There was a fitting finale to Welland Yacht Club’s regular season on Sunday as the Richard Glen Challenge Bowl regatta went right down to the wire.
Both Martin Cook and Alan Cox were tied on points at the end of the day, with the former claiming the crown on countback.
Contested under personal handicap, ten boats took to the start of race one – although there was a last minute drop out due to a rigging issue.
With the start getting underway without any further issues, Cook took the lead from junior Katie Follington followed by Cox, Paul Wilson, Gail Follington, Geri van Haren, juniors Samuel and Freya Willerton, plus Brian Cobb completing the fleet.
As the boats worked their way up the course to the first bend, Cook still had the lead with Cox, Wilson and Follington snr neck and neck for second.
Behind them, van Haren soon caught the back of the leading boats, with Follington jnr still ahead of Cobb and the Willerton siblings at the back. Indeed, as they rounded the top mark van Haren had briefly took the lead from Cox, Cook, Wilson, Follington snr.
Once on the run back down river Cox would manage to get ahead and open up a small lead.
Meanwhile at the back, Katie Follington was managing to keep the leaders in sight, while Freya and Samuel Willerton kept their own little race going despite a capsize from the latter.
By the time the fleet had rounded the top mark for the second time, van Haren had regained the lead from Cox and then Cook, which was the finishing order on the water.
However, by keeping close to the lead boats, junior Katie Follington took the win under personal handicap from Cox, Gail Follington and Cook in second, third and fourth respectively.
With nine boats taking to the start for the second race, this time it would be van Haren who got the best of the start followed by Cook, Cox,
Cobb, Rosie Willerton, Katie Follington, Samuel Willerton, Wilson and Gail Follington.
With van Haren opening up an ever-increasing lead, the boats rounded the top mark before Cobb managed to capsize his boat.
And, with his mast well and truly stuck in the mud, he had to be assisted to right his boat – ending his race.
Meanwhile, Cox moved into second from Cook followed by Follington snr, which was the finishing order at the end of the race.
This time van Haren had built up enough of a lead to keep the win, with Cook close enough to take second from Cox in third.
With only three points covering five places, it was all to play for as they went into the third race.
However, van Haren elected to call it a day and Cobb retired with his boat needing a minor repair, leaving eight boats taking to the start.
This time Wilson got the best of the start from Cook, Cox, Katie and Gail Follington and Rosie, Samuel and Freya Willerton.
As the fleet rounded the top mark, Cook would hit the mark – meaning he had to take penalty turns and dropping him a couple of places back.
By now, the wind had subsided considerably, making some parts of the course slow going.
However, Cook managed to gain the lead from Wilson in the final stages of the race, only to have it taken back off him under handicap.
It was Wilson who claimed the victory from Cook in second and Cox in third.
It couldn’t have been closer overall, with first and second tied on eight points and third and fourth tied on ten points it was down to the rule of count back.
That gave glory to Cook from the unlucky Cox in second, with Wilson third and junior Katie Follington fourth.
This Sunday will see the start of the Frostbite Series with only one race per Sunday and the final on Boxing Day.
