Laser and Solo Open at Clevedon Sailing Club
by Martin Gibson 7 Sep 2015 11:32 BST
6 September 2015
Clevedon Laser & Solo Open Prize Winners © Alex East
12 Lasers and 4 Solos turned out for this year's Clevedon Sailing Club combined open event. In the variable conditions race officer Ian Hotchkiss set a simple triangular course with the beating leg back along the coast.
The Laser fleet were first away with Edward Higson leading from start to finish only to be disqualified for being over the line at the start. This left Adam John in first position with Martin Gibson 2nd and John Ling 3rd. The wind increased significantly for the second race with Higson increasing his lead on every beat in the choppy sea conditions. Ling improved on his first race position taking 2nd with Ben Flower 3rd. By the third race the wind had dropped and the tide changed. Gibson had a flying start and led for almost 2 laps until overtaken by Flower while close tacking up the shore to avoid the stronger tide. Ling was again 3rd just behind Gibson at the finish.
Andy Miles dominated the Solo races leading for every lap in each race except one in race two. Local sailors Mike Batchelor and Sarah Hotchkiss found the strong winds in race two too much for them and retired ashore leaving Stephen Penfold to take 2nd place.
Overall Results:
Laser (top three)
1st Ben Flower (Teignmouth Corinthian)
2nd Martin Gibson (Clevedon)
3rd John Ling (Bartley)
1st Radial Haydon Lavender (South Cerney)
Solo (top two)
1st Andy Miles (Bartley)
2nd Stephen Penfold (Chew Valley)