Sunday saw the conclusion of Welland Yacht Club’s summer and autumn racing before the Frostbite series starts next week and the sailors were rewarded with a perfect day for racing for the Richard Glenn Trophy.
With 11 boats starting and a equal tack beat away from the start, it was a bit congested on the start line but at the off it was Mark Scourfield in the Solo getting away closely followed, as he would be around the course, by Alan Chapman electing to sail the full rig Laser.
Next was Andy Prior with first time crew James Ramp in the Lark, Adam Stabler in full rig Laser, son William Stabler in the 4.7 Laser, Helen Boyd in her Solo, Laser 2000 of Neil Tack, crewed by Rebecca Slator, Richard Stedman in the Comet, the Laser Radials of Alaistair Mitchell and Alan Cox, with for the first time on the water in his Kestral, Jorrit Schrauwers and son Toby.
With the beat turning into a long and short tack after Shelly’s Bush Corner, Scourfield managed to hold off Chapman after a covering tacking tussle and led him round 4 buoy on the first lap followed by Prior and Ramp.
As the fleet started to spread out, the wind provided some planing gusts and Chapman took advantage in the larger Laser to overtake Scourfield on the run to turning buoy at the clubhouse but was unable to pull away in the second lap.
The rest of the fleet were involved in their own individual races behind these front three.
Chapman managed to get the inside on Scourfield at the last turning mark before the finish rounded but missed his tiller allowing Scourfield to cross first just ahead of him.
Prior and Ramp came in third, followed by Adam Stabler, Cox, Boyd, Tack and Slator, with just four seconds separating these two, Mitchell, Stedman and Will Stabler.
Unfortunately the Kestral of Jorrit and Toby Schrauwers had to retire.
After handicaps applied it was Scourfield in first place, 2nd Chapman, 3rd Cox followed by Boyd, A Stabler, Tack and Slator all within one minute, Prior and Ramp,Mitchell, Stedman and W Stabler.
Race 2 got underway with same course and nine starters.
Again it was Scourfield just ahead of Prior and Ramp, Chapman and Boyd in the Solo and with constant shouts of right of way, racing was tight.
Prior and Ramp managed to overhaul Scourfield on Shelly’s Bush Corner and pulled away as Ramp was getting to grips with how the boat sailed.
Again Chapman and Scourfield were close and the rounding order at 4 buoy was Prior and Ramp, Chapman just ahead of Scourfield and these two managed to close the gap on Prior on the run as the wind filled in from behind.
The wind did provided some tricky moments around the course on lap two and an unfortunate victim was Cox who capsized on the beat back to 4 buoy.
First to cross the line was Prior and Ramp followed by Scourfield, Chapman, Boyd showing good boat speed now in her new boat, Cox, Mitchell, Stabler, Tack and Slator and Stedman.
When the handicaps were applied it was Scourfield in 1st place, Cox recovered well into 2nd just ten seconds ahead of Boyd in 3rd, just four seconds ahead of Prior and Ramp in 4th. The four boats separated by just a minute on corrected time close racing.
Race three saw a course change which would catch one sailor out so it was to no. 5 buoy.
It was a good start by Prior and Ramp, followed closely by Boyd, Scourfield and Chapman and as the wind slightly altered after Shelly’s Bush Corner giving a tight reach and just one or two tacks to get around Chilvers corner Prior and Ramp pulled away in the larger sailed Lark.
All boats enjoyed some good winds beyond 4 buoy and once again Chapman and Scourfield could not be separated, chasing down the Lark.
With Cox now showing some boat speed on the reaching legs, he was closing on the front three, a gust caught Boyd before the gybe mark and she unfortunately took a swim.
Prior, not reading the course change, rounded the last mark on the wrong side and retired, while Chapman crossed the line first only to capsize just after receiving the finish signal, followed by Scourfield.
On corrected time the first three boats finished in the same minute and the next three in the same minute, close racing indeed.
Scourfield was first giving him three wins and the trophy, 2nd Chapman, 3rd Cox and in 4th Stedman.
