Six boats were launched on Sunday as battle took place for the Welland Paddle Trophy, despite continuing low water levels and the difficulty in launching and the recovery of boats.
The wind was a fickle with some moderate gusts but with the direction coming over the Welland Sailing Club clubhouse, it made it a tricky, reaching start to No.3 buoy set for two laps.
Alan Cox, in the Laser was first away, followed by the Lasers of Andy Prior and Alistair Mitchell, the Comet of Richard Stedman, Solo of Martin Cook and, without the benefit of a starting watch, Gerri van Haren in a Phantom.
With the wind coming and going, it was important to make the most of any increase and Cox and Prior did just that to pull away with Van Haren in the larger sailed Phantom tussling with Mitchell.
The end of the first lap saw Prior holding the right of way just holding off the challenge of Cox to round first. Van Haren was third, just ahead of Mitchell, followed a bit later by Cook and Stedman. These positions remained the same and after the handicaps worked out it was Prior first, Cox second and Mitchell third, ahead of Van Haren, Stedman and Cook in sixth place.
The next race started with the same course and wind much the same. This time it was van Haren who judged it best, followed by Stedman, Mitchell, Prior, Cook and Cox. As they reached Shelly’s Bush Corner there was some luffing battles taking place, leading to some place changes as the wind played tricks with the boats in strength and changing direction. As they made their way back to round No.1 buoy for the first time, Prior had managed to catch and overtake van Haren who was in a battle with Cox for second place on the water but Mitchell was able to take advantage over van Haren at the mark as the wind fluked around and overtook him.
Meanwhile Cook and Stedman had their own tussle and Cook rounded just ahead of Stedman to start their second lap. There were no place changes during the second lap and after handicaps applied it was Prior who took first place, ahead of Cox and Mitchell with Stedman, van Haren and Cook following.
Race three saw just four boats start and the two slowest boats on handicap made the best start with Cook and Stedman getting on the right lines to hold on to their positions from the Lasers until Shelly’s Bush Corner, where Prior and Cox managed to make use of the occasional increase in wind to pass them. They then had their own close-fought sail but in the end Prior pulled clear.
As the handicaps worked out, Cook split the two Lasers and was only 18 seconds behind the first Laser of Prior to secure second place,with Cox third and Stedman fourth.
Leading overall points: Prior 3, Cox 7, Mitchell 13.
