Sunday saw the conclusion of the Commodore’s Points Series with two races and the chance for sailors to get on the water.
The river is still at low levels and now the Welland Yacht Club sailors are having to cope with the increase of weed growth.
The breeze was kind and the sun shone, which encouraged eight boats out to the start line for the first race. It meant a start from the clubhouse with a short beat to no.1 buoy, which is always a challenge to negotiate. It was Alan Cox in the Laser full rig who managed to judge the start correctly on a right of way tack, along with Gerri Van Haren in the larger Phantom, closely followed by Mark Scourfield in the Solo. They were followed by Andy Prior in the club Vision, crewed by young Harry Jackson, Alan Chapman in the Laser full rig, Andy Agar in the OK, Helen Boyd and Ian Thompson, both in Solos, and Richard Stedman in the Comet.
Cox and Van Haren escaped the pack and were able to took advantage of what breeze there was to stretch out a lead, ahead of Scourfield and Chapman.
The wind came and went in patches, making it a frustrating reach up to Chilvers Corner, where it turned in a number of directions up to no.4 buoy, where Van Haren rounded first just in front of Cox for the broad reach back.
The wind was dying as the heat rose and with direction changes, it was decided to reduce the race to just the one lap. Van Haren crossed the line first, followed by Cox, Scourfield, Agar and Chapman, with Thompson just getting across first from Boyd and Stedman.
After handicaps were applied it was Cox who gained first place, followed by Van Haren, Scourfield, Agar, Chapman, Stedman, Boyd, Thompson, Prior and Jackson.
Conditions were the same for the second race but, the rising temperatures meant the breeze became very fickle. Agar had an amazing start and was away, with Cox in pursuit.
Once around no.1 buoy the run down river became close between Thompson, Boyd and Scourfield with Prior and Jackson bringing up the rear. Misfortune came to Prior and Jackson at Shellys Bush Corner as they attempted to raise the spinnaker and took a swim. They recovered well to get the boat upright and continue.
Cox and Agar swapped positions on the way to no.4 buoy with changes in the tacking between the Solos of Thompson, Scourfield and Boyd.
With the breeze coming and going, it was a lottery right up to the finish as distances were won and lost. Cox managed to pick up a breeze and get across the line to finish with Agar, Scourfield and Boyd becalmed in sight of the finish line.
The wind did fill in eventually and Agar came across second with Scourfield third after nearly capsizing in one of the wind strength and direction changes.
Boyd was fourth but promoted to second on handicap. Cox took first place with Scourfield fourth, followed by Agar, Thompson and Stedman.
It meant the overall series winner was Scourfield, by just one point from Cox.
