Sunny October weather and a gentle breeze enticed 15 boats to compete for the Proctor Cup at the Welland Yacht Club.
It was a busy start line and due to the time taken, the long course was shortened as the first group of five boats came past the club, consisting of the Solo of Mark Scourfield, the Lark of Andy Prior and Harry Jackson, followed by the Lasers of Alan Chapman and Alan Cox, with the Phantom of Gerrit Van Haren in close pursuit.
Chapman was first across the finish line followed by Prior/Jackson and Scourfield. After handicaps were applied, Scourfield won, with Chapman second and Cox third.
Fourteen boats lined up for the second race with Scourfield, Cox and James Ramp’s Laser first away.
To take advantage of the best sailing conditions a more complex course was set and after nearly an hour of racing Cox finished ahead of Prior/Jackson and Scourfield, closely followed by the Lasers of Arden Follington, Adam Stabler and Mark Holland who were being chased down by the Solo of Helen Boyd, Ramp and Gail Follington in a Comet.
After handicaps were applied, Cox was first, ahead of Scourfield, Gail Follington and Ramp.
Just before the finish line the Comet Duo, sailed by Richard Stedman and Alison Banks had to retire after struggling on the bank when their tiller extension failed.
The wind speed dropped after the lunch break, which meant a shorter course was set for the final race of the day, which saw 12 boats line up.
Boyd and Arden Follington were leading at Shelly’s Bush corner. The Lark was first back, clear ahead of the fleet who finished in close succession with a photo finish between Cox and Boyd.
Prior/Jackson were winners after handicap, followed by Gail Follington and Ramp.
After results were combined, the overall winner was Mark Scourfield, with Cox, Gail Follington, Ramp, Prior/Jackson and Arden Follington completing the top six.
Next Sunday the club are hosting the Richard Thacker Trophy open meeting.
