The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A win and two podium finishes from three races gave Tom Bell overall glory at Welland Yacht Club’s A1 Trophy on Sunday.
The meeting is an open one, but due to the unfavourable conditions, only one visitor from neighbouring Witham Sailing Club – Alan Chapman – competed.
He was joined by eight home boats, including junior Rosie Willerton.
The forecast rain duly arrived, but all nine boats took to the start as the first race got underway.
Andy Agar made the best of the start as he pulled ahead from Clive Herd, Geri van Haren and Paul Burton. Heard then passed Agar and at the back Alan Chapman, Tom Bell, Mark Holland and Lucy Burton were almost level, followed by Rosie Willerton.
As the boats negotiated the gybe at the top mark, Agar capsized. Although he soon recovered, this allowed a few boats to pass – only for Holland to end up capsizing in the same spot.
On the second lap, Herd had opened up a couple of boat lengths lead from Bell, who had made it up to second place. Once handicaps had been applied Herd would maintain the win from Bell, with Agar third.
In the afternoon with wind having picked up a little more and the course altered to make the most of the wind available, eight boats started race two.
Herd endured a delayed start due to becoming stuck on the riverbank, allowing Bell to take the lead from Agar.
Again, the planned gybe at the top mark caused issues for some. Van Haren would soon make his way to third on the water, followed by Herd, then Paul Burton.
Visitor Chapman wouldn’t escape a bath either, as on the final leg back to the line he found himself caught while hiking with a sudden drop in wind sending him in to the river.
With handicaps applied, Bell and Agar maintained their respective first and second places, with Paul Burton moving to third.
The final race saw the fleet drop down to six, with Bell in the lead by two points from Agar and Herd in joint second and Paul Burton third only by another two points – meaning everything was still to play for.
The wind had now gathered more strength and it took its toll, first with Herd as he took a capsize on the start line. Then as the race progressed with several boats capsizing more than once.
Although Bell would cross the line first Paul Burton was close enough to take the win under handicap, with Herd managing to recover back to third.
That result gave overall glory to Bell and, although tied on the count back rule, second went to Paul Burton from Herd.
