Last Sunday saw the wind gods let the sailors down, this Sunday they supplied too much for some.
The Grounds Trophy was at stake and eight boats came to the start in blustery conditions with a course set using the mile buoy straight, but cleverly avoiding any gybing at the turning marks and a potential swim.
It was a port bias start and a long and short tack up to Shelly’s Bush Corner where it would become equal tacks to Chilver’s Corner.
Alan Chapman in the reduced rig Laser Radial started better in mid river, followed by Mark Scourfield in the steady Solo to windward, Adam Stabler and Alan Cox, who had already taken a swim before the start, in Radial Lasers, followed by Neil Tack and Rebecca Slator in a reefed Laser 2000, Helen Boyd in the Solo and Alastair Mitchell and Piotr Wojtowicz, both in Laser Radials.
Much to everyone’s disappointment it wasn’t a reach down the straight but a long and short tack and it was Chapman and Scourfield who pulled out a lead and rounded number 5 buoy neck and neck, Chapman just getting round first and holding that lead to number 3 buoy after some exciting moments on the offwind run down.
Cox and Stabler were following, with Mitchell, Boyd, Tack and Slator and Wojtowicz chasing.
The wind was gusting in patches and crews were fighting to keep upright, some not succeeding with Boyd taking a swim.
Again at 5 buoy, Chapman rounded just in front but picked up weed on the rudder and went into the bank allowing Scourfield through, Cox next to round with Stabler and Mitchell.
The gybe just after Chilver’s Corner was the next potential swim but Scourfield and Chapman both used the wind shadow of bushes on the bank to pass without incident but Chapman, going too close to the bank, allowed Scourfield to pull away, round the last buoy first and cross the line.
Chapman, having some issues after rounding, came in second. Cox was third, even after capsizing on the broad reach, Stabler, Boyd, Tack and Slator and Wojtowicz, who sailed well as a novice in these conditions.
Handicaps applied it was Scourfield 1st, Chapman 2nd, Cox 3rd, Stabler 4th, Boyd 5th, Wojtowicz 6th, and Tack and Slator 7th.
Race two started in the same way, almost a carbon copy start, but this time there were fewer takers as the wind was increasing and forecast to increase further as the race progressed.
With the course reduced to 4 buoy twice, which came as a relief to the crews, it was Scourfield who made the better start to windward from chapman from Stabler, Tack and Slator in the now full rig Laser 2000 and Mitchell.
Scourfield pulled away and, with Chapman capsizing on Chilver’s Corner, extended his lead to round first, Chapman 2nd, Stabler 3rd, Mitchell 4th and Tack and Slator.
However, on the off wind leg Scourfield and Chapman were hit by a massive gust, and with the death roll came Scourfield going into the bank and Chapman capsizing.
Both got going again and Scourfield led at clubhouse turn to start the second lap, a lead he held to the finish, and with the wind increasing the Laser 2000, with a cleated mainsheet, capsized for its first time on the Welland.
After just under the hour racing and handicaps applied it was Scourfield 1st, 2nd Chapman, 3rd Stabler, 4th Mitchell, 5th Tack and Slator, who eventually righted their boat to finish.
As the wind was increasing it was decided to cancel the third race which meant with two first places it was Scourfield 1st, 2nd Chapman, 3rd Stabler, 4th Mitchell and 5th Tack and Slator.
