Sunday was once again kind to the sailors of Welland Yacht Club and produced some early spring sunshine and a wind that was more manageable than last week’s, although it was still strong enough to cause a number of capsizes over the course of the day.
There were ten boats coming to the start line for race one in the Munson Cup and with the wind in the north, it meant a short beat from the start line to number one buoy which had the potential of some coming together which materialised.
It was Mark Scourfield in the Solo and Keiron Powell in the Laser who were able to cross the right of way boats to put themselves in to a good position to round the buoy. However, with some close quarter manoeuvres, there were bound to be casualties and Andy Prior was a victim as he hit the Laser 2000 of Neil Tack and Rebecca Slator.
Then Powell managed to hit Prior and they both had to do penalty turns.
The rest rounded without mishap and Prior, Powell, Mark Holland and Alan Chapman gave chase to Scourfield who was away and clear.
Scourfield rounded number four buoy just ahead of the group of Lasers chasing him down. The rest of the fleet were spaced out. Behind Tack and Slator came the Comet of Richard Stedman, both Solos of Ian Thompson and Adam Stabler and the Lark of Helen Boyd.
Prior and Powell managed to overtake Scourfield on the tight reach up to Chilver’s Corner and pulled away on the equal tacking as the wind increased leaving Scourfield, Chapman and Holland to cross tack up to number one buoy.
Powell and Prior changed places in a close race as they pulled away from the chasing bunch, as did Holland, Chapman and Scourfield.
At the end of 50 minutes of close sailing it was Prior who crossed first, followed by Powell.
Scourfield, Chapman and Holland were all within 23 seconds of each other with only two seconds splitting Chapman and Holland in fourth and fifth respectively.
Next to finish were Tack and Slator, Thompson, Boyd and Stabler.
With handicaps applied it was Prior first, Powell second and Scourfield third.
Race two started with ten boats and, with the wind starting to increase, it made the tack to the first buoy tricky with the flukey wind around the buoy adding to the difficulties.
Again it was Prior, Powell and Chapman who judged it well, followed by Scourfield, Tack and Slator, Holland, Thompson, Stedman and then Boyd.
The run down to Shelly’s Bush Corner allowed the chasing bunch to make small gains on the leading three.
Prior rounded it first, followed once again by Powell, with Chapman in close attendance in third.
The tight reach back to the club meant that there were little changes and with the wind starting to increase, it was hard work on the tack from Chilvers.
The front two were away, but with Chapman capsizing rounding the club buoy, it allowed Scourfield through momentarily and there were a number of retirements due to gear failure and capsizes.
Once handicaps were applied, it was Prior who finished first, winning the cup, followed by Powell in second, with Scourfield and Chapman tied for third place .
After lunch there were some that did not take part in the first race of the Afternoon Points.
As the wind picked up, six boats came to the start line and some misjudged the timings and came late passing the boats already started going the opposite way.
Prior was away again, followed by Tack and Slator, Chapman, Holland, Scourfield and Boyd.
A course change gave the crews a good long sail down the straight to five buoy and a chance to enjoy some planing conditions.
A gybe on the turning mark gave some concern but all rounded safely and it was Prior first, followed by Tack and Slator, Holland, Scourfield and Chapman, who had taken a swim earlier.
The wind increased and shiftily caught out Holland on the beat who went head to wind allowing Scourfield through.
With Holland now retiring and Boyd also calling it a day, the race finished with only four boats, with Prior taking first from Scourfield second, Tack and Slator in third and Chapman in fourth.
