Laser Thames Valley Series Open at Fishers Green Sailing Club
by Godfrey Clark 28 Jun 2016 11:22 BST
25 June 2016
Lasers at Fishers Green © Godfrey Clark
The Laser class made their annual visit to Fishers Green SC in the picturesque Lea Valley Park on Saturday 25th June as part of the Thames Valley area series.
With the forecast of a 5-6 knot westerly breeze, a long beat could be set the whole width of the lake after a short postponement while the breeze settled. The forecast held true for the first race with Chris Tillyer leading a gently moving procession home, followed by Andrew Hill-Smith and Colin Carver.
The second race started in the same way but as the fleet made their way around the first lap the patchy sunshine was replaced by a sudden downpour of rain with enough wind for planing on the reaching legs and the first lap completed by the leaders in just 11 minutes. Unfortunately as the storm passed away, so did the breeze just as the fleet began another lap, meaning the last leg was a painful drift to a temporary finish line.
During lunch the breeze returned and the first beat gave good hiking conditions which continued for the first lap. Thereafter, the boats gradually went slower and slower and slower and slower as the lake once more reverted to a glassy calm and the fleet were finished mid-lap, and not too far from the clubhouse. The program had been for a fourth race, but with time running out, a straw poll was taken to call it a day. The fleet de-rigged as a breeze inevitably re-appeared but it was too little, too late and the fleet settled for afternoon refreshments and the prize giving.
Overall Results:
1st 188575, Chris Tillyer (Thorpe Bay YC)
2nd 160347, Andrew Hill-Smith (Papercourt)
3rd 209002, Colin Carver (Aldenham SC)
Best Radial Rig 186285, Mark Fowler (Littleton SC)