SIMON BRIEN'S Kin continued last season's winning form by easily taking the Alcatel sponsored Dragon Eastern Championship at the Royal St George YC over the weekend. Only a discarded premature start in the final race spoiled a neat run of three firsts and a third place in the series.

Mick Cotter of the host club was second in his new Whisper, while Brien's stable mate, Rampage, helmed by Gordon Patterson, took third. Meanwhile, at the National YC, Colin Lough of East Antrim Boat Club took overall honours in the Romeril Optimist Leinster Championship, with Stefan Hyde of the Royal Cork YC just nipping into second place ahead of Ian Doig, also of EABC. John Downey of the RCYC won the bronze division in the 76 boat fleet.