The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Race ace Andy Prior secured a hat-trick of victories across two different series at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
With conditions in the river still not optimal due to the ongoing weed situation, the club on decided to green light the races on Saturday night.
The first outing was the third round of the Sunday Points Series, which saw eight boats – seven lasers and an OK – line up.
Tom Bell made the most of the start and led Prior from the off, but by lap two the leading duo were neck and neck with Alan Cox holding a steady third place.
Once around the top mark for the second time Prior had just edged out a lead over Bell, with Cox still in a strong third as the wind began to drop off.
That saw the third lap cancelled, with Prior finishing some four minutes clear of Bell, with Cox third and Mark Holland fourth.
The second race of the day saw the Autumn Points series get under way with the same eight participants taking to the line.
This time Prior was marginally ahead of Bell at the start, with Cox then Richard Stedman, Mark Holland, Ben Parsons, Andy Agar (in the OK) and Richard Holland behind.
Bell then took the lead with Prior and Cox tied, while Agar moved into fourth, ahead of the rest – who were bunching up as they rounded the windward mark.
But, with the light breeze constantly shifting direction and the surface weed starting to build up, progress became slow.
During the final tacking sequences to the finish Prior would again take the lead, taking the win ahead of Bell in second and Cox in third place.
The finale was round two Autumn Points series, with all eight boats still taking part.
This time the order switched up with the lack of wind still a big problem.
That man Prior held firm to win once again, with Mark Holland second and Parsons up in a fine third.
