Races three and four of the Frostbite Series at Welland Yacht Club

Alan Cox claimed a victory double in races three and four of the Frostbite Series at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

Eight boats had made the start line for the first race, including two sailors new to the scene in Adam Stabler in his Solo and son William in one of the club's Topper dinghies.

The wind disappointingly did not show up and the forecast was for not a lot of improvement for later in the day.

What little wind there was gave the boats a long port and short starboard tack and it was Gerri Van Haren in the Phantom with the largest sail area that made the best start and he was clear right from the off.

With the wind being so light, boat places changed regularly behind Van Haren with Cox making the best progress along with Chapman, Stedman and Scourfield.

At Shelly's Bush corner, it became more of an equal beat as the direction of the river changed and, with the turning buoy just around the next corner, Van Haren managed to extend his lead once round the buoy on the run back to the clubhouse as Cox, Chapman Scourfield and Stedman tried to stay in touch.

After just over an hour of sailing, it was Van Haren crossing the line first followed by Cox, Chapman, Scourfield and Stedman.

But, after the handicaps were applied, it was Cox who came out on top by just under a minute from Van Haren in second and Stedman in third.

With the course length shortened for the second race, there were again eight boats starting with William Stabler sitting this one out and Sandor Kecskemeti in the full rig Laser making a welcome return to racing with the Welland club.

The start followed the same pattern with the longer port tack being favourite and Van Haren once again judged this perfectly and was clear away from Cox, Kecskemeti, Chapman, Scourfield, Stedman, Boyd and Adam Stabler close behind.

Clear air was the secret and Van Haren was getting this and pulled out his lead as the wind now started to increase slightly, giving the sailors a bit more encouragement and a chance to keep warm but still not enough to sit out on the boat.

The race was giving some interesting battles round the course and Boyd and Kecskemeti were in close proximity right up to the finish line.

The breeze came and went and, although the order of boats did not change, the distance between them did, which is important on the finishing times when handicaps are worked out.

Once again it was Van Haren in the Phantom who crossed the line first, a minute ahead of Cox with Scourfield just getting in front of Chapman, Stedman, Kecskemeti, Boyd and Stabler.

After the handicaps were applied over this shorter race, it was once again Cox first, 41 seconds ahead of Van Haren who was four seconds clear of Scourfield.