The seven crews who took to the water at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday faced another windy day for the start of the Sunday Points Trophy of six races.
With a beat away from the club, the course made the most of the better sail down the mile buoy straight once around the corner.
At a hectic start line, Mark Scourfield in the Solo crossed first, followed by Alan Chapman in the Laser with reduced Radial sail and Andy Prior also in a Laser Radial, followed by Neal Tack and Rebecca Slator in a Laser2000, Gerri Van Haren in the Phantom, Alastair Mitchell and Mark Holland in Laser Radial rigs.
Prior got past Scourfield just before Shellys Bush Corner with a right of way call and then sailed away as the long and short tack came into play.
Gusty winds at No.5 buoy proved a challenge but Prior rounded first, starting the broad reach back to No.3 at Chilvers and then back to No.5 for the final time.
Crews enjoyed some exciting planing conditions in the sunshine. The run back to the clubhouse was a test as the wind increased. Prior crossed the line first but Scourfield and Van Haren both caught a gust just before rounding. It sent Scourfield broach up and he passed on the wrong side of the buoy and had real trouble getting back to the right side. Van Haren was also in trouble, trying to avoid Scourfield and capsized into the reeds.
Van Haren eventually rounded ahead of Scourfield, Tack and Slator. Mitchell also had difficulty, finishing ahead of Chapman and Holland.
Handicaps after an eventful race saw Prior first, Scourfield second, with Tack and Slator third. After those it was Van Haren, Mitchell, Chapman and Holland.
The wind picked up for the second race with gusts coming down the river just before the start catching out a number of starters.
Scourfield managed to get head to wind but sailed backwards towards the line and capsized. Prior also capsized and lost the usual items of shoe and hat.
Tack and Slator made the sensible choice of taking a reef in the main sail and managed to escape the mayhem.
Mitchell also crossed the line and those were the only three to start and finish the race, with Scourfield retiring and the other boats thinking better of it.
Prior sailed away to cross the finish line first, followed by Mitchell and Tack, with the handicaps leaving things as they were.
After lunch, the final race of the day was in the Afternoon Points Series with the wind having abated slightly.
Those who chose to sail had a more relaxed time of it. With a reduced course set, Prior again sailed away from the other two boats of Tack and Slator and Mitchell. After just under half an hour, it was Prior crossing the line first, followed by Tack and Slator with Mitchell third. Handicaps did not change anything.
The Welland Yacht Club’s Open Day is on Sunday. Visit the www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk website for more details.
It is in conjunction with a Celebrate the River Day in association with Spalding Water Taxis and the Moorings pub.
