Barry Parkin, crewed by wife Sue, won the Bulwark Trophy by means of two firsts and a second place from a quality fleet of 25 Flying Fifteens in Hayling Bay.

On Saturday Race Officer Ian Porter set a challenging course in a F3 wind with a short beat which made for incidents at the windward mark. Clear away in the lead was 3630 Barry and Sue Parkin followed by 3464 Miles Odell & Chris Hewkin. On a triangle/sausage course the Parkins sailed away with Charles Apthorp & Jonathan Clark following second placed Odell over the finish line. Fourth were Henry Craven Smith & Tim Hammick in 3689.

The second race was sailed in lighter winds and again the Parkins cleared away from the port end of the line and sailed away to another fine win. In second place was 3684 Matthew Flint & Andy Thomson. This pair were going well but missed the first race through arriving late and suffered rigging failure on the Sunday to spoil their regatta. In third place were Alan Bax & Paul Busby in 3711, winners of this Trophy on several previous occasions. World Champion Charles Apthorp came in fourth.

After tea in bright sunshine the fleet prepared for the next day with party and games including line dancing organised by the ever cheerful Bev Moss.

Sunday dawned grey and windy, promising an exciting ride for the heavy weather brigade. Away went the fleet under a black flag start in a F5 gusting and it was Charles Apthorp & Jonathan Clark who found the conditions to their liking.

Barry and Sue Parkin hung in to gain second place and the Trophy. Miles Odell & Chris Hewkin were third with Gill Browning & Simon Weatherill in 3727 fourth.

For the last race the wind became even stronger and the waves higher. A windshift gave all boats who tacked on to port soon after the start the advantage.

In strong conditions it was Greg Wells & Milo Mitchell in 3466 who were first at the mark by a short head from Saffina 3615 Roger Palmer & Grayson Eacott. Palmer & Eacott overtook Wells & Mitchell on the first reach and stormed away to finish the race in first place. It was a helter-skelter experience with very strong gusts and waves of varying height and water everywhere.

Offwind sailing was awesome, rocketing down waves and avoiding the oncoming wave in front with every manoeuvre having to be carried out carefully at top speed. Many boats succumbed to breakage of gear and spirit and in the end eleven boats completed the four rounds of unforgettable sailing on the edge. Second were Alan Bax & Paul Busby with Gill Browning & Simon Weatherill recovering exceptionally from a near last position to finish third.

When the scores were counted Barry and Sue Parkin were confirmed in first place from Apthorp & Clark with Alan Bax & Paul Busby in third place.