The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Sunday saw nine boats compete in the Carl Bilbie Trophy at Welland Yacht Club.
The pursuit race had a different format to the usual race day. It was timed over 50 minutes with the slowest handicap boat first away followed by the second slowest and so on until the fastest handicap boat sets off last.
With overcast but warm conditions and a moderate breeze, the boats had a tack to Chilvers Corner and then a testing tight reach down to the furthest buoy, No.5.
Richard Stedman in the Comet was first away, followed by Neil Tack and Rebecca Slator in the Graduate, Helen Boyd in the wooden Solo. In quick succession followed Alistair Mitchell in the Radial Laser and Mark Scourfield in the composite Solo.
The Laser full rigs of Andy Prior, Alan Chapman and Keiron Powell were next to get under way with Gerri van Haren in the Phantom starting a fair time later.
By the time the boats had reached Chilvers Corner, the Lasers of Powell and Prior had reeled in most of the boats and only had the graduate of Tack and Slator in front.
However, the faster boats’ speed enabled them to get past on the tight reach. Powell rounded just in front of Prior and, off the wind, they both pulled away.
Powell just held off Prior at the clubhouse turn. Prior then suffered a capsize, allowing Powell to build a lead.
As the race went on there were other close battles with Scourfield, Mitchell and van Haren all coming to the buoy at the club in a line, which made rounding very close and tight.
As the countdown to the 50-minute mark came, Powell and Prior could not have been closer, with Powell just holding on by seconds to take first place. Prior was second with Tack and Slator third.
Race two followed the same sequence but this time Prior made the best start of the chasing Lasers as Powell became stuck head to wind at the start.
With the wind forecast to increase but failing to do so, it gave the helms some tricky moments as the weed also played a part in gains and losses.
Prior passed the front runners before No.5 buoy and was never in danger of being overtaken. Powell also made gains to finish second, with Mitchell sailing a good race to sit in a creditable third place when the 50 minutes were up.
The destination of the trophy was down to the last race with Powell and Prior vying for honours against the other four boats that started.
The failing wind tested the helms to find and make the most of when the breeze increased.
Powell made the best start and quickly overhauled the boats in front to lead the fleet but the Graduate of Tack and Slator held on to round No.5 buoy in second place, just ahead of Prior, Scourfield, Boyd and Stedman.
On the broad reach back, Prior overhauled Tack and Slator and gave chase to Powell.
Further back, Scourfield managed just to overhaul the Graduate with Stedman just holding off Boyd.
As the finishing time came, Powell again just held off the challenge to take the trophy by one point from Prior with Scourfield third overall.
Thanks were expressed to race officer Andy Agar, who ran the day well from start times to being in the boat to record finishing positions.
This Sunday sees the club hosting sailors from King’s Lynn and Hykeham for the Wash Rivers and Edgar Bain trophies.
