Favourable winds on Sunday made Welland Yacht Club’s final regatta of the season an enjoyable yet challenging one for all involved.
Seven boats took to the line for the Richard Glenn Challenge Bowl event, with three races contested on the day.
Although it was Andy Prior who took the trophy on the day, the plaudits belonged to the newcomers who had taken on the challenging conditions.
Race one saw Prior, sporting the smaller Radial rig on his Laser, getting the best start, closely followed by Mark Scourfield (Solo).
Richard Stedman, in the Club’s Laser 4.7, was next over the line followed by Eric Murry sailing his Mirror Dinghy single handed.
Newcomers Helen Boyd and Nick Bonsor were valiantly following in their Solos but were finding the gusts a lot to handle, as was Ben Parsons in a Laser Radial.
Prior continued to lead to the finish, with Scourfield crossing the line a short distance behind in second.
With the rest of the fleet depleted after the retirements of Bonsor, Parsons, Stedman and Boyd, Murray came in third in the much slower Mirror.
With the breezy conditions continuing for the second race, Parsons and Bonsor decided not to start and then – with seconds to the start – drama struck as Scourfield capsized on the start and part submerged his boat.
After a five-minute delay, the race began and Prior pulled comfortably away. Stedman retired soon after the start, but Boyd, after an early visit to the weeds, got the boat under control and worked her way up the course, together with Murray in his little Mirror.
Prior finished the race a couple of minutes ahead of Scourfield, with Murray and Boyd coming in third and fourth respectively – although the last two positions were reversed after handicap.
By the time the third and final race was due, the wind had dropped a little and five boats started.
This left the race open for Prior to lead from start to finish and take the third win. Stedman, back for this race, got to grips with the Laser 4.7 and sailed a fault-free race to take second.
The race to third place went to the wire. Bonsor approached the last mark of the course but had trouble rounding it, putting Boyd in striking distance.
With only 100 yards to the finish line Boyd was catching but Bonsor hung on for third. Both these sailors were new to sailing this season and did well to finish in these conditions.
Overall, Prior took the trophy from an excellent Murray in second and Scourfield in third.
