The weather gods were smiling once again for Welland Yacht Club sailors, who took to the water on Sunday with the good breeze just enough to make it interesting at times and with the added bonus of sunshine all day.
The boats were at the start line for the day’s first race in the Munson Cup Series.
They faced a course from buoy no.4 to no.1 twice and, with the wind blowing down the clubhouse straight with a starboard bias line, it was going to be a hotly contested space to get the start and clear air. There would be tacking up to Shellys Bush Corner, offering plenty of opportunity to gain and lose places.
Andy Prior in the full rig Laser judged it well, closely followed by Mark Scourfield in a Solo, and Keiron Powell and Alan Chapman in full rig Lasers with the remainder bunched together but avoiding any major incidents.
The two Laser Radial rigs of Alastair Mitchell and Alan Cox were together, alongside the Laser2000 of Neil Tack and Rebecca Slator, Richard Stedman in the Comet, Ian Thompson in a Solo and Helen Boyd and crew Lisa Knight in the Lark.
The wind direction was favourable around Chilvers Corner, providing some nice planing conditions and Prior rounded first, followed by Scourfield just holding off the Laser of Powell.
With a tight sail back to Chilvers, Prior had clear air and pulled out a lead that was never challenged. Powell overtook Scourfield on the run down to no.1 to round in second, just ahead of Chapman, who was catching in the larger sail boat. The pair had a tacking duel on the second lap, allowing Prior and Powell to pull away.
Even though a gust caught Prior and he had a mishap, it was not enough for the rest to catch him and he crossed the line ahead of Powell, Scourfield, Chapman, Cox, Mitchell, Tack and Slator with Stedman just six seconds ahead of Thompson, Boyd and Knight.
After handicaps were applied, it was Prior first place and Scourfield second, just five seconds ahead of Powell, with Cox, Chapman and Mitchell all within 20 seconds of each other.
The second race of the day, and the fourth of the series saw all boats back on the same course.
Scourfield and Prior were over the line and both had to return through the oncoming boats with no right of way. That allowed Powell, Cox, Mitchell and Chapman, followed by Tack and Slator, to get away.
However, with boats tacking at close quarters, it allowed Prior to catch the leaders and by Chilvers corner he had taken the lead.
Chapman had his usual capsize while trying to adjust controls but righted quickly.
After two laps Prior was first again, followed by Powell, Scourfield, Cox and Mitchell, with Tack and Slator getting the hang of the spinnaker.
Handicaps saw Prior maintain first place, with Cox even seconds ahead of Scourfield, who led Powell by 10 seconds ahead of Powell.
The second race in the Afternoon Points Series brought seven boats back to the line. A change of course gave the boats an extended sail to no.5 buoy. Prior and Scourfield made good starts, followed by Powell, Tack and Slator, Cox, Mitchell, Stedman, Boyd and Knight.
Prior led throughout and was never challenged. Powell retired and Scourfield managed to chase with Tack and Slator in third, keeping the Lasers of Cox and Mitchell from advancing further.
After the second lap, which was just around no.2 buoy and back to no.1, Prior was over the line first followed by Scourfield and Mitchell, after Cox had to carry out penalty turns after hitting Scourfield.
Tack and Slator were 10 seconds behind with Boyd and Knight, and Stedman completing the finishers.
Prior stayed first after handicaps with Scourfield second, Mitchell third and Cox fourth followed by Tack and Slator, Stedman and Boyd and Knight.
