A record number of 84 teams competed in the first regatta of the Royal Southern Yacht Club’s Summer Series. The North Sails May Regatta was held Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday to avoid clashing with King Charles III’s coronation. A light to moderate gradient breeze provided calm conditions, but the competition was as fierce as ever. A southerly breeze gusting over the Isle of Wight made reading the changes in speed and direction the keys to a winning performance. Ashore, the Royal Southern’s Clubhouse on the banks of the Hamble River was regatta central with well over 300 sailors enjoying the hospitality of the famous club. White Group: Sixteen J/70s competed. Doug Struth’s DSP, with Tom Mallandine on the helm, was the winner. DSP won only one of the nine races held, with five teams winning races, proving the high level of competition in the J/70 fleet. Martin Dent’s Jelvis was second by a single point from Max Clapp’s Little J. Jonathan Calascione’s Calypso was just four points off the podium. “A really good regatta, thoroughly enjoyable,” commented DSP’s Doug Struth. “It is nice to be back on the boat with the DSP crew for the first time since last year. We were a bit rusty, except from Tom (Mallandine) who has been out racing with Brutus in Miami. The regatta was pretty close. We had three seconds on day one, so it was nice to win a race on the last day. We had some good and not-so-good starts, and it’s hard to catch up when you don’t get off the line well. With this short course format, we had to be good at maneuvering around other boats.” For more information, visit www.royal-southern.co.uk.