A strong breeze and bright sunshine greeted 11 boats as they took to the start line for the first series of the Sunday Points series at Welland Yacht Club.
They delivered plenty of high-stakes action for spectators on the river bank.
Helen Boyd (Solo) got off to a flying start, securing a comfortable lead on the first beat. At the other end of the fleet, Andy Prior and Harry Jackson (Lark) spent the final minutes of the countdown stuck in the reeds, forcing them to start at the back of the pack.
Boyd was eventually overtaken by Adam Stabler’s quicker ILCA 7/Laser at the start of lap two. At the same mark, the Lark of Prior and Jackson carved through the fleet, chasing down Boyd, Stabler, and Alistair Mitchell (ILCA 6/Laser Radial).
Although the Lark crossed the finish line first on the water, handicap times saw Boyd take a comfortable victory, with Mitchell second and Prior/Jackson third, ahead of Alan Cox (ILCA 6/Laser Radial), Adam Stabler (ILCA 7/Laser), James Ramp (ILCA 6/Laser Radial), Mark Holland (ILCA 6/Laser Radial), Jorrit Schrauwers/Toby Schrauwers (Kestrel), Martin Cook (Solo/Wood/Mixed), Richard Stedman (Comet) and Ali Brightey/Rachel Brightey (GP14).
The wind increased for the second race and an incredibly busy start line saw boats forced to tack up a narrow river, further constricted by weed growth.
Cox, Cook and Mitchell all secured excellent starts.
A collision on a tack between Boyd and Stabler resulted in Stabler capsizing and Boyd serving two penalty turns. Cook looked poised to take line honours but a poor mark rounding cost him several positions. Prior and Jackson took full advantage, seizing the lead halfway through the second lap.
The Lark crossed the line first by a minute but not enough to beat the clock; Cox claimed the handicap win, followed by Mitchell, Cook and Prior/Jackson.
The rest of the field was Holland, Stabler, Stedman, Boyd, Schrauwers/Schrauwers, Brightey/Brightey and Ramp.
The final race followed a pursuit format, with boats starting according to handicap, the slowest setting off first.
Stedman made excellent use of the clear air in his Comet, building a commanding lead.
However, a chasing pack of ILCA 6/Laser Radials, perfectly suited to the conditions, caught up fast and eventually swallowed up the leader.
Cox overtook first to establish a lead he would not relinquish. Mitchell and Boyd followed close behind.
The Lark of Prior and Jackson caught a break when Holland got stuck on mark one, holding up Stabler in the process. Stabler’s chances of reclaiming the position were later dashed by a capsize.
Mitchell looked secure in second place until he collided with Mark Four. He mistakenly performed two penalty turns instead of one, allowing the Lark to close the gap. In a dramatic final sequence, Prior and Jackson overtook Mitchell to the leeward side to snatch second place on the water.
Cox was the winner, followed by Prior/Jackson, Mitchell, Stabler, Boyd, Stedman, Holland, Schrauwers/Schrauwers and Brightey/Brightey.
Although Prior and Jackson finished second in the final race, their consistent performances were enough to secure first place overall, with Stedman second, Mitchell third and Cox taking fourth place.
