Gul Laser 4.7 Ladder Series at Datchet Water Sailing Club

by Petter Barreng 18 May 2011 08:10 BST 14-15 May 2011

The Gul Laser 4.7 ladder in Datchet this weekend was one of the trickiest regattas I have had to sail this year.

Not only were the conditions very hard to sail but the opposition were in top form. After the first race it looked like Dan Bullock was going to win this weekend as well (he won last weekend in Rutland), with him winning the first race. I managed to sail myself up to second but then in the last rounding I gybed just as a gust hit me so I capsized, and lost three places.

In the second race Robert Dyer won after the course was totally replaced because of a really oscillating breeze. Then Megan O’Brien managed to win the third race as the wind started to increase. We ended the day with Dan nailing the last race. After the first day Dan led, Rob was in second, and Megan in third but only six points to me in ninth.

We started the second day with Anthony Parke leading with a big distance. But on the last beat and reach I and Rob manage to catch up. The race ended with me winning and Anthony in second and Rob in third, Dan manages to get a fourth so there is only one point between him and Rob. Robert won the second race, overtaking Dan by 2 points.

As we started the last race, the race really was on. Rob and Dan came first up to the windward mark, followed by me, Anthony, Dan Wigmore and Cameron Tweedle. As we came to the second beat, myself and Anthony had started to close in on Dan and Rob. As we went down the reach Dan was trying to push away Rob so more of us could beat him and so give Dan the victory. This meant that as the last beat started we were all grouped together. That beat was so intense, every little move you did made an effect on your position, and it was like a four boat match race, with really tricky conditions. The race ended with Rob managing to get away on the reach and winning overall, Dan came in second, I came third and Anthony fourth.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Datchet Water SC and our sponsor Gul for a great weekend.

Overall Results: (top ten)

1st Robert Dyer (Restronguet SC) 11pts
2nd Dan Bullock (Burghfield) 14pts
3rd Petter Barreng (Grafham Water SC) 29pts
4th Anthony Parke (MRSC) 30pts
5th Ross Mackley (Royal Lymington SC) 37pts
6th Alistair Goodwin (Haversham SC) 38pts
7th Ellie Cumpsty (CVLSC) 38pts
8th Megan Backhouse (Beaver SC) 40pts
9th Meg O’Brien (Hollowell) 42pts
10th Matthew Rhodes (Middle Nene) 50pts