Richard Stedman won all three races at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday to get his hands on the Novice Regatta title.
This event is only open to helms who have not won a regatta or points series for the previous three years.
Once again, the wind was a no-show on what was a very warm day – with what there was very variable in direction and patchy.
With that in mind, a short course was set up for the five boats taking to the starting line.
In race one, the largest boat in the fleet – the phantom of Gerri van Haren – found some breeze and sailed away from Stedman in the borrowed comet.
They were followed by the GP14 of Nick Bonsor and crewed by Helen Boyd, the RS Feva helmed by junior Reggie Saunston and crewed by Gail Follington, with Sandor Kecskemeti in the laser at the back.
It was tough going, with the safety boat needed as boats got into trouble with a combination of no wind and weed making it very difficult to steer correctly.
At buoy two it was van Haren who had managed to stay ahead of Stedman, but the phantom managed to pick up some weed on the rudder which allowed Stedman to gain ground.
In the end, it was van Haren who was first across the line followed by Stedman, Bonsor and Boyd, Kecskemeti and Saunston and Follington.
After handicaps were applied it was Stedman who finished three minutes ahead of van Haren, with Bonsor and Boyd in third.
The heat was starting to make conditions more challenging in race two, with two of the boats unable to get to the correct side of the start line in time for the off.
Indeed, with van Haren pulling out, only four boats took to the line.
Stedman and Saunston got away well and it was the former who found some wind and sailed through to take the lead.
As they reached buoy two, Stedman turned first followed by Kecskemeti.
With the clubhouse causing a shadow it was tricky to round buoy one, but Stedman finished first across the line followed by Kecskemeti, Bonsor and Saunston.
Once handicaps were applied Stedman and Kecskemeti held position, with Saunston up to third.
Only three boats braved the drift for the last race.
Bonsor made the better start followed by Stedman and Saunston.
However, at the turning buoy it was again Stedman who turned first followed by Bonsor and then Saunston.
These positions were held to the finish and after the corrected time applied it was again Stedman first, with Saunston second and Bonsor in third.
Overall, that left Stedman as the clear winner followed by junior Saunston in second and Bonsor back in third.
Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email [email protected]
