Welland Yacht Club pay homage to late Commodore Richard with memorial event

Sunday’s inaugural Richard Thacker Memorial Trophy at Welland Yacht Club was one to remember.

The open regatta was held in honour of past Commodore Richard Thacker, who passed away on Boxing Day last year.

Despite pouring rain and no wind, 13 boats were on the water for the first of three races, including Andy Prior and Tom Bell sailing Richard’s old Wayfarer Dinghy, particularly relevant, as Tom had learnt to sail by crewing Thacker.

Also sailing was Andy Belson, a long-term friend of the club who now sails at Rutland Water.

With the rain at its worst and little wind, the fleet set off down river for the short beat up to the windward mark after which they commenced the long run back down the river past the clubhouse.

Belson crossed the line first followed by Geri van Haren, with Prior and Bell some distance behind.

Behind them, Ros Nichols (Europe) took fourth and Emma Agar was fifth.

With a promising weather forecast, the boats took to the water for the second race. But, although the rain had eased, the wind had swung 180 degrees and dropped even more.

Nichols made the most of the conditions and was able to hang on to the much quicker RS Aero of Belson to take victory on corrected time.

Alan Cox took third from Emma Agar, with fourth being taken by Alistair Mitchel – also in a Laser Radial – who finished just ahead of Andy Agar.

By the time the third race commenced the promised gusts of 30mph plus had arrived in anger.

This meant that of the eight boats that took to the water only four actually crossed the line for the start – keeping the rescue boat busy.

Belson took an early lead with Nichols in second, Bell and Prior in third and Emma Agar fourth, some distance behind, having suffered a capsize just before the start.

As the race progressed Belson took a capsize half way up the beat and after a number of close calls Nichols decided to retire – allowing Bell and Prior to make up some ground on them.

Although this race covered twice the distance of the two morning races it was completed in just over half an hour and although Bell and Prior stayed close to Belson it was not enough to take victory on corrected time in this short race, meaning Belson took the win from Prior and Bell.

Emma Agar, despite a few capsizes, still stayed in contention to take a well-deserved third place.

As these were the only three boats to complete all three races, unsurprisingly they took the first three spots overall with Nichols fourth from Cox in fifth.