Laser Midland Grand Prix Round 14 at Bartley Sailing Club

Thirty one sailors from around the Midlands came to Bartley Sailing Club Reservoir on Sunday 20th July 2014 for the 14th event of the Midland Grand Prix circuit. The wind was 6-8 knots remaining steady making for a beautiful day. The race officer Sam & John Knight set an Olympic style course,sausage,triangle etc which made for exciting professional racing.

Race one started with an enthusiastic fleet all keen to make a clean start and it was local youth Ed Higson (Bartley) who tactically pull through and was closely followed by Rob Lennox (Barnt Green), Debbie Degge (Bartley), Richard Baker (Bartley and Guy Pearson (Upton Warren). This bunch stretched out from the main fleet leaving Rod Theaker, Giles Rawlinson, Simon Hardiman and others to chase. In the end Ed had extended his lead to win with Rob and Debbie close behind.

After lunch the wind direction changed slightly and after a quick course change and a general recall, race two started in slightly less than 7 knots, again the top three sailors battled for places to the wind ward mark with John Ling (Bartley) managing to get clear air on the reach and was gone, giving an impressive lead which was to be unbroken with Rob Lennox in second followed by Ed Higson and Robin Pitt (Bartley) who sailing really well after recovering from a difficult start.

With three potential winners it was all to play for in the last race, once again the wind direction changed, so after course alterations race three started slowly as the wind dipped and then filled back, John managed to get away closely followed by Ed and they created a commanding lead from the main bunch allowing them to play cover tacks and various strategic games, which the spectators at that stage were left feeling would be the final position that would bring home the trophy to Bartley, but in lap two a big wind shift found themselves on the wrong side of the race track giving the advantage to various sailors on the left hand side. This allowed Rob Lennox to seize the moment and slip into the lead coming from well behind, John Ed and Robin could only watch as ten boats sailed past. This created a new leader and pressure at the front but by the last lead John came from around tenth place to take second, Jamie Cuxson (Earlswood) third and Debbie Degge in fourth place.

Everyone stayed for the prize giving as all competitors sail numbers were put into a hat and drawn out for a selection of sailing related prizes which Bartley SC Laser fleet was keen that we distributed throughout the fleet, rather than just the top prize winners.

The brand new Bartley Laser Annual Trophy Boat and a great selection of prizes was kindly donated by Dinghy buyer direct.com (Adam John).

Overall Results: (top three)

1st Rob Lennox (Barnt Green)
2nd John Ling (Bartley SC)
3rd Ed Higson (Bartley SC)

1st Lady and Grand Master, Debbie Degge (Bartley SC)

1st Radial, Eleanor Craig (Staunton Harold)