Ace Andy captures the Flag Officers Cup with Welland Yacht Club treble

Andy Prior enjoyed a clean sweep of victories at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday to take overall glory in the Flag Officers Cup regatta.

Ace Prior secured wins in three of the races out on the water, on a day when the sun was shining and there was a decent breeze to aid all of the sailors.

Some seven boats took to the start for the first race and, with the wind speed up, it was decided that a long course was to be set for two laps.

All boats got away without incident, with Tom Bell (Laser Radial) taking the early lead from Prior (Laser). They were followed by Neal Tack with two crew Rebecca Slator and Katie Follington (Graduate), Alan Cox (Topper), Gail Follington (Topper), Samuel Willerton (Optimist) and Freya Willerton with crew Shelley Woolridge (RS Feva).

Before long, the faster full rig laser of Prior would take the lead with Bell trying to keep close enough to him to have handicap advantage.

However, at one point during tacking Bell became stuck head to wind and was unable to off Prior right of way – meaning he had to take a penalty turn, which allowed the leader to break away.

Although the wind speed kept constant, the direction in the end proved less than favourable making it hard work for all to complete the course. With that in mind, the race was reduced to one lap.

With Prior first over the line followed by Bell, next on the run to the final mark was Tack and crew slightly ahead of Gail Follington.

With Follington having right of way around the mark, she went ahead – only for Tack to take it back again under right of way during the race to the finish line.

Once handicaps were applied Prior would retain the lead over Bell, with third going to Gail Follington.

Race two saw two more boats joining, meaning nine took to the starting line.

With Prior making the most of the start from Bell, Tack and crew, then Gail Follington followed by Cox, then Alistair Mitchell (Laser) the Willertons and finally Brian Cobb (Europe).

TRIPLE TRIUMPH: Overall winner Andy Prior.

With Freya Willerton and Woolridge both capsizing and struggling to right the boat, the rescue boat had to help and recover – meaning their races were over.

At the end of the first lap Prior misjudged a manoeuvre and clipped the final mark, meaning he had to take a penalty turn, giving Bell and the rest a chance to close in on his position on the water for the final lap.

Still, after handicaps were applied Prior took the win again, this time from Gail Follington in second and Bell in third.

The final race saw the fleet back down to seven. In an unusual turn of events, perhaps the two most experienced sailors – Prior and Bell – capsized simultaneously just before the start.

This allowed the toppers of Follington and Cox to take the early lead, closely followed by Tack and crew.

However, Prior and Bell soon made their way back through the fleet. In the end, Prior maintained a clean sweep after handicap with Bell also fighting back to second and Gail Follington up in third.

The overall result saw Prior win from Bell and Gail Follington, with Samuel Willerton the highest-placed junior.