Holland sails to success at Novice Regatta with a pair of victories

Welland Yacht Club held two consecutive regattas on Sunday. The first was for novice helms, defined as people who had not won a regatta or series in the last three years.

Eight crews joined the race with a number of regular helm crewing for club newcomers.

Mark Holland was the overall winner, with first places in the first two races and third in the final one.

Adam Stabler improved from fifth in race one to second and then first in the final race to take second place overall.

Newcomer Jorrit Schrawers, sailing the club Laser, was third overall with a third and two fourths.

Andy Agar was fourth overall, despite suffering gear failure in race one, resulting in a near sinking and a seventh place finish. He recovered to take third in race two and was second in the last race.

Sandor Kecskemeti had to settle for fifth spot, having being disqualified in race two after an excellent second in the first race.

Newcomers Rachel and Ali Brightley, assisted by Andy Prior, sailed the heavy RV Vision to sixth place with sixth, fifth and seventh-place finishes.

Youngster William Stabler did well in the small RS Feva in the challenging condition to take seventh spot from newcomer David Poole crewed by Martin Cook.

Four regular members competed for the Witham Trophy and set off ahead of the newcomers fleet. The regatta was dominated by the Laser of Alan Cox, who took three straight first places with Keiron Powell, also in a Laser, taking second in all three.

Helen Boyd in her Solo came third with Neal Tack and Charlotte Stabler taking fourth having only competed in one race.

This was without doubt the most successful Novice Regatta the club has seen with 15 boats on the water at various times, most of which were being sailed by people new to the club.

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