Sunday saw clear skies and bright sunshine for the third race in the Commodore’s Points series at We;land yacht Club but very little wind as is normally the case.
After some deliberation, it was decided to sail and see how things went and the course was set to sail to number three buoy for two laps.
With a light and variable breeze swinging around and varying in strength, it was a test of patience and with a tacking start it was important to get clear air from the seven boats at the start line.
Mark Scourfield in the Solo managed that and was away from Alan Cox in the full rig Laser, Richard Stedman in a Comet, Martin Cook in a Solo, Andy Agar in an OK, Ian Thompson in another Solo and Andy Prior with his young crew of Harry Jackson in the club RS Vision.
It was frustrating for all as the fickle breeze came and went in all directions, demanding concentration from all concerned.
By the turn mark it was Scourfield, who had swapped places with Cox a number of times, who rounded first followed by Cox, Stedman, Agar, Cook and Thompson with Prior and Jackson finding it hard going in the heavier boat.
With the wind light, the race officer chose to shorten the course to just the one lap and did not get any arguments from the helms.
Cox just managed to get the right of way at the club buoy on Scourfield, allowing him to cross first eight seconds ahead with Stedman showing good speed to cross third followed by Agar, Cook Thompson and Prior and Jackson.
Once corrected handicap times were worked out, Scourfield was first, Stedman second and Cox third, followed by Cook, Agar, Thompson and Prior and Jackson.
The same boats came to the start in the next race and faced the same slight breeze. The course was changed to just number two buoy, which was to play a part later on in the race. This time Prior and Jackson made a better start, followed by Cox, Cook and Agar, Scourfield, Stedman and Thompson.
At Shellys Bush Corner, Cox got a wind lift and sailed into the lead, followed by Agar and Scourfield. It had developed into a tack and reach by then and Cox sailed past the number two turning buoy, forgetting the course change and was hailed back by the chasing boats but he lost the lead as Scourfield and Agar, Cook Stedman took advantage. They rounded bunched up for the off-wind leg back to the club and the second lap started with individual battles taking place and distances gained and lost. After nearly an hour’s racing, it was Cox who crossed first, just ahead of Scourfield with Stedman third, which was commendable as he had to take two penalty turns in the race in no wind, followed by Agar and Cook and Thompson. After handicaps were applied it was Scourfield first with Cox second and Stedman third, followed by Cook, Agar, and Thompson.
The race after lunch was the second in the Personal Handicap Series and conditions had not changed.
Cox was away first, followed by Agar and Patrick Cork, sailing for the first time in his Mirror. They were followed by Prior and Jackson and Stedman and Scourfield.
Cox and Agar pulled away and maintained their positions throughout a race of two laps. The wind was still a no show and as the breeze dropped away it affected the smaller sail area of Cork’s Mirror and he slipped down the field, with Scourfield calling it a day.
Cox held his lead and was also able to finish first on handicap by the smallest margin of one second from Agar. Third was Stedman with Prior followed by Jackson and Cork.
