The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Gerri van Haren and Martin Cooke both enjoyed wins at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday, while two top finishes from Mark Scourfield clinched him the Sunday Points Series crown.
Race one was the fifth round of the six-race Sunday Points, which attracted five boats – with Scourfield in the Solo judging the start well and moving clear around the buoy from van Haren in the Phantom.
However, Scourfield’s lead was short lived as he rounded the buoy on the wrong side and then proceeded to hit the buoy, which incurred additional penalty turns.
Meanwhile, van Haren, Cook (Solo) and Eric Murray (Laser) took full advantage and sailed away on the run to the next buoy number two. Helen Boyd (Solo) managed to find a hole in the wind but recovered to sail, with Scoufield in pursuit.
At the front van Haren sailed away unchallenged, while Scourfield, Cook and Murray swapped places in the remainder of the race with quite a tacking dual.
After the second lap it was Cook who crossed the line ahead of Scourfield, followed by Murray and Boyd.
All were still behind clear winner van Haren after handicaps were applied, with Cook second, Scourfield in third, Murray fourth and Boyd in fifth.
Race two was the Sunday Points finale and, after strong starts, Scourfield and van Haren were side by side to the turning buoy.
It was van Haren who just got ahead and therefore had right of way and rounded first. With these two trading tacks, it allowed Cook to catch Scourfield and eventually overtake him to start the second lap in second place, while Murray and Boyd were neck and neck behind.
Places did not change and it was van Haren who did enough to win the race after handicaps were applied, with Cook in second place and Scourfield in third.
The two third places on the day were enough to give Scourfield the Sunday Morning Points trophy from Gail Follington in second and Boyd in third.
Sunday wrapped up with race three in the Commodore Points Series.
Only three boats contested this one, with ovan Haren and Boyd both dropping out.
It was Cook who pulled away and finished a couple of minutes ahead of Scourfield to take the win, with
Murray hampered by a tiller extension malfunction which restricted him to third position.
Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk or you can go and visit them at SHDC’s ‘give it a go’ event at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field this Sunday (11am-4pm).
