Noble Marine Laser Spring Qualifier at the WPNSA

The third and final Laser Spring Qualifier was staged at the WPNSA, the 2012 Olympic venue. Thirty-six Laser Standard sailors were treated to a bitter NE wind on Saturday morning, to race bow to bow with the country's best and bid for their place in this year's international championships.

Due to the shipping channel and wind direction, sailors had a lengthy sail out to the race course causing a short delay. Some sailors, perhaps a little too keen to get going and warm up, jumped the gun, causing a general recall! Nothing a subtle shift in the line bias couldn't fix, as racing was quickly underway. With wind speeds between 7 and 15kts plus 40 degree wind shifts, it was incredibly difficult to predict the conditions and decide where to start. Nick Thompson, fresh back from Rio, took the early lead from the starboard end and attempted to consolidate his gain towards the left. Elliot Hanson squeezed ahead at the windward mark though, coming through the middle ahead of Thompson and Jack Wetherell, who did a steady job from the pin end. With the wind range so big, it was a day for taking the shifts downwind as well as staying in the pressure. Thompson sailed the leg best to regain the lead, leaving Hanson and Wetherell to battle for the minor positions. Splitting from the pack, Wetherell sniffed out a big left shift with pressure to make it second in the race behind Thompson with Hanson staying third.

Race 2 was no simpler with two or three big shifts taking place in the pre-start, causing sailors to constantly adjust their plan and starting position. A well-executed tack and cross from the pin saw Michael Beckett and Lorenzo Chiavarini take an early hold on the race. The left shift held in and continued to wind with Chiavarini and Wetherell digging in the most to lead at the top. Unfortunately, for the chasing boats a further left shift on the layline caused a slight hold up as sailors tried to squeeze round. This gifted Chiavarini and Wetherell a healthy lead which they maintained to the finish, in that order. The battle for third was tight with Thompson, again showing experience, taking the honours by making the fewest mistakes.

The third and final race of the day started with the wind in a right phase. Naturally, those who managed to hold their lane from the starboard end and wait for the wind to slowly shift back left took a jump. Wetherell managed to stay slightly more central, giving himself the most opportunity with the final few shifts to lead round. With the wind still in a right phase, sailors were challenged with a much broader reach allowing Chiavarini who sailed low to squeeze ahead. Thompson stayed in touch with the leaders, despite a Rule 42 penalty and began chasing. Chiavarini sailed his own race to extend and take his second bullet, whilst the race for second and third came down to the final few hundred metres! Thompson eventually came out on top by navigating the final line of pressure well, keeping the pressure on Chiavarini going into the second day of racing.

On Sunday morning, Ken and the race team launched the sailors early in time for their 10am start. Greeted by a race management's nightmare, it was immediately apparent it was going to be 'one of those days'. A more easterly breeze appeared to be fighting it out with a northerly, causing the first race to be abandoned within minutes. Eventually, with a small window of 'stability', Race 4 was off and Thompson took the lead from the starboard end. Wetherell and Hanson battled across from the left, to follow Thompson around the windward mark in quick succession. As the sailors raced off onto the next leg, they dug more and more into the northerly breeze causing the reach to become incredibly tight and hence give little opportunity for place changes. The downwind saw a big split of the fleet with those going right with the shift, falling out of the pressure and losing out. Chiavarini surged down in the new pressure, meanwhile the course was shortened due to the instability. Thompson held on for the win whilst Chiavarini ultimately got the better of those on the right. Wetherell held on for third despite the new pressure, with just inches to spare.

Unfortunately, with the wind not playing ball, no more racing was completed, meaning sailors had spent four times as long sailing to and from the race area as they had spent racing! Thompson therefore, took the overall victory, ahead of Chiavarini and Wetherell who both sailed a consistent series. Thanks to both WPNSA and the UKLA for hosting another great event. Good luck to all those competing this summer. We now wait in eager anticipation for the UK Nationals, this year in Mount's Bay, to continue our domestic agenda!

Overall Results: (top three)

1 Nick Thompson, 4pts
2 Lorenzo Chiavarini, 4pts
3 Jack Wetherell, 7pts

Full results can be found here.