Medway RC Laser Winter Series - Day 1
by Jamie Blair 5 Dec 2017 10:40 GMT
3 December 2017
With a westerly breeze just about making 10 knots the first Sunday of Medway RC Laser Winter Series started on Sunday.
Seven sailors came to the first start, which to give everyone a chance to get the feel of their boats after a long summer of bigger boat sailing was a practice race. Jamie Blair gave a short briefing and reminded all of the Racing Rules and need to take penalties rather than the light hearted "Sorry".
Timed runs to the start line we didn't see; instead the standard line up and stamp your rights on a place in the front row (just like the real Lasers) and pull the trigger in the last five seconds. Jamie won the practice race with no qualms or superstitions for winning the practice race. Race 1 for real on a triangle sausage course saw Jamie lead from the front. Richard Stone kept Ian Foxwell behind him and close racing at the back of the fleet with Pete Freeman, David Townshend, Les Willson and Sarah Mason. Three races were sailed before the coffee break with Ian, Richard and Pete Freeman all taking top places. The win in the practice race was the kiss of death for Jamie, suffering electrical failures that led to a change of main winch servo and two races in the pits.
After the break Jamie, to try and catch up, blazed a trail in the next three races with wins in each but closely contested by all. Ian Foxwell was on a charge too with a number of second places. Richard stone took Race 9 with David Townshend close behind. Jamie was off the water again with the electrics gremlin with a rudder servo now caput, re-joining at the back of the fleet for race 10. Ian Foxwell led this race with Pete Freemen all chasing hard. Race 11 and 12 provided some highlights with close racing at all the marks around the whole course. Jamie managed to keep the fleet at bay but was beaten to the overall win for the day by one point by Ian Foxwell.
The programme continues all through the winter every Sunday until the end of March. Winter 2 is next Sunday 10th December. See you all there.
Day 1 Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 62 | Ian Foxwell | 3 | 1 | 1 | ‑4 | 2 | 2 | ‑4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 21 |
| 2nd | 51 | Jamie Blair | 1 | (DNF) | (DNS) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | DNF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
| 3rd | 83 | Richard Stone | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ‑6 | 4 | 2 | ‑5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 25 |
| 4th | 63 | Pete Freeman | ‑4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ‑6 | 29 |
| 5th | 58 | David Townshend | ‑6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | ‑6 | 5 | 3 | 41 |
| 6th | 33 | Les Willson | ‑7 | 6 | 6 | ‑7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 57 |
| 7th | 19 | Sarah Mason | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | ‑7 | 6 | 6 | ‑7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 59 |