The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Sailing star Andy Prior breezed to overall glory in Welland Yacht Club’s PBS Salva Regatta on Sunday.
The first race of the day saw nine boats take to the start – including three of the club’s juniors – and it was run under personal handicap, giving everyone a chance of outright success.
With a light breeze and the occasional gust, the start got underway without incident. Prior and Clive Herd got away well to hit the front, closely followed by Ros Nickols,
Brian Cobb, Geri van Haren, Richard Stedman, Freya Willerton, Rosie Willerton and Samuel Willerton.
On the way to the top mark, Nickols managed to steal second place from Cobb, who fell to third.
However, with the top mark surrounded in weed, both Prior and then Nickols struggled to push a pathway through.
That allowed Cobb and the remainder of the fleet to close in. Indeed, Cobb soon took second place from Nickols.
Meanwhile at the back of the fleet, Samuel Willerton (in a tiny optimist) was outperforming his sisters in their toppers.
During the second lap van Haren managed to regain his earlier position of fourth on the water, a place he would retain after handicaps were applied.
Having pulled out a big enough lead, Prior ensured that personal handicaps wouldn’t deny him the win from Cobb second, while Nickols took third.
The highest-placed junior was Samuel Willerton.
TOP TALENT! Samuel Willerton.
The course was altered for race two in a bid to avoid the weed further up river.
Again, the start went well – with seven boats having taken to the line.
Prior was quick to take the early lead once more, this time from Herd, who was followed by Paul Wilson – who had joined for the afternoons two races, Stedman and then a trio of Willertons.
The wind had picked up slightly – together with stronger gusts – which seemed to push the weed from the centre of the course.
Prior would maintain his lead from start to finish with Herd second and Wilson third. Again, the highest placed junior was Samuel Willerton.
With only four boats taking to the start of the final race of the day, it was much of the same with Prior again taking the win from Herd and Wilson third.
That ensured that overall victory went to triple-race winner, Prior with Herd second, Wilson third and Stedman fourth.
Samuel Willerton, who impressed on the day, was the highest placed junior overall.
Anyone wanting to find out more about sailing should contact the club via email at secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk
