The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Only one race was possible at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday as the ongoing issue with weed in the river continued.
Some seven boats prepared to take part in Welland’s PBS Salva regatta, which was supposed to be contested over three races.
With surface weed still visible in several places, the quayside area still looked reasonably clear from the previous Sunday’s efforts to remove it. However once on the water, it became evermore apparent that there was even more weed below the surface making progress slow for those going through it.
With that in mind two of the seven elected not to compete.
From the start, Mark Scourfield (Solo) took the initial lead with Andy Prior (Laser) and Gerri van Haren (Phantom) closely behind, then Andy Agar (OK) and Mark Holland (Laser).
Once around the windward mark Prior soon took the lead, with those following finding it hard work and often having to clear weed from around either the centreboard or rudder. Progress for some proved slow, so as they completed their first laps a time was recorded to give them a lap time option.
Indeed, with only Prior managing to complete two laps the regatta was abandoned.
After handicaps were applied it was Prior who took the win from Mark Scourfield in second and Andy Agar in third. Gerri van Haren was fourth, with Mark Holland fifth.
