Boats take to Welland for Munson cup series

Easter Sunday saw a gentle breeze and the clouds clearing to give way to sunshine and an increasing breeze later as the boats took to the water at Welland Yacht Club.

The first race in the Munson Cup series of six saw an excellent turnout of 12 boats come to the start line in a gentle breeze that was blowing onto the clubhouse, meaning a reaching start away from the club with a course of No. 3 buoy and return to No. 1 (two laps).
Among the starters was visitor young Buddy Hunt who would normally sail in an Optimist dinghy but was in one of the club Toppers negotiating a 12-boat start line.
Clear air and a good start was essential and it was Mark Scourfield who achieved this, closely followed by Tom Bell in the Laser full rig sporting his new sail and Gerri Van Haren in the Phantom with the remainder closely bunched.
The wind direction and strength proved testing at various stages of the course and place changes were frequent in the pack of chasing boats, but it was Scourfield who was able to round first, followed by Bell and Powell in the Laser.
With the wind strength remaining light the three laps were shortened to two and Scourfield crossed the finish line ahead of Bell, Powell and Van Haren who finished within a minute of each other.
On corrected time it was Scourfield who finished first, followed by Bell and Powell in third.
Race two in the series had the distinction of having one of the few general recalls experienced in the club racing after some confusion with the times of start.
The start sequence was repeated and the fleet of 12 got underway, this time without any problems with Bell leading the way followed by Nick Bonsor in the Solo, Helen Boyd also in her Solo, Powell, Van Haren and Gail Follington in her Comet.
With the fleet enjoying a strengthening breeze, it was vital to get clear air away from the other boats.
With the course set for the full three laps it was a good workout and Bell pulled away, chased by Van Haren, followed by Powell and Scourfield.
With Alan Chapman in the Laser and Andy Agar in the OK cross tacking and having their own private battle, and Buddy Hunt in the Topper showing well, it was close racing throughout in the bunch.
Bell was first on corrected time with Powell in second and Scourfield third with 29 seconds separating the seventh, eighth and ninth boats .
With fewer boats entering the first of the Afternoon Points after lunch as Easter Sunday commitments called, only six boats started the same course in what was the best race of the day with a good breeze allowing for planing at times and sunshine.
Powell made the best start to windward and was away first, Scourfield in second and Bell in third, followed by Alan Cox in the Laser Radial, Agar and Boyd giving chase.
Bell sailed through Scourfield and eventually overhauled Powell to take the lead that was never challenged as the boats found their places.
There were not a lot of changes except for Powell, who managed to capsize at Shellys Bush Corner allowing Scourfield to take advantage and come through into second place on the water.
The only other notable incident was Boyd’s spectacular capsize as her toe strap pulled out allowing her to score a perfect ten somersault as she entered the water but she was able to finish the race to her credit.
After the handicaps were applied it was Bell first, Scourfield second and Powell recovered to finish third.
Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk