Prior takes first place despite confusion on the water

Welland Yacht Club members took to the river on Sunday, which once again saw wind that was slightly stronger than forecast and from a direction blowing onto the clubhouse at an angle.

The first race of the day was the first in the Pursuit Series where each individual boat class has their own timed start, making it ideal for those tasting the racing format.
A turnout of nine boats started the race sequence, with new member Izzi Herring sailing a club Topper first away, followed by the Comet of Richard Stedman, and not long behind Laser Radials of Sandor Kecskemeti and Alan Cox, then the Solo of Mark Scourfield, followed a little later by Laser full rigs of Andy Prior, Mark Holland and Keiron Powell, with Gerri van Haren last away in the bigger Phantom some time later.
Unfortunately Herring had a coming together with Cox and capsized, allowing Scourfield to take the lead on the tight reach of the second corner.
The Lasers were soon bunching as a fleet and with a long and short tack to the furthest buoy, it was Scourfield who managed to hold his lead from Prior, Powell and Holland.
The long off wind leg of the course now provided an opportunity for those in the pack to catch the leaders or make inroads into their lead.
Scourfield managed to hold off Prior until the turning Chilvers corner where he sailed through to lead the race not to be challenged to the finish, with Scourfield holding onto second place from the challenge of Powell in third.
The rest of the fleet were close and if Holland had not hit the buoy while rounding and doing double the penalty required, his position would have been higher.
The second race in the series saw the extra boat of Alistair Mitchell in the full rig Laser, boost the fleet to ten boats starting in the same format.
Wind slightly increasing now made for some toe strap leaning out action in the gusts enjoyed by the helms with some near swimming episodes.
Herring showed her promise by being the first boat round no.4 buoy followed by Stedman and Prior, but Prior rounded the mark the incorrect way and had to double back, allowing Scourfield into third place.
On the off wind leg Herring managed to capsize, so lost her lead.
Prior managed to make up lost ground and was challenging for the lead at mark, rounding with Scourfield and Powell at no.1 buoy. With all three boats rounding at once it was after a few tacks Prior took the lead and was not challenged.
With minutes left in the race on the second lap there was confusion with some helms on which way to round the no.1 buoy on the second lap, which had changed, and as a consequence Scourfield and van Haren went the incorrect way and didn’t have time to re round.
Prior, who had time to correct his mistake, was first, Holland second and Cox in third.
The fourth race in the Afternoon Points series was next and a reduced fleet of six boats took to the water.
It was Prior who made the better windward start, followed by Scourfield and Mitchell in the Laser.
With a course of four buoys and four laps and the wind now slightly dropping but still patches of gusty wind keeping them on their toes, it was Prior who took the lead and this varied in length from Scourfield and Mitchell, who had their own battle to keep in the hunt as this would be decided on handicap times.
This time the helms had the mark rounding correct and no one made any errors.
After the full four laps it was Prior crossing the line first after just over an hour’s sailing, with Mitchell finally getting in front of Scourfield at the no.1 buoy rounding to cross in second, just ahead with Holland in fourth and Cox in sixth.
After handicaps were applied, it was Prior in first place 25 seconds ahead of Scourfield and Cox in third.
pAnyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk