Predicted strong winds and heavy rain kept numbers right down for Welland Yacht Club’s Cadet Regatta on Sunday – with only two boats taking part.
Conditions made for some of the best racing of the season, however, with youngsters Lucy Burton (Byte) and Katie Follington (Topper) enjoying having the water to themselves.
Both boats got away cleanly in race one, which benefitted from a very light breeze.
For most of the first lap, Follington managed to keep pace with the quicker boat of Burton.
But, as the race progressed, Burton managed to pull out sufficient gap to take the race by just over two minutes after handicaps were applied.
By the second race the promised wind had started to fill in, providing much more exciting but challenging conditions, this in turn impacted on the start and Follington pulled clear off the line.
Although Burton caught Follington part way through the race, she wasn’t able to pull out a big enough lead to allow for the boat’s handicap and Follington took the victory – making it one win each with one race to go.
By the time the finale commenced, the wind had increased to the levels the forecasters had predicted.
Both boats got away cleanly, with Follington just taking the lead – but Burton managing to pass her halfway up the first lap.
Follington remained in contention, finishing just under five minutes behind on the water. But, once boat handicaps were applied, both boats had exactly the same corrected time leaving each with one win and a draw.
At this point, a countback system applies and Follington was declared the winner by virtue of the fact that her first place came after Burton’s.
- Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email [email protected]
