Sunday at last came with some wind that meant the sailors from Welland Yacht Club could stretch their legs and sit out on the dinghies in the three races but for some the wind was a bit too much and sampling the Welland water was experienced.
Race one in the first Points series of six and the wind was blowing straight down the river, and the course of 4 buoy back to the club gybe on the number 1 buoy twice was going to be a good workout.
A total of nine boats launched in the still reduced water levels and increased weed growth which would cause problems for everyone throughout the day.
It was Mark Scourfield in the Solo who judged the start and was closely followed by Keiron Powell in the club Laser followed by Andy Agar in the OK, Emma Agar in the other club Laser, Mark Holland, Alan Chapman both in Lasers, with Helen Boyd and Ian Thompson both in Solos and Richard Stedman in his Comet.
Scourfield held the lead to round 4 buoy first after a broad reach where the wind came in patches where planing was possible, then patches where the wind dropped. He was followed by Powell, Andy Agar, daughter Emma, Chapman and Holland and Boyd and Thompson having a battle in the Solos, with Stedman bringing up the rear.
The sail back was a very tight reach with boats pinching all the way back down the straight heading up in the gusts to gain advantage.
Scourfield held off Powell until the wind filled in from the back, and Powell took full advantage of this to catch and pass him just beyond Shellys Bush Corner and put clear water between them before rounding number 1 buoy on the gybe in first.
Scourfield fell into a hole in the wind just in front of the club and Andy and Emma Agar caught up to nearly pass him.
On the beat up river Chapman managed to work his way up and overtook both Agars and Scourfield managed to stay in touch with Powell, and make some small inroads into his lead as the boats enjoyed wind and sunshine sailing.
Powell crossed one minute ahead of Scourfield, with Chapman ahead of Andy Agar, Holland, Emma Agar with Helen Boyd 28 seconds in front of Thompson and Stedman.
This was the finish across the line order but when the handicaps applied it was Scourfield who had remained close enough to Powell to take first.
Powell was second, Andy Agar in third followed by Chapman, Holland, Emma Agar, Boyd, Thompson and Stedman.
The second race in the series started with the same amount of boats coming to the start line as the wind began to increase as forecast.
It was Chapman who made a flyer of a start and was well away on the tight reach the first leg had developed if you had clear air, he was followed by Scourfield, Powell, Andy Agar, Emma Agar, Holland and Thompson. Stedman and Boyd had called it a day.
Chapman was away, there was cross tacking and some place changes behind him and Powell managed to get in front of Scourfield but only to have the misfortune of his top section break of his mast forcing a retirement.
Chapman held on to his lead and rounded 4 buoy first closely followed by Scourfield with Andy and Emma Agar close behind for the tight reach back and run off the wind to the number 1 buoy.
Chapman held on to the lead just from Scourfield to gybe first but under pressure had left the kicker on and promptly capsized and Scourfield and the Agars were just able to avoid his submerged sail and get round to start the second lap.
Tacking duals now started between these three, and eventually Chapman, who had righted and was chasing but capsize befell him once again and he fell back.
Scourfield held on to the lead to cross the line first ahead of Andy Agar followed by Emma Agar, Holland, Chapman Thompson and Stedman.
When the handicaps were applied, Scourfield gained his second victory followed by Andy Agar, Emma Agar, Holland, Chapman and Stedman.
After lunch it was the second in the Personal Handicap series and only four boats came to the start line.
It was Scourfield followed by Andy Agar, daughter Emma and Holland and with the same course, the first part had developed into a tight reach with luffing up into the wind when it blew essential.
Holland and Emma Agar, sailing the same type of boat, were swapping places and passed Andy Agar on the straight up to number 4 buoy.
Holland eventually pulled clear to challenge and get the right of way over Scourfield on the gybe at number 1 to take the lead.
These three were close all the way with place changes taking place but Holland overtook Scourfield on the straight and held on to that position to cross first, followed by Scourfield, just ahead of Emma Agar and Andy Agar fourth.
When the personal handicaps, which are different to the standard ones, were applied, it was Holland who came out top, with Scourfield in second, Emma Agar in third and Andy Agar in fourth place.
