Sunday Points Series event is held at Welland Yacht Club
Four brave laser sailors faced the blustery conditions and a shortage of water for the first two rounds of the Sunday Points Series at the Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.
Three sailors - Andy Prior, Alan Chapman and Alistair Mitchell - were all using the radial rig while youngster Izzy Herring was using the smaller 4.7 rig.
Even before the first race was underway, the windy conditions were making life difficult for the competitors with Herring taking an early swim.
However, the other three competitors got away from the line and commenced the long beat up river.
Prior and Chapman were locked in a tacking duel for much of the first beat with Prior slightly ahead as the boat rounded the first mark.
By this point, Mitchell had capsized a couple of times which meant he was never in contention and Herring had retired.
On the downwind leg, Chapman sailed well to catch up Prior and was almost ahead as the two boats started their second lap.
But Prior managed to pull clear on the second beat and held on to the lead until the end, giving him first place from Chapman with Mitchell in third place.
The continuing low water levels meant that race two commenced straight after the first race had finished but by this time Herring had recovered and lined up for the start.
The wind had dropped slightly but was still strong enough for Chapman to capsize in the build up to the start but he had recovered by the time the starting signal sounded.
Three of the boats were shy at the starting line, leaving only Prior to get a good start.
Despite some good sailing from Chapman, Prior was first around the top mark with Chapman in second and Mitchell third after recovering from a capsize.
Youngster Herring sailed well and, although fourth on the water, was in contention on handicap.
On the downwind leg, a strong gust knocked Prior's boat flat but he was able to right it without getting wet or losing the lead to Chapman.
The four boats kept these positions throughout the remainder of the race with Prior taking first place from Chapman.
Although Herring finished in fourth on the water, she was close enough to take third place on handicap.
