Sunday saw the three races for the Peterborough Building Society Salver at the Welland Yacht Club.
There was a good turnout of 11 boats at the start line for the first race. With the wind blowing straight down the river, it made the start an interesting affair and it was the Laser full rigs of Andy Prior and Alan Chapman alongside the Solo of Mark Scourfield and the OK of Andy Agar that made the best start. They were closely followed by Helen Boyd in her Solo and Mark Holland, who had earlier taken a swim pre-start but recovered.
Adam Stabler in his Laser had to retire with gear failure with his rudder before the start but son William was there in the Laser 4.7. New sailors Ally and Rachel Brightey, in their newly acquired GP14, and Richard Stedman crewed by Ollie Smith, in his new Comet Duo, and Ian Thompson, in his Solo, completed the starters.
Prior took advantage of a gap to pass Scourfield, Agar and Chapman at Shellys Bush Corner to take the lead, which he held throughout. Boyd and Holland were involved in their own duel. Chapman reached Chilvers Corner ahead of Scourfield and Agar and managed to pull out a gap with a tight reach to no.4 buoy. Boyd rounded the buoy the incorrect way so had to unwind, allowing other boats through. The off-wind leg to the buoy at the clubhouse saw Prior extend his lead from Chapman and they crossed the line first and second, ahead of
Scourfield, Agar, Holland, Boyd, Thompson, Stabler, Stedman and Smith, and the Brighteys. Handicaps brought no change to the top three places.
The wind had started to increase for the second race, catching out Thompson, who capsized before the start.
Prior, Scourfield and Chapman again led the way, with Agar judged to be over the line and having to return. Prior and Scourfield swapped tacks for a short time before he pulled away in the faster boat and at Chilvers Corner Prior got a lift and again pulled away on a tight reach, rounding first followed by Scourfield and Chapman, just ahead of Boyd. Agar recovered from his false start to round fourth, with Holland close by.
Prior crossed the line first but Chapman capsized, allowing others to pass him, with Scourfield second followed by Agar and Holland. Chapman was fifth but capsized again in front of the audience in the clubhouse. Stabler, Thompson and the Brighteys completed the finishing order.
Handicaps again made no difference to the top three.
Seven boats started the third race, with the wind still holding up. Chapman, Prior and Scourfield made the best start with Prior again breaking free and untroubled throughout. The boats of Scourfield, Agar and Chapman remained in close proximity. Agar and Chapman overtook Scourfield on Chilvers to round 4 buoy and the three were neck and neck on the run down to no.1 buoy.
On the final beat to the line, Prior crossed way out in front with the main race between the following four boats that saw Scourfield cross six seconds ahead of Agar, who was seven seconds ahead of Chapman, with Boyd a minute behind. Handicaps saw Prior a clear winner, ahead of Scourfield and Boyd.
