Three races across two different series’ were contested at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
The first race was the second round of the Sunday Points Series, with eight boats taking to the starting line for a three-lap affair.
Geri van Haren (Phantom) just sneaked the early lead from Andy Prior (Laser), then Tom Bell (Laser) was followed by Richard Stedman (Laser), Mark Scourfield (Solo), Ben Parsons (Laser), Alan Cox (Laser Radial) and Richard Holland (Laser2).
Bell was the first around the buoy, but had to take penalty turns for a pre-start collision with Prior.
That allowed Prior to race into a lead which he held onto for the rest of the race, while Bell slipped back to fourth before eventually recapturing second by the close. The final results after handicaps applied saw Prior take the win from Bell, with Scourfield completing the top three.
The second race of the day would be round three in the Afternoon Points Series, with the fleet now down to six with van Haren calling it a day and Prior electing to crew for Holland to give him some Laser 2 pointers.
The wind had also picked up slightly, making for a lively start procedure.
Once under way, it was Bell who take the early lead from Holland-Prior then Cox, Stedman, Parsons and Scourfield.
However, Bell again had to take penalty turns for a minor coming together – allowing Scourfield to move up to second as they passed the clubhouse, with Holland-Prior narrowly holding onto the lead, Stedman third, Cox fourth, Bell fifth and Parsons sixth.
There was a dramatic finish, though, as Bell battled back to gain the lead from Scourfield, with Cox taking third. The top three was unchanged after handicaps were applied.
The final race of the day was the fourth and final race in the Afternoon Points Series, but with only four participants after Bell and Parsons withdrew.
This Scourfield took the victory from Cox in second, Stedman in third and Holland-Prior in fourth, with results remaining the same after handicap.
That gave Scourfield the overall victory in the series from Mark Holland in second, with Alan Cox third.
- Anyone wanting to try sailing for themselves the club is holding their open day on Sunday (11am-4pm).
