Sunday saw the races for the Welland Yacht Club Flag Officer’s Cup and what proved to be an eventful sail for all due to the strong wind as forecast.
The sunshine that came after the rain squall that passed through earlier may have influenced the slightly lower turnout of six boats after some deliberation on whether to sail or not.
A course to get the best from the wind direction and make use of the conditions was set using the mile buoy straight.
Before the start, the wind strength caught out Mark Scourfield in the Solo and he capsized before the start line but was able to recover in time for the start and was first away followed by Neal Tack and Rebecca Slator in the Laser 2000, Geri Van Haren in the larger sailed Phantom and the Solos of Adam Stabler, Ian Thompson and Geoff
Tibbs completing the line up in a Laser-free day.
With a long and short tack to Shellys Bush Corner, most of the boats were concentrating on staying upright rather than tactics.
Once rounding the corner, it was a tight reach to Chilvers Corner, where just after on the broad reach Van Haren was able to pass Tack and Slator and chase down Scourfield.
The gusts were coming hard now but provided some exhilarating planing if at times in survival mode.
The five buoy had been made a gybe, which is a tricky undertaking at the best of times, but in these conditions and where situated, it was a sail-around option for Scourfield who arrived first, closely followed by Van Haren.
Van Haren made the better job and rounded first as he and Scourfield set off on the tight reach back to 3 buoy followed by Tack and Slator, Stabler, Thompson and Tibbs, now spread out.
Misfortune befell Van Haren as he fell out of the boat as it came over on top of him and capsized, allowing Scourfield to overtake and round number 3 ahead of Tack and Slator.
By now there were a number of capsize casualties and the safety boat was in constant use.
It was back to number 5 buoy for another exciting sail and once again a sail-around option was taken by all except Adam Stabler who to his credit gybed round and survived!
The course was now back to number 1 buoy at the clubhouse and a very broad reach from Chilvers Corner, which had its own dangers, but Scourfield managed to round and cross the line after only 32 minutes’ sailing, which shows with the course length how windy it was, ahead of Tack and Slator, who on the day were the only ones not to capsize, followed by Van Haren and Stabler some way back.
The Solos of Tibbs and Thompson, who endured a lengthy capsize catching a gust just past Shellys Bush Corner, both retired after not completing the course further back.
The win went to Scourfield, with Tack and Slator in second, Van Haren third and Stabler in a creditable fourth place as he had some equipment issues during the race. It was thought that discretion would be the better part of valour as the forecast was for the wind to increase so the trophy was decided on this race only, so Scourfield first, Tack and Slator second, Van Haren third and Stabler fourth.
A special mention to Andy Agar and William Stabler who did sterling work on the safety boat throughout the race.
The club holds its annual open day on Sunday, June 8 from 12pm-4pm.
Visitors can experience sailing but are encouraged to book in advance on the club’s website www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk
