Sunday saw the penultimate race in the Frostbite Series with two races, and it provided some great sailing and for some unlucky Welland Yacht Club sailors, a dip in the water.
Water levels were once again disappointingly low after being high all week but the forecast for a steady breeze and to build during the morning brought seven boats to the start and with the wind blowing straight down the river a direct beat it made the start line busy.
It was Mark Scourfield in the Solo who was away first, followed by Andy Agar in the OK , Alan Chapman in the full rig Laser, Alistair Mitchell in the Radial rig Laser, Richard Stedman in the Comet and Adam Stabler in the Solo, with son William in the club Topper.
With equal tacks to Chilvers Corner some places changed and Scourfield reached the corner first, with Chapman, who had overtaken Agar, in second but when tacking Chapman suffered a tiller issue and capsized allowing Agar and Mitchell through.
With a tight reach to number 4 buoy this provided in the gust some exciting planing conditions and Scourfield rounded first followed by Mitchell, Agar, Chapman, and a bit further back, Stedman and Adam Stabler, with William deciding it was a bit too windy and retiring.
The reach back and run provided some tricky moments and Chapman in the faster Laser full rig, managed to work his way through and on the run to the gybe at the clubhouse buoy was second, just behind Scourfield, with Agar and Mitchell staying well in contention.
The second lap was much the same as the first, with Chapman taking a second swim that allowed Mitchell through to chase Scourfield but in the end it was Scourfield who crossed the line first after just under 45 mins of racing, with Mitchell second and Chapman, who had recovered, to finish third, ahead of Agar, followed by Stedman and Stabler.
Once the handicaps had been applied it was Scourfield in first, with Mitchell just ten seconds behind in second and Agar in third with only one second separating him from Chapman in fourth, with Stedman fifth and Stabler sixth.
Race two got underway straight away and with the wind freshening Stedman thought better of it but the boats were joined by new member Jeff Tibbs in his newly acquired Solo.
The start line was better contested for this race and Chapman judged it best on the right of way starboard tack, closely followed by Agar and Mitchell, Scourfield and Tibbs with Eric Murray in the Mirror behind.
The first four boats away had a cross tacking duel between them on the equal tack to Shelly’s Bush Corner and there were a number of close calls in this but as the beat developed into a long and short it was Chapman in the Laser who pulled out a small lead followed by Scourfield, Agar and Mitchell. However Chapman once again had an issue and managed to capsize allowing Scourfield, Agar and Mitchell through.
With the course changed and utilising the reaching and planing conditions of the mile buoy straight, the boats enjoyed some exciting sailing.
Scourfield rounded the buoy first with Mitchell and Agar in close attendance and Chapman who had recovered to also catch and challenge.
Turning at 3 buoy back to 5 gave the sailors another chance to sample the planing conditions to the full and it was on this second lap that the larger sail of Chapman’s Laser made gains and on the return for home by Chilvers Corner had just overtaken Scourfield and with Mitchell in close attendance it was close racing for the last turning buoy to the finish line.
Chapman rounded the gybe mark first just ahead of Scourfield and with Mitchell close behind it was going to be tight on the finish times.
Mitchell tried to gybe before the buoy and lost a bit of time, allowing Agar through and with all four boats finishing within one minute of each other, the handicap times were going to be close.
Murray, who had completed the whole course, managed to capsize after rounding the last buoy to the finish line and did not complete the race – a rare occasion.
The handicap times were, as predicted, very close with Scourfield taking first place, just four seconds ahead of Mitchell in second and Agar in third, just three seconds ahead of Chapman in fourth with Stabler in fifth.
The last race in the series takes place on Boxing Day.
