The strong winds and the fact it was Easter Sunday kept numbers down for Sunday’s racing at Welland Yacht Club.
Four boats decided to brave the conditions for race one which was the first in the Munson Cup series but Gerri van Haren capsized in the race build-up leaving three boats to race it out.
Andy Prior, again sailing with the smaller Laser Radial Rig, was first away followed by Adam Stabler, also sailing a Laser Radial, and then Neal Tack and Rebecca Slator in the heavily reefed Laser 2000.
Prior made the most of the challenging conditions and pulled out a comfortable lead leaving Stabler and Tack to battle it out for second place on the water.
Stabler looked to have clinched the position but capsized on the final run to the clubhouse letting Tack through, however Tack then rounded the final buoy the wrong way round and had to retrace his steps to correct his mistake.
Although this cost time Stabler couldn’t close the gap meaning the final result was Prior first, Tack second and Stabler third.
Only three boats started the second race and Prior crossed the start line right on the bell and was unsure if he had been judged over or not so returned back through the fleet to be sure.
This allowed Tack to take the lead from Stabler with Prior giving chase, an error and a capsize at Chilvers Corner by Stabler allowed Prior to pass and then start to haul Tack in on the long reach up to the bypass bridge.
By the turn Prior was through to first which he kept to the finish. Tack maintained second just ahead of Stabler who took third.
After some deliberation the three boats lined up for the third race with ever gustier conditions and as the start gun went all three boats were in poor starting places.
Prior managed to get moving first and took the lead from Tack and some way back Stabler.
Disaster almost stuck Prior after a strong gust backwinded his sail on Chilvers Corner and he capsized to leeward, although he departed the boat it somehow stayed upright and he was able to crawl back in and get under way for some spectacular reaching along the mile straight.
Tack and Slator were going well but a strong gust caused them to capsize.
With the strong wind pushing on the hull, their mast got stuck in the mud which required assistance from the safety boat meaning they had to retire.
Prior went on to finish first from Stabler in second.
