The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Welland Yacht Club tried something a little different on Sunday as their Lowland Trophy event proved to be a regatta with a twist.
Although sticking to the usual three-race regatta format, each race had a number of added challenges to keep sailors on their toes – and entrants were also encouraged to race in fancy dress.
The regatta attracted 12 entrants, who had the added excitement of a chicane half way down the course. They also needed to spot letters of an anagram hidden around the course.
Following some competitive racing Martin Cook (Solo) took a well-deserved first place despite a punitive personal handicap, with Niall Holland (RS Feva) building on last week’s success to take second place. Phil Robinson (Laser) was third ahead of fourth-placed Lucy Burton in her Byte.
Race two, which featured a Le Mans type start also saw each competitor having to collect a plastic duck on their route.
It began in a slightly freshening wind and again saw a very compact fleet with a lot of close racing.
CLOSE CALL: There wasn’t much between the racers at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
This time Holland benefited from a very good start and the stronger breeze and took first place ahead of Robinson and Gayle Follington, with Cook slipping back to fourth.
Any number of competitors were still in with a chance of winning the regatta ahead of race three. Paul Burton (Phantom) crossed the line well ahead of the fleet, but he only finished in mid table once the handicaps had been applied.
Cook maintained his advantage to take a comfortable first place, but despite finishing at the back of the fleet Holland and Burton claimed a second place ahead of Follington and the ever improving Mark Holland, in fourth, with Paul Burton tacking fifth.
That meant that, for the second week running, Niall Holland took top spot, which earned him the trophy as a well as a reduction in his personal handicap. Cook, only one point behind, secured second place with Phil Robinson coming third.
