Laser EPS open meeting at Whitefriars Sailing Club

The 3 club boats were joined by 5 visitors from as far away as Southport to sail in a 11-17 knot breeze which at times was gusty, too gusty for some. The first race was a large P shaped course that had Peter Card at the windward mark first with Ivor Keates moving into the lead on the first lap never to be headed, Simon Bates, Paul Swainson, and Chris Stout were in a group joining Peter Card for a close couple of laps with John Codner starting to work up to them on the last lap with a long windward leg to the finish, Ivor retained the lead with Simon into 2nd place and John taking 3rd.

Race 2 was a figure of eight type course and saw John build a good lead with Peter next and followed by Ivor and Simon with fast planing reaches the fleet ran into traffic in the form of the club handicap fleet this lead to some place changing with Peter gaining the lead and Simon working past Ivor to leave the 3rd race the decider with 4 helms on 5 points before discard.

Race Officer Jim Aldis set a course fairly close to the windward bank with a zig zag course to the leeward mark to test the gybing skills in the increased breeze. The start had all the helms at the pin end, some on starboard some on port. Simon was just in the lead at the windward mark but found the course to the next mark a reach close to the bank difficult to judge. John went lower and faster to reach the next mark and opened a 40 metre lead before touching the leeward mark. The subsequent 360 turn allowed Simon through, only to lose the lead on the next lap on the reach again not daring to go low enough to get the extra speed. John Codner retained the Whitefriars Open, Simon Bates increasingly consistent ended 3rd overall and Ivor Keates in 3rd place was 2nd overall having tied on 4 points.

The newcomers 70yr old Tony Leeson and Mark Candelas improved through the day and resolved to go out and practice.