Consistency proved key as Martin Cook won Welland Yacht Club’s Tulip Regatta on Sunday.
The warm weather and light winds brought out 14 boats for the popular event, which was run with personal handicaps to make the racing more competitive.
Race one began with a short beat up to the first mark and it was Will Cook who was first to round it in his Scorpion closely, followed by Brian Cobb and then Martin Cook.
With the wind direction and speed ever changing, positions switched regularly and by the end of the race Andy Prior and Tom Bell had worked their way through the fleet to take the line honours.
However, once personal handicaps had been applied it was Martin Cook who took first place from Brian Cobb, with Prior and Bell in third.
The wind hadn’t increased much by race two, but again it was the two Scorpions who took advantage of their larger sail area to pull clear and had their own race at the front of the fleet.
Behind them, the middle order were having their own very competitive race.
Although Prior and Bell were again first over the line, their lower personal handicap meant they slipped to sixth on corrected time with Will Cook and Emma Hill taking first place, Rebecca Slator sealing second spot in her Laser and Martin Cook back in third position.
The mixed results from the first two races meant all was to play for in the finale – but with the wind dropping, an even shorter course was selected.
The start followed a similar pattern with the two Scorpions rounding the mark first, but the lighter winds meant that they couldn’t fly their spinnakers correctly and they were unable to pull out the necessary lead from the chasing pack.
Prior and Bell again took line honours, but Neal Tack kept in contention all race which was sufficient to give him first spot on corrected time, with Slator taking second from Cook and Hill in third.
Overall, consistency paid off with Martin Cook taking overall honours from Cook junior in second, with Tack third. They were followed by Slator in fourth, Prior and Bell in fifth and then Brian
Cobb in sixth. Seventh spot and first junior was Freya Willerton, who sailed brilliantly to keep in contention with the seniors.
- To experience sailing for yourself, why not come down to Welland Yacht this Sunday for a free taster session during the club’s open day? All newcomers are welcome between noon and 4pm. Just bring a towel and a change of clothes.
