Sunday was the first race of the Commodore Points series for Welland Yacht Club.
Sailors were greeted by a gusty wind and only five of the seven crews decided to sail.
To make the best of the strong wind, a course was set to buoy 5, buoy 3, buoy 5 again, back to buoy 1, and then over the finish line, to make maximum use of the straight towards the bypass bridge.
Andy Prior (Laser Radial) was first to capsize, before the race had started but still managed to get the best start, followed by James Ramp (Laser 4.7), then Jorrit Schrauwers (Solo), Alistair Mitchell (Laser Radial) and Gerrit Van Haren (Phantom).
Ramp lost his second place to Schrauwers when he failed to call for room to tack away from the bank and got stuck in the reeds and was forced to retire.
Mitchell treated the spectators at the club to a spectacular capsize and dismount before righting his boat and carrying on.
Van Haren capsized a couple of times, as did Schrauwers, whose boat became swamped and needed towing back to the club.
Prior rounded off the racing by capsizing just after crossing the finish line. He was followed by Van Haren and Mitchell, with the positions remaining unchanged following the application of handicaps.
Due to the very strong gusts, everyone decided that one race was enough and the remaining two races were abandoned.
