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Andy Prior and grandson Harry Jackson win the Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club




Andy Prior and grandson Harry Jackson were triumphant in the Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

The duo won all three races to finish ahead of runner-up Alan Cox and Mark Scourfield who finished in third place.

Glorious sunshine greeted the excellent turn-out of 12 boats but sailors were faced with some very tricky wind conditions that varied in strength and direction around the course.

Andy Prior and grandson Harry Jackson.
Andy Prior and grandson Harry Jackson.

With the amount of boats, there was going to be some close quarter sailing but Prior and Jackson edged clear in the first race in the newly acquired Lark dinghy.

There were a number of place chances in the chasing boats with Scourfield becoming becalmed near the buoy and Alastair Mitchell having to do penalty turns.

There was a hole in the wind just on Chilvers Corner caused by bushes on the bank shielding what breeze there was and luck played its part if you got through without too much ground being lost.

The Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club.
The Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club.

Prior and Jackson had stretched their lead by the start of the second lap with Alan Cox leading the bunch of Lasers that also featured Alan Chapman and Keiron Powell.

The leaders crossed first and also took the victory once the handicaps were applied ahead of Scourfield and Cox.

Good performances from the Solos of Helen Boyd and Martin Cook saw them take fourth and fifth respectively on handicap from the Lasers.

The Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club.
The Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club.

There was a course change for the second race to reduce the lottery of Chilvers Corner.

With Gerri Van Haren choosing not to sail, there were 11 boats on the start line and it was Chapman who braved a port end start to round first ahead of Prior and Jackson.

However, Prior and Jackson made good use of the clear wind to take the victory ahead of Powell who won the battle of the Lasers.

Chapman claimed third place and these were the positions after the handicaps were applied.

Nine boats started the final race where Prior and Jackson again started well with Cox in pursuit as the wind held up.

They were followed by Mitchell who was having a good day with consistent sailing.

The Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club.
The Tulip Trophy Regatta at Welland Yacht Club.

Prior and Jackson stretched out quite a lead with Scourfield eventually taking second spot from Cox on countback after finishing equal on points when the handicaps were applied.

Special mention to Geoff Tibbs who completed his first races in his Solo.

The club is holding its annual open day on Sunday, June 8, from midday until 4pm.

Visitors can experience sailing but are encouraged to book in advance on the club's website www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk



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