Race two in the Commodore’s Point Series was Sunday’s first race at Welland Yacht Club.
A northerly wind direction blowing over the clubhouse meant a reaching start for the ten boats that started in a very light and variable breeze, made worse by the wind shadow of the clubhouse.
Adam Stabler, in a full rig Laser, and Martin Cook, in a Solo, were first away, closely followed by Helen Boyd, in a Solo, with Alan Chapman, in the full rig Laser close behind. Neil Tack and Rebecca Slator’s Laser 2000, Ian Thompson’s Solo, Andy Prior, with Harry Jackson crewing in a Lark, Sandor Kecskemeti’s Laser, Ali and Rachel Brightey in the club Vision dinghy and Pieter Wojtowicz in the club Laser completed the numbers.
The lead boats were caught at Shellys Bush Corner as the boats bunched up. Chapman managed to break away and opened a lead over Prior, Stabler and Cook, who were caught in their own duels with ground won and lost in the breeze that seemed to be dying.
With two laps set, some of the back markers were finished on one lap times. Of those on the second lap, Chapman sailed well to cross the line first, followed by Cook, just ahead of Thompson, Stabler and Tack and Slator.
A number of boats were retired due to rounding no.3 buoy incorrectly. That left Chapman as clear winner with Cook second and Thompson third, ahead of Stabler, Tack and Slator, Boyd and Kecskemeti.
The next race saw the breeze picking up to the forecasted strength, meaning a few boat changes with Jackson taking out the club Optimist dinghy and Prior in the club Topper.
Chapman and Stabler followed by Boyd, Thompson, Cook, Tack and Slator, Jackson and Prior made their way to no.3 buoy for the one-lap race.
The Laser 2000 of Tack and Slator led at Shellys Bush Corner but as the wind died the rest caught up as the breeze filled in from the back, bringing the sight of six boats across the river and the seventh of Stabler catching the breeze and having to find a gap to get through. At the rounding of no.1 buoy it was an exciting finish for the spectators.
The eventual finishing order was close with Stabler just pipping Thompson, Cook, Tack and Slator, Boyd, Chapman, Kecskemeti, Prior and Jackson.
However, after handicaps were applied it was Jackson who won, a remarkable achievement at just eight years old.
Race three was the second in the Personal Handicap Series and eight boats started in the best breeze of the day.
A short race saw the Laser of Wojtowicz, Adam Stabler, the Lark of Prior, now crewed by Ali Brightey, Boyd, Tack and Slator, Thompson, Charlotte Jackson, in a Topper, and her son Harry, in his race-winning Optimist, set off for no.3 buoy.
Prior and Brightey crossed first, ahead of Boyd, with Tack and Slator three seconds ahead of Stabler, Wojtowicz and the Jacksons.
After handicaps, Boyd took first place followed by Tack and Slator, Thompson, Stabler, Prior and Brightey, Harry Jackson, Wojtowicz and Charlotte Jackson.
