Albany turned on glorious conditions for heat four of the Princess Royal Sailing Club winter series last Saturday.

A cloudless blue sky and a gentle south-easterly breeze made for champagne sailing enjoyed by six dedicated and enthusiastic skippers and crews from the mixed keel boat fleet.

A flying start for the harbour course race saw Brett Hawker and Jessie James out in front very quickly and moving extremely fast in the light breeze.

Wayne North’s Just James, with Harold Keay skippering on the day, held on to second position throughout but couldn’t close the gap to the leader.

All interest now centred on the three yachts having a fierce encounter: Neil Worrell in Zuri, Stephen Lee in Flasheart and Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland were all locked together for the majority of the race.

However, Zuri seemed to have the edge over the other two and was looking good for a place.

Mark McRae was trailing the fleet after a trouble with a wayward spinnaker cost him valuable time with Sicarius, but Jessie James went on unchallenged as Hawker battled the clock and not the opposition.

Jessie James was first to cross the finish line, but Zuri had sailed so well to handicap that Worrell was declared the winner.

It was probably Worrell’s best performance to date and his victory was well deserved.

Hawker took second place after a speedy display throughout.

Just Grace continued its good form with a third placing.

Heat five will be held on Saturday with a 1.30 pm start.