Mason is Thacker winner

Despite fog and little prospect of wind, seven competitors rigged their boats ready for the Richard Thacker Memorial Regatta at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
Richard Thacker was a club commodore and keen sailor until he passed away in 2018.
After a lot of deliberation and multiple race postponements the officer of the day and competitors decided to try to get a race underway.
With a breath of wind coming from the north, the shortest course possible was set – down river to mark one then upstream to mark two then returning to the clubhouse to cross the finish line.
The small amount of breeze allowed all competitors to get away from the start line but youngster William Stabler, sailing a full rig Laser timed it best and had a short lead from visitor Sam Mason, sailing an Enterprise with crew Talin Jamesdeegan.
Although Stabler arrived at the mark first, Mason had the inside advantage and rounded ahead of him.
Andy Prior, sailing a Laser, rounded third with Helen Boyd, sailing her new Solo for the first time, a short distance behind.
With the tiny amount a wind coming and going places changed hand regularly and Stabler overtook Mason as the boats passed the clubhouse.
Boyd made good use of a small gust to overtake Prior and pull up alongside Mason. Andy Agar, sailing his OK, made good progress to pull clear of Adam Stabler in his Laser but Richard Stedman in his smaller Comet was struggling to make progress so retired.
Places had changed again by mark two and Mason rounded first from Boyd with Prior just ahead of William Stabler and Adam Stabler just ahead of Agar.
Mason kept his lead from there and finished ahead of Boyd, who is clearly going to be competitive in her new boat.
William Stabler and Prior stayed close for the whole of the last leg but Stabler sailed well and kept ahead to finish third both on the water and on handicap from Prior who was fourth. Agar took fifth on handicap with Adam Stabler bringing up the rear.
That proved to be the only race of the day, leaving Mason with the trophy, which was presented by Richard’s widow Jane.