The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Andy Prior claimed another clean sweep of victories as Welland Yacht Club’s Sunday Points race series continued at the weekend.
With a reasonably strong breeze seven boats took to the start of the day’s first race, the fifth in the Sunday Points race series.
With a upriver river start a relatively long course was set to buoy four back to one then up to two and the finish.
Prior got an early lead from Mark Holland (both Laser full rig), closely followed by Mark Scourfield (Solo), Alistair Mitchell and Richard Holland (both Laser Radial) then Helen Boyd and Nick Bonsor (both Solo).
As they tacked their way to the windward mark Bonsor retired with rigging issues.
Prior started to eek out his lead with Scourfield and Mark Holland switching places several times, Mitchell nevi too far behind with Richard Holland and Boyd a little further back.
Once around the windward mark the run back was to be quick with Mark Holland and Scourfield trading second and third a few more times.
Then there was the tricky gybe around buoy one to start the final leg back up to buoy two and then on to the finish.
With Prior still out in front and Scoufield and Mark Holland still switching places Mitchell hanging in on in fourth with Richard Holland and Boyd a little further back.
On the final run back to the finish, Scourfield would take second place towards the end of the course with Mitchell still trying to keep within handicap distance back in fourth.
Prior was first across the line and followed some two minutes later by Scourfield, Mark Holland, Mitchell, Richard Holland and then Boyd.
Once handicaps applied Mitchell would take third pushing Mark Holland back to fourth.
After a short break the second race of the day (the 5th in the Autumn Points series) got under way with the fleet joined by Eric Murray (Mirror).
With the wind now a little stronger the course was set longer to up to buoy four back to one then to three back to one then up to the finish line.
Just before the start Mark Holland had an issue when his main sheet became detached and was delayed in starting whilst rigging it.
Again Prior raced away from Scoufield, Richard Holland Mitchell, Boyd, Murray, Mark Holland.
Once under way the larger sail of the full rig laser soon put the latter ahead of Murray and closing in on Boyd who got stranded on the river bank forcing an early retirement.
Mark Holland himself though got caught by a gust and capsized.
Out in front Prior was first around the windward mark with Scourfield trying to remain within handicap, then chased by the Mitchells and Murray.
During the run back to buoy one Prior would capsize and lost a fair amount of time to Scourfield in getting back under way.
Richard Holland would also capsize and retire before the upwind section of the final leg progressed without incident until the rounding of the final mark (buoy 1) where Prior capsized again.
This time he made a quick recovery, not giving Scourfield much of a chance to close the gap.
Scourfield and Mitchell rounded the mark successfully with Mark Holland not so lucky and taking his second capsize.
Despite his two capsizes, Prior still crossed the line two and a half minutes ahead of Scourfield, with Mitchell two minutes further back, Mark Holland eight minutes further and Murray the last to finish.
The applying of handicaps did not change the result.
After a break for lunch the final race of the day (race six in Autumn Points) would get underway, now with Boyd, Mitchell and Murray having called it a day.
The fleet was though joined by Gerri van Haren (Phantom).
The wind was now even stronger so the course was set at 3 to 1 for two laps.
Van Haren got away first from Prior then Scourfield, and the Hollands of Mark and Richard.
Although the gusts were getting fairly frequent and stronger all managed to stay dry.
Prior was again first across the line having passed van Haren who was second to finish but was then demoted to the back due to his handicap. Scourfield was next over the line with Mark Holland ahead of Richard.
