Prior makes perfect start to Munson Cup

Andy Prior continued his remarkable winning run at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday as he secured a pair of Munson Cup victories.

The impressive Prior has swept the board over the past few weekends – and Sunday was no different as he made the perfect start to the series.

Eight boats took to the starting line for the opening race of the cup, aided by a light breeze which kept changing direction.

All eight boats remained closely bunched as they made their way down the short leg to the first mark.

Having found himself in relatively clear air Mark Holland (Laser) managed to break clear and was first around the mark, followed by Ros Nickols (Europe), Gail Follington (Laser Radial), Katie Follington (Laser Radial), Andy Agar (OK), Prior (Laser), the pair of Neal Tack and Rebecca Slator (Graduate) and Alan Cox (Laser).

However, it wasn’t long before Prior and Nickols took first and second places respectively, while Cox moved up into third as they approached the top mark.

With the wind having seemingly died away completely, early leader Holland also had to do penalty turns for hitting the top mark and dropped to seventh place.

It was soon decided that the optimistic two-lap race was to be reduced to a single lap, but the breeze did pick up slightly – allowing the lower handicap boats to make up some places on the water, but maybe not enough to break the handicap difference.

As the race reached a climax it was Prior who crossed the line ahead of Cox then Nickols, Holland, Agar, Tack-Slator, Gail Follington and Katie Follington.

Once handicaps were applied Prior held onto first place, but Nickols moved up to take second and Tack and Slator claimed third.

Just five boats remained for the second race on a shortened two-lap course.

It looked like the breeze had picked up slightly, only for a last minute change in direction to make for a downwind start.

Prior and Cox set off in first and second, followed by Holland, Agar and then Tack and Slator.

Although some boats would close up and drop away, the order on the water remained the same throughout the two-lap course. Again, on application of handicap, Prior was able to hold onto the victory from Tack and Slator in second and Cox in third.

* Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk