Welland Yacht Club hold their annual open race meeting in honour of former commodore Richard Thacker
Welland Yacht Club held their annual open race meeting named in honour of one of their former commodores on Sunday.
The club were joined by two visiting boats from Girton Sailing Club to compete for the Richard Thacker Trophy.
With little breeze, a relatively short course was set for the first race of three laps with an option to shorten if required.
Nine boats took to the start with Alan Cox (Laser) getting away ahead of visitors Alan Bishop (Solo) and Sam and Richard Mason (Albacore).
They were followed by Alan Chapman (Laser), Tom Bell (Laser), Helen Boyd (Solo), Mark Holland (Laser), Martin Cook (Solo) and Gerri van Haren (Phantom).
Both Bishop and the Mason pairing soon found themselves in first and second respectively with Cox in third.
Van Haren made his way up to third by the start of the third and final lap with Bishop and Mason still comfortably ahead.
Once the handicaps were applied, Bishop kept the win from the Mason's in second with Boyd pushing up to third from Cox, Bell, Chapman and van Haren while Holland and Cook were tied on corrected times.
A slightly longer two-lap course was set for race two with sailors trying to take advantage of what wind there was.
With two competitors deciding to call it a day due to the lack of wind, seven boats took to the start.
Bishop took the lead with the Mason pairing in second while Cox was third from Holland, Chapman, Cook and Boyd.
Cook retired at the end of the first lap as the Mason pairing eventually crossed the line 30 seconds ahead of Bishop.
Bishop took the win under handicap with the Mason's second ahead of Cox, Boyd, Chapman and Holland.
Race three reverted back to the first course but for just one lap as five boats took to the start.
Although the Mason's in the faster Albacore pulled out a minute lead on Bishop to cross the line first, they finished second under handicap.
Bishop regained the win with Cox third ahead of Boyd and Holland.
Bishop took the overall win ahead of his Girton club-mates while Cox led the Welland contingent in third place. He was followed by Boyd, Holland, Chapman, Bell, van Haren and Cook.
The trophy was presented to Alan Bishop by James Thacker, Richard's son, who was also accompanied by his mum Jane, and several other family members and friends.