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Penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club




The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

The two races provided some great sailing and a dip in the Welland waters for some unlucky sailors.

Water levels were once again disappointingly low after being high all week but the forecast for a steady breeze and to build during the morning brought seven boats to the start.

The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

With the wind blowing straight down the river, Mark Scourfield in the Solo was away first followed by Andy Agar in the OK.

They were followed by Alan Chapman in the full rig Laser, Alistair Mitchell in the Radial rig Laser, Richard Stedman in the Comet, Adam Stabler in the Solo with son William in the club Topper.

Scourfield reached Chilvers Corner first with Chapman second but, when tacking, he suffered a tiller issue and capsized allowing Agar and Mitchell through.

The run back provided some tricky moments and Chapman managed to work his way through to second just behind Scourfield with Agar and Mitchell staying well in contention.

The second lap was much the same as the first with Chapman taking a second swim that allowed Mitchell through to chase Scourfield.

But, in the end, it was Scourfield who crossed the line first with Mitchell second and Chapman recovering to take third.

The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

Once the handicaps had been applied, it was Scourfield in first with Mitchell just 10 seconds behind in second and Agar in third with only one second separating him from Chapman in fourth.

The boats were joined by new member Jeff Tibbs in his newly-acquired Solo in race two which got underway with the wind freshening.

The start line was better contested for this race and Chapman judged it best, closely followed by Agar, Mitchell, Scourfield and Tibbs with Eric Murray in the Mirror behind.

The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

The first four boats away had a cross tacking duel between them and there were a number of close calls.

As the beat developed, Chapman pulled out a small lead followed by Scourfield, Agar and Mitchell.

However, Chapman once again had an issue and managed to capsize allowing Scourfield Agar and Mitchell through.

The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
The penultimate race weekend of the Frostbite Series was held at Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

Chapman recovered and made gains and on the return for home by Chilvers Corner had just overtaken Scourfield.

With Mitchell in close attendance, it was tight racing for the last turning buoy to the finish line.

Chapman rounded first just ahead of Scourfield with Agar going past Mitchell as all four boats finished within one minute of each other which made the handicap times close.

It gave Scourfield first place just four seconds ahead of Mitchell in second and Agar in third just three seconds ahead of Chapman. The last race in the series takes place on Boxing Day.



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