Sunday saw the latest two races in the Frostbite series for the sailors of Welland Yacht Club.
With sunshine and a fresh breeze forecast five boats came to the start line, not before some had sampled the breeze and low water levels once again and thought better of it .
With a course set for 4 buoy twice and a long and short tack away from the start line, it was Andy Prior in the reduced sail Radial rig Laser, who was away, closely followed by Andy Agar in the OK dinghy, Adam Stabler in the Radial rig Laser, Alaistair Mitchell, also in the Radial rig Laser, and Yorrit and Toby Schrauwers in their repaired Kestral but beginning to struggle with the wind strength and low water.
With a long and short tack to Shelly’s Bush Corner, Prior extended his lead over Agar and these two pulled away from Mitchell and Stabler who ended up in their own race round the course.
Rounding Chilver’s Corner, Prior pulled away as Agar went aground and was having to spill wind, then it was a tack up to 4 buoy where there was a gybe set for the boats as the wind was now moderating.
All boats rounded safely and set off for the clubhouse off wind, Prior was pulling away leaving Agar to chase and with Stabler just staying ahead of Mitchell rounding clubhouse buoy.
Jorrit and Toby Schrauwers had come to grief just past Chilver’s on the first lap with a snapped tiller which put paid to their day’s racing and retired.
The second lap, and the wind had dropped against the forecast and it was Prior crossing the line first, followed by Agar then Mitchell and Stabler.
After handicaps applied it was Prior first, Mitchell second just three seconds ahead of Agar in third and Stabler fourth.
For race two, the wind had started to increase as forecast and before the start Stabler managed to capsize in one of the gusts but righted quickly in time to make the start.
With the port end tack favoured, it was Agar, Stabler and Mitchell who judged this best, followed by Prior, but on the next tack Stabler managed to get a gust and tipped in again and Prior passed him into third place.
As they tacked to Shelly’s Bush Corner, Agar held on to his lead only just from Prior but by Chilver’s Corner Agar was getting overpowered and Prior sailed through.
On the straight the wind had picked up and the gusts came through thick and fast, resulting in Prior capsizing to windward and going under the boat, allowing Agar to regain the lead.
Stabler suffering a major mast break resulting in the end of his race but managing to sail back to the club under sail.
Mitchell also suffered a capsize as now the wind gusts had become quite severe but he righted the boat to round 4 buoy and plane back to the clubhouse.
It was at this stage it was decided to shorten the course to just the one lap due to the conditions.
Agar, who kept upright being the only boat not to capsize, crossed the line ahead of Prior, with Mitchell a creditable third.
After the handicaps were applied it was Agar in first , Prior second and Mitchell in 3rd.
