RC Laser TT at West Lancashire Yacht Club
by Dave Fowler 15 Apr 2014 13:42 BST
5 April 2014
The second TT for the 2014 season got underway at West Lancs Yacht Club. OD, Clive Porter, once again took charge of proceedings for this event, which was to be another first, having our fellow Dragon sailors sailing with us, as they had done through the Winter Series here.
With the course laid and the wind strength oscillating between B and C sails, the first race got under way. Having 17 boats on the line made for a hectic start, and with the wind being 45 degrees to the shore the windward mark was very difficult to judge at this distance. Shaun Holbeche 91 and Peter Lansdale 73 marched off fighting for the lead, with Shaun keeping Peter at bay over the 3 laps of this long course, with Dave Fowler 007 Playing catch-up to third.
Race 2 saw Holbeche playing the catch-up with Lansdale taking the bullet (his only one of the day), with Andy Kissick 25 and Fowler battling it out for 2nd which was take by Kissick with Fowler 3rd.
With the wind increasing there was a great deal of sail swapping going on and it being very easy to have the wrong sail on.
Race 3 saw Kissick and Neil Coleman disappear into the distance giving Kissick the bullet, Colman 2nd and Holbeche 3rd.
The day progressed with Holbeche very consistent with 1st and 2nd for the rest of the races, Kissick gained another bullet and a 2nd and Fowler gaining 2 bullets but had a string of 3rd's which was decisive in the end with coutback.
It was a day of great sailing with the top 5 boats battling very closely in nearly every race, which shows the great one design nature of this RC class. With close racing all the way down the fleet, and a number of helms having a taste of a top 5 place, spurring them on.
I must also congratulate the Dragons, who also had a great day of sailing with both classes sailing together very well, maybe a theme for the future, with other classes.
The Next TT is at Two Islands on the 3rd of May. For those who are interested in trying a RC Laser please come down and see us. Details are on the RC Laser website, rclaser.org.uk.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 91 | Shaun Holbeche | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | 25 | Andy Kissick | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 16 |
| 3 | 7 | Davefowler | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 4 | 73 | Peter Lansdale | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 27 |
| 5 | 102 | Neil Coleman | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 28 |
| 6 | 85 | tony Wilson | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| 7 | 39 | Skip Reaser | 6 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 17 | 48 |
| 8 | 71 | Alan Tickle | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 56 |
| 9 | 5 | John Park | 8 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 68 |
| 10 | 988 | Adrian Stanton | 15 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 69 |
| 11 | 83 | Kev Cooper | 12 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 72 |
| 12 | 284 | D Chisholm | 7 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 6 | 77 |
| 13 | 823 | Eric reid | 14 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 79 |
| 14 | 67 | Colin Appleton | 16 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 79 |
| 15 | 8 | John Armstong | 17 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 83 |
| 16 | 32 | Trevor Bell | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 95 |
| 17 | 847 | Jorden Porter | 11 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 99 |