Sunday saw the first in the series of six of the Morning Points races for Welland Yacht Club.
The forecast was for light to medium winds and that is what was delivered throughout the day’s three races.
The first race got underway with nine boats on the start line and saw an unusual episode – a general recall because there were too many boats eager to get away and over the line on the short beat to the number one buoy.
As the race sequence started again the wind picked up.
This time it was Mark Scourfield, sailing a borrowed Solo, who was away first only for Alan Cox in the Laser to catch him.
Scourfield had the right of way though and forced Cox onto the buoy so penalising him.
Next around was the Lasers of Keiron Powell, Mark Holland and Alan Chapman, Ian Thompson in the Solo, visiting helm young Buddy Hunt in the club Topper, Geoff Tibbs in a Solo and Ali and Rachel Brightey in their GP dinghy.
With the wind now behind the boats, the ones at the back had the advantage over the ones out in front but with the Lasers of Powell, Cox, Holland and Chapman each trying to gain advantage this allowed Scourfield to hold his lead beyond Shelly’s Bush Corner and Chilvers Corner to stay in front to round buoy four first.
With the four Lasers getting in a fight with themselves and the weed on the buoy, this allowed Scourfield to stay ahead of Powell who had pulled away from the other three on the way to three buoy.
Scourfield rounded first followed by Powell and Cox, Holland and Chapman catching with Thompson, Hunt and the Brighteys next.
Powell overtook Scourfield and, with Cox trying to gain advantage again he incurred another penalty when he did not keep clear of Scourfield.
Despite this he overtook Scourfield and moved into second place.
With a tack to the club it was Powell who opened up a gap to cross first followed by Cox, Scourfield, and Holland who squeezed ahead of Chapman, Thompson, the Brighteys, Tibbs and Hunt.
After handicaps were applied, it was Powell who had won, with Scourfield second, Cox in third, Holland fourth, Chapman fifth, Thompson sixth, Hunt seventh, the Brighteys eighth and Tibbs in ninth.
Race two started with the same boats and it was Powell who got away first, followed by Cox, Chapman, Holland, Scourfield, Thompson, Hunt, Brighteys and Tibbs.
The front three Lasers had pulled out a sizeable lead at Shelly’s Bush Corner and were in close proximity trying to get the advantage.
With a longer course in place it was Powell who eventually broke away on the reach from the other two, a position he held all through the race.
With two long beats in a wind that was just holding up, the others were left behind to fight it out.
Holland and Scourfield exchanged tacks for a while before Holland pulled away.
Thompson then overtook Scourfield but lost that advantage as the wind began to fade.
After an hour it was Powell crossing with a commanding lead, followed by Cox, and the closest of finishes by just one second between Holland in third, Chapman in fourth, Scourfield in fifth and Thompson in sixth, the rest were finished on the first lap with the times.
Handicaps applied it was Powell first, Scourfield second Cox third, Holland fourth, Chapman fifth, Thompson sixth, Hunt seventh, Tibbs eighth and the Brighteys in ninth.
The race after lunch was the third in the Personal Handicap series where the handicaps are adjusted before each race and not the standard boat handicaps.
With fewer boats on the start this time the course was set the same as the wind was holding up.
It was Cox who judged the start best and was around ahead of Powell, followed by Holland, Hunt, Thompson, Tibbs and the Brighteys.
Cox and Powell were side by side all the way on the run to Chilver’s Corner where Powell got the advantage and he was never challenged as he drew away over the two-lap course .
With young Buddy Hunt showing well on the run down and staying with Tibbs and the Brighteys, just behind was Thompson who was in with a chance if the wind held up.
After an hour of sailing, the first boat over the line was Powell, followed by Cox, Holland and Thompson, with the others finished on one lap.
It was Powell who came out first with Cox second, Holland third, Thompson fourth, Hunt fifth, the Brighteys sixth and Tibbs in seventh.
