Greyling Bay sailing week ends with a photo finish in the keelboat class

Greyling Bay Sailing Week came to a dramatic end on Saturday when the overall title in the keelboat class was decided by less than a second. Two boats from the host club, Kittiwake and Marram, finished the final race almost bow to bow, and race officials needed to study photographs of the finish line before confirming the result.

Marram, helmed by retired harbour pilot Gwen Tallis, was judged to have crossed first by about half a boat length. That left the two crews level on points over the week, and the title went to Marram on a countback of race wins, four against Kittiwake's three.

A week of changing winds

More than 120 boats in eight classes took part in this year's event, which ran for six days from the Greyling Bay Yacht Club. Light winds on the opening two days meant only one race could be completed in some classes, but a steady south-westerly arrived midweek and allowed organisers to catch up on the schedule.

We have sailed against each other for twenty years. There is no one I would rather lose to, but I am very glad I did not have to.

Ms Tallis, who has entered the event every year since 1998, said the crew had sailed the last beat "on instinct" after losing sight of their rivals behind a spectator boat. Kittiwake's skipper, Ollie Bannerman, a sailmaker in Old Quay, said he had no complaints. "We had our chances earlier in the week and did not take them," he said.

In the youth dinghy class, 15-year-old Petra Kowalczyk from Saltings won every race she started. She was introduced to sailing through the club's free taster sessions for local schools four years ago. The club said it would expand those sessions next summer, with funding from a regional sports grant.

The prize-giving was held on the quayside on Saturday evening, with the club commodore, Archie Lanyon, thanking the volunteers who ran the safety boats and the race committee. Next year's event is due to take place in the first week of August.