The run of good weather came to an end for the final three races in Welland Yacht Club’s Pursuit Series with colder weather and a strong swirling wind for most of the day.
Being pursuit racing, the RS Feva of youngster William Stabler was first away for the first race of the day with the Solos of Martin Cook, Helen Boyd, Adam Stabler and Geoff Tibbs next.
Only three seconds after the Solos were the Laser Radials of Andy Prior, Keiron Powell and Alan Cox with all three helms having chosen the smaller sails due to the windy conditions.
Unusually, last away was the OK of Andy Agar nearly two minutes behind the Lasers.
With the wind blowing over the clubhouse and boat park it caused all sorts of problems for the fleet. Cook looked set to make an excellent start but fell victim of a ‘hole in the wind’ and remained stationary for quite a few seconds and also Powell was well back from the line and was playing catch up all race.
William Stabler got away well and had a good lead as the fleet chased downwind away from the clubhouse, whilst Boyd managed to capitalise on a good start to pull clear of the other Solos.
Cox was the first of the Lasers, followed closely by Prior, with these positions being maintained until the boats rounded the leeward mark, after which positions started to change quite quickly.
Prior managed to secure ‘water’ on both Cox and Boyd at the leeward mark and turned in second place and he then passed William Stabler who was struggling with the conditions.
Prior got passed Boyd halfway down the beat to take the lead but Powell was recovering from the poor start and was making ground on Prior.
By the time the lead boats completed the first lap, a number of other boats were having problems, with Agar and Boyd capsizing, Adam Stabler running into the bank and Tibbs filling his boat with water.
On the downwind leg Powell gained 200 meters on Prior to make it a very close finish but Prior held on and finished shortly ahead of Powell. Cox took third, Boyd fourth, Cook fifth from Agar. William Stabler beat his father to take seventh.
Only six boats came to the line for the second race and this time Powell made the best start with a good lead over the pack.
Prior made a poor start and was at the back of the pack with only the quicker boat of Agar behind.
Powell pulled out a good lead on the first downwind legs with the rest of the fleet closely bunched.
By the end of the first lap Prior had passed a capsized Cox but was still some distance behind Powell and it wasn’t until the second beat that he started to close the gap.
With the clock ticking down and the clubhouse in sight Prior managed to catch Powell on a port tack and took the lead.
He rounded the clubhouse buoy 50 meters ahead of Powell, a distance he maintained until the finish and took first place.
Although Agar caught up with Cox, he was never able to pass, leaving Cox in third and Agar fourth.
Boyd was slowed down considerably with water in her boat and finished fifth ahead of Tibbs.
Alistair Mitchell joined the fleet for the last race in a Laser Radial and Cook had re-joined after sitting out the second race, but Powell had retired for the day.
Prior would have made an excellent start had it not been for the fact he was sailing a Laser Radial and not a Solo and had to return back across the line being three seconds early.
Cook got the best start and had a good lead on the downwind leg.
Cox was leading the Lasers from Prior but Mitchell very quickly overtook Prior and began chasing down Cox.
Agar having got a good start was also giving chase.
On the upwind section Boyd got hit by a strong gust and healed so far that she took a lot of water on-board, meanwhile Prior narrowly avoided the leaning Solo to pass on the inside.
Prior then began to make up places first passing Mitchell then Cox before finally passing Cook to take and maintain the lead.
Mitchell took second place with Cox completing the Laser one, two, three despite a last minute capsize.
Agar finished fourth, from Cook in firth.
These results mean Prior won the Pursuit Series with a clean sweep of five victories but was pushed hard by Powell, who took second, and Alan Cox finishing third overall.
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
