A victory double gave Paul Burton overall glory at Welland Yacht Club’s final regatta of the season – the Glenn C Bowl – on Sunday.
Strong winds and the prospect of rain wasn’t the best of starts for a day’s sailing for the Spalding club, but six boats still took to the starting line.
Burton was perfectly positioned to hit the start line at speed, while a surprised Mark Holland found himself in second closely followed by Ros Nickols, the duo of Neal Tack and Rebecca Slator, Lucy Burton and Gerri Van Haren.
As the boats headed downwind Van Haren soon powered his way through the fleet to second.
The rain soon arrived to add to the already challenging conditions and, upon rounding the top mark, the upwind leg proved too much for Holland.
After three capsizes in short succession he retired from the race and took a tow back.
As the rest headed back to complete the first lap, Paul Burton was determined to keep enough of a lead to be still a head once handicaps applied.
As the boats came past the clubhouse Lucy Burton then retired, leaving four boats to compete the final lap. Paul Burton held firm to take the win ahead of Nickols (second), Van Haren (third) and Tack and Slator (fourth).
Although not wanting to actually take part in the race, junior Harry Whitelam also came down for a sail and completed the first lap of the course.
The wind had eased slightly for race two – and from the start it was Paul Burton leading from Van Haren, Tack and Slator, Nickols and Lucy Burton.
After misjudging a manoeuvre, Van Haren collided with a marker buoy and then retired, again leaving four boats to finish the race.
Once again it was Paul Burton at the front, this time ahead of Tack and Slator (second), Nickols (third) and Lucy Burton (fourth).
That gave an overall regatta victory to Paul Burton, with Nickols taking second and the Tack and Slator combination third.
Van Haren was fourth.
With the regattas now completed for the season, the final series of the year starts this Sunday.
And with one race per day – starting at 11.30am – the Frostbite series is not for the faint hearted.
Race days are November 13, 20 and 27, as well as December 4, 11, 18 and 26.
The best four results out of the seven races in the series counts for each competitor.
Welland’s end of season social – complete with prize giving – is this Saturday (7pm).
Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email [email protected]
