Scourfield keeps his cool to clinch victory in Welland Yacht Club’s Commodores Cup

Mark Scourfield wrapped up overall glory in Welland Yacht Club’s Commodores Cup after a trio of consistent sails in the final three races of the series on Sunday.

Once again, the day was one of sunshine and light and variable wind which changed direction and strength constantly – giving the crews a frustrating and at times exasperating day of sailing.

However, there was an increase in numbers coming to the start line from previous weeks, with nine boats taking part.

It was Scourfield in the Solo who judged the start best in race one and he was away first ahead of Andy Prior (full rig Laser) and new member Keiron Powell (club Laser) who all found clear air and tacked to first corner.

Scourfield held off the faster boat of Prior until buoy two and he sailed through to take the lead and rounded first followed by Scourfield and then Powell.

In the chasing pack there were battles taking place with Andy Agar (OK dinghy) Gail Follington (Comet) and Neil Tack and Rebecca Slator in (Graduate) and Martin Cook (Solo) all in close quarters.

Prior crossed the line first with Scourfield a minute back and Powell in third, but after handicap it was Scourfield who leapfrogged Prior, who settled for second ahead of Follington.

In the second race, it was the three boats of Scourfield, Prior and Powell that judged the start perfectly again.

It was Prior who found some breeze and clear air to round the buoy first ahead of his nearest rivals, though.

Behind the leaders, the boats were creeping along the riverbank trying not to tack and it was a case of making as few movements as possible to maintain forward motion.

At the end it was Prior who had built on his lead and Powell took second followed by Scourfield in third, which was how it stayed after handicap.

The starting line was a busy place to be for race three and it was a congested, with a lot of right of way rules being applied which allowed for some place changes with Gail and Arden Follington (Laser) chasing Powell and Prior at the front.

After the boats had reached the turning buoy it was Prior again who rounded first from Scourfield, while the Follingtons passed Powell, who had collected some weed and slowed.

Gail Follington was well placed at the completion of second lap to win on handicap, but fell into one of the many drops in the wind and drifted allowing Prior and Scourfield to extend the gap.

At the close it was Prior crossing the line first followed by Scourfield and then Arden Follington in third.

After handicaps were applied it was Prior first by a minute from Scourfield in second and Gail Follington back in third.

That saw Scourfield secured the trophy for the series by three points from Gail Follington in second and Cook back in third.

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