Many of the visitors who turned up for round 5 of the Laser Midlands Grand Prix at Swarkstone on 26th April breathed a sigh of relief when greeted with a sunny force 2 following testing conditions at Barnt Green the previous day.

Race 1 was a learning curve for the visitors who had to negotiate around the calm spots in the shadow of the trees. Paul Williamson (Staunton Harold) held a narrow lead from Rachael Rhodes (Staunton Harold) around the windward mark, a position he held until the end of the race. There was early competition for third place between Rich Bennett (Staunton Harold) and Helen Williamson (Durham University) but it was Mick Steer (Carsington) who got the better of the conditions to finish third behind Rhodes in second place.

Race 2 saw new faces at the front with Rich Bennett showing local sailor Ian Monk the way around. But it’s not over until it’s over as proved by Alan Bennett (Staunton Harold) who outmanoeuvred Monk on the line to finish in second place.

With all to play for, the race officer set a start line using the club’s transits from the on-shore start box for the final race. This made the first leg a close fetch for most of the fleet which suited Dean Jones (Swarkstone) who held a slender lead from Alan Bennett around the first mark. Rich Bennett and Paul Williamson found their way through to challenge the leaders to the point where port /starboard incident at the windward mark between the Bennetts put Rich out of the running and let Paul Williamson into the lead. It then proved to be a case of Deja Vu for Alan Bennett who this time outmanoeuvred Williamson on the finish line to take the race and the event.

Overall Results:

1st & 1st Master, Alan Bennett (Staunton Harold)
2nd Paul Williamson (Staunton Harold)
3rd Rich Bennett (Staunton Harold)
4th Mick Steer (Carsington)
5th Rachael Rhodes (Staunton Harold)
1st Youth, Richard Monk (Swarkstone)
1st Radial, Michael Collier (Shustoke)