Sunday saw the first three of six races in the Autumn Points series at Welland Yacht Club.
After a couple of weeks of too much or too little wind, it was good to be back on the water in a reasonable breeze.
With the wind blowing directly on to the clubhouse, a reaching start saw a good turnout of 11 boats in a building breeze. Being behind the line at the start was critical and getting windward of the rest of the fleet.
Andy Prior managed that in his full rig Laser with the larger sail, ahead of Mark Holland, also in the full rig Laser.
Helen Boyd was sailing her Solo, with Alastair Mitchell in a Laser Radial, Andy Agar in an OK, Will Stabler in Laser 4.7, Alan Chapman in a Laser Radial, Neal Tack and Rebecca Slator in a Laser 2000, Richard Stedman in a Comet, Adam Stabler in a Laser full rig, with the Solo of Alan Thompson bringing up the rear.
By Shellys Bush Corner, Prior had started to pull away with Holland close by and once round Chilvers Corner on the beat to no.4 buoy, they pulled out a gap on the chasing boats.
As the wind built the gybe was a concern for some but all rounded safely to the run back to the clubhouse.
Mitchell, Agar and Chapman had their own race with Boyd and Thompson close, while Stedman retired as they started the second lap.
The wind was quite strong in places and Prior pulled away from Holland. The gybe at no.4 buoy saw some decide to sail round but Boyd caught a gust and capsized. After a lengthy attempt to right her boat it had to be towed back to the clubhouse, ending her race.
That left Prior to cross the line first, followed by Holland, Tack and Slator, Mitchell, Agar, Chapman, Adam Stabler, Thompson and Will Stabler.
After handicaps were applied, Prior maintained first place with Mitchell second, ahead of Tack and Slator.
The wind stayed the same direction and strength for race two so the same course was set, with a reduced field of eight boats.
Prior was first away again, followed by Agar, Tack and Slator, Chapman, Mitchell and Holland in a line, with Adam Stabler and Thompson close behind.
As they started to spread out on the close reach, the larger sailed boats pulled away but on the long and short tack to no.4 buoy a few were over-powered and became stuck on the lee bank before escaping.
Prior crossed first again, followed by Tack and Slator, with Agar just getting the better of Mitchell ahead of Chapman, Adam Stabler and Thompson.
Handicaps did not change the first two places but Mitchell pipped Agar to third by 14 seconds.
Only four boats started the third race, due to the threat of rain and a drop in wind strength.
Prior sailed into a lead that he again held throughout the race. Agar and Chapman had a tussle all around the two laps and were never far apart but crossed the line some way behind Prior, with Agar taking the nod. Tack and Slator were fourth and handicaps did not change any placings.
It left Prior in a commanding position going into the completion of the series next week.
