Sometimes it’s just not your day

Wednesday 8th July 2009, 2:59PM BST.

Balancing act: The boat is lodged in the rocks off Saint Quay-Portrieux Picture: SNSM/AFP/Getty Images

AS a daring overtaking manoeuvre, it didn’t quite go to plan.

Arthur Manning’s last day of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club two-handed race got off to a rocky start when he became grounded near Saint Quay-Portrieux in Brittany.

And the seasoned sailor’s annoyance turned to embarrassment as the tide raced out – and left the vessel high and dry and wobbling in mid-air on its six-foot keel.

Islander Mr Manning was returning to Jersey with crew member Peter Williams on Monday when he sailed into rocks while trying to get ahead of his rivals.

Speaking from France today, Mr Manning said: ‘We just made a slight miscalculation while trying to obtain a better position. It was the first time something like this had happened in 40 years of sailing and we are obviously very upset and embarrassed about it all.’

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