Easter Sunday saw the new sailing season get under way at Welland Yacht Club – and there were three different winners.
The previous few day’s rainfall created a fast flow on the water to add a new dynamic to the racing.
The first race of the day was the morning points race one, contested by Andy Prior and Mark Holland (both in lasers), with Emma Agar, Katie Follington and Christopher Seaborn all in Toppers.
With the starting leg being down stream this added another challenge of not being pushed over the start line by the fast flowing river.
Everyone managed to get underway without penalty, with Prior taking the early lead from Holland followed by Agar, Follington and Seaborn.
Here, the faster lasers had to keep handicap distance in front of the slower Toppers. In the end, Prior held onto first place with Holland second and Agar third.
The afternoon was race one and two of the personal handicap series, the Munson Cup.
With one of the Toppers dropping out, the fleet was joined by Gail Follington in her laser radial.
With the same direction of start as the previous race again all competitors were conscious of being pushed over the line by the current.
This time Follington got the best start with daughter Katie managing third behind Prior second with Agar fourth and Holland fifth.
Although Prior managed to take the lead from Follington snr as they approached the first mark, she was able to re-take the lead as they rounded it.
Struggling with the ever shifting wind from around the club house and the current, Prior went back ahead – with Holland now in third and Agar taking the decision to retire leaving Follington jnr fourth.
Once clear of the club house and in clear air, all boats were able to make good progress up the course. With Prior trying to open up a big enough lead to retain position once the personal handicaps were applied. In the end Follington snr would take the win from Holland, with Prior hanging onto third from Follington jnr.
With a change in course and direction of start, the final race of the day got underway with Holland making the best from the start from Follington snr followed by Prior then Follington jnr.
Managing to make the most of the patches of breeze, Holland and Follington would pull out a bigger lead over Prior – ever aware that when it came to the head wind return leg the superior sail craft of Prior would enable him to close in.
Once around the top mark, Prior was soon up to second and closing on the lead. The second leg resorting back to a down wind drag against the current, with both boats struggling to round the final mark.
Once around, Prior soon took the lead – leaving Holland to try and keep ahead of Follington snr by enough to keep out of handicap reach.
Once personal handicaps applied Holland would take the win from Follington snr with Prior third and Follington jnr fourth.
