth-placed yacht.

Weir Wood Sailing Club are preparing for two days of winter race training. They are hosting the RYA South East Area Regional Talent Squad next weekend.

This event also coincides with the second event of the club's Open Optimist Winter Series.