Sunday saw racing for the Proctor Cup, a trophy inherited from the incorporation of Witham Sailing Club into Welland Yacht Club last year.
The day started with a gusty wind from the north which meant that it was blowing over the clubhouse making a massive wind shadow which was to cause a few problems.
The plus side was the water level had returned to near normal after EA issues had let it out the previous week, and the weed had all but gone.
Nine boats came to the start, where, because of the shadow and direction, there was a small ideal position to get a good start and clear air on the reach away to number 3 buoy.
It was Mark Scourfield who judged it best and was away from the bunch led by Adam Stabler in the Laser full rig, Laser Radials of Alaistair Mitchell, Alan Cox and Sandor Kecskemeti, who had recovered from a capsize before the start, the Laser2000 of Neil Tack and Rebecca Slator, Laser4.7 of William Stabler and Solos of Alan Thompson and Geoff Tibbs.
With the gusts quite strong, and sometimes brief, and with clear air and bigger sail area, the steady Solo of Scourfield pulled clear and gybed round no. 3 buoy first, followed by Tack and Slator and Stabler senior, with the Laser Radials close behind.
Unfortunately Cox had a coming together with Tibbs’ Solo, which resulted in a capsize and left him adrift of the main bunch.
The stretch of water to no.1 buoy near the clubhouse was always going to be tricky and so it proved, with a drift or a sudden gust waiting to catch the sailors out.
Scourfield managed to round first, followed by Tack and Slator, but by Shelly’s Bush Corner he had pulled out a lead that he held on to to cross first, with Mitchell just ahead of Stabler senior, who crossed three seconds ahead of Tack and Slator.
Next was Kecskemeti and Cox, who recovered to ten seconds behind, and with only two seconds separating Tibbs and Thompson with William Stabler.
Handicaps applied it was Scourfield 1st, Mitchell 2nd, Tack and Slator 3rd, Kecskemeti 4th, Cox, Stabler senior, Tibbs, Thompson and Will Stabler.
Race 2 started the same, with area on the start line a premium, however after a few close shaves, it was Scourfield who got clear and, catching the gusts, managed to pull away from Tack and Slator, Adam Stabler, Cox, Mitchell and Kecskemeti.
With the same course, it was Scourfield rounding first, and on the section between Chilver’s Corner and the clubhouse Tack and Slator, with Cox, were managing to hunt him down.
By the number 1 buoy they had managed to close the gap and with close racing between Mitchell and Kecskemeti, also catching up.
But the lottery of the wind shadow enabled Scourfield to pull away as the chasers fell into a wind hole and lost ground and this was the finishing order once the three laps completed with Scourfield crossing first, Cox 2nd, Tack and Slator 3rd, Mitchell, Kecskemeti, Adam Stabler, Thompson, Tibbs and Will Stabler. Handicaps applied it was Scourfield 1st, Cox 2nd, Mitchell 3rd.
After lunch for race three there were only six boats as the wind was dropping. A reduced two laps, the start was to round 1 buoy first which was going to pose some questions for the boats and it was Scourfield once again just getting ahead of Tack and Slator, who had to give way on the rounding with Adam Stabler close behind, Cox, Thompson and Will Stabler.
With the wind a bit more variable, it was frustrating at times but there were still some quite strong gusts and on an unexpected tack near Chilver’s Corner, Cox managed to capsize and come away with a bump on the head for his troubles so decided to retire as he came past the clubhouse.
The finishing order was Scourfield crossing first, followed by Adam Stabler just in front of Tack and Slator, Thompson and Will Stabler and when the handicaps were worked out Scourfield was first, Tack and Slator 2nd, Adam Stabler 3rd, Will Stabler 4th and 5th Thompson.
Overall result: 1st Scourfield 3pts, 2nd Tack and Slator 10pts, 3rd Cox 14pts.
