Andy Prior is the champion of Welland Yacht Club’s Frost Bite series after winning their Brass Monkey Regatta on Boxing Day.
Weather conditions were ideal for the final round of the series with clear skies and winds hovering around 10mph gusting up to 15mph.
Nine boats took to the line for what was to be a close and tightly fought start, but Prior eventually found the front of the pack and clear air.
The leading five boats remained in close contact with each other throughout the first lap, with the Laser of Prior 10 seconds ahead at the half way point from Tom Bell and Alan Cox and Roger Ackroyd in the double handed RS200.
Paul Burton and Ivan Hurst were both a few seconds further back.
The final two lasers of Gerri and Allister followed a few minutes later with the two youngest sailors Lucy Burton and Emma Agar bringing up the rear although at this stage everything was still to play for as the boat’s handicaps would still impact on the final results.
The second leg saw the wind become a little more unpredictable, by the time the boats reached the windward mark the gaps had started to widen. At the end of the race the positions of the boats had not changed.
With the handicaps applied Prior took the win but only by seven seconds ahead of Paul Burton. Tom Bell took third with Ivan Hurst in fourth and Emma Agar in fifth.
With this added to the rest of the results from the Frost Bite Series, Prior was the overall series winner having won four races.
Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email [email protected]
