Sailors swim for finishing line

Sunday came with the forecasted strong and gusty winds, which proved a real test for sailors who had ventured out to tackle the elements at Welland Yacht Club.

That kept the safety boat busy over the three races with a number of capsizes .
Five boats came to the start line for race one in the Commodore’s Points Series.
With the wind blowing down the clubhouse straight, it meant that there would be equal tacking all the way to Chilvers corner.
With a course of 5 to 1 one lap, the race officer was kind but the sting in the tail was to be the gybe on No.1 buoy on the return.
Mark Holland, in the Laser Radial, was away first, followed by Alan Chapman, having to cope with the full rig Laser, followed by Gerri Van Haren in the larger Phantom boat, also having to cope with the large sail area. They were followed by Neil Tack, crewed by Rebecca Slator in the Grad, which was much more suited to the conditions. Alistair Mitchell, in the Laser Radial, completed the fleet.
Crews struggled with the gusts and were overwhelmed during the beat.
Once around the corner, life became easier as there was a tight reach and a broad reach on the return, with the run before the wind proving to be the undoing of some.
Chapman had used the full rig to his advantage and managed to take line honours from Van Haren, who had taken a swim in second, followed by Holland. Tack and Slator capsized near the clubhouse and retired after losing their bailer. Mitchell also capsized but continuing to the finish line. Handicaps applied so it was Chapman first, Holland second, Van Haren third and Mitchell fourth.
The fourth race in the series and second of the day saw surprisingly more boats despite the wind showing no signs of decreasing.
On the same course, it was Andy Prior in the radial rig Laser who was away at the start, followed closely by Holland, Mitchell, Van Haren, Tack and Slator, Murray, in the single sail Mirror, and Chapman, who had capsized in the pre-start sequence but caught up the fleet as they made their way up the beat.
Prior rounded the corner and showed the fleet a clean pair of heels, followed by Holland. Van Haren caught a gust and capsized, letting Mitchell through, with the same gust driving Chapman into the bank where it pinned him into the reeds.
The order for the run back was Prior, Holland and Van Haren, with Mitchell in close attendance. Van Haren, again in the over canvased boat, capsized and struggled to right it, allowing Tack and Slator through. Chapman, once again sampling the waters, showed how difficult conditions were.
Handicaps saw Prior in first place, followed by Holland, Mitchell, Tack and Slator, Murray, Chapman and Van Haren.
Race three was the second in the Personal Handicap series and saw a reduced fleet as the sailing and swimming was taking its toll.
The wind was as strong as ever and a gust came through the fleet before the start, causing a collision but luckily no damage, resulting in Mitchell and Prior capsizing and Tack and Slator just managing to stay upright.
After a one-lap race on the same course, it was Prior first, followed by Mitchell, Tack and Slator and Murray.
Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing can contact the club via email secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk