Tom Bell and Ros Nickols both toasted wins at Welland Yacht Club’s afternoon points series on Sunday.
With eight boats taking part it was a busy – but slow – start line with little or no wind assistance for the competitors.
Bell managed to gain the perfect position at the start, followed by Phil Robinson, with the rest of the fleet gradually dispersing behind.
Other than minor exchanges of positions in the mid-fleet this is how the race ended as Bell took the win from Robinson, ahead of Paul Wilson in third and fourth-placed Andy Prior.
Race two did show early promise with the breeze picking up and a course change to benefit from what wind there was.
This time it was Prior who got best position for the start, followed by Bell.
The wind soon died away again, but making the most of what breeze there was Ros Nickols picked her way through the fleet and managed to take the win once handicaps had been applied.
Prior moved up to second this time, with Bell third and Wilson fourth.
Earlier in the day – and following the morning’s junior session – the first race of the day was the Cadet 1, which was open to anyone under the age of 25.
With a strong south-westerly wind, keeping the boats upright was going to be key.
Three boats took part, all being helmed by members of the junior section with Niall Holland, Harry Whitelam and eight-year-old Neo Thorpe, with uncle Tom Bell as crew.
With a few near capsizes leading up to the start, the race got under way with Holland taking the lead from Whitelam. But he was ever mindful that being in a faster boat meant he would have to ensure a big enough lead for when the handicaps were applied.
With the wind holding, the race passed without a single capsize. Holland managed the gap back to Whitelam well and took the win, with Thorpe and Bell third.
This was the first of two cadet races leading up to the cadet regatta on the September 25, which will feature three races and personal handicaps so all levels of ability can compete on equal terms.
