Laser Open at Lancing Sailing Club
by Mike Croker 3 Jun 2004 08:48 BST
30 May 2004
Mark Littlejohn wins the Lancing Laser open © Warwick Baker
28 Lasers gathered for what was to be an excellent days racing on Lancing’s famous waves. Bright sunshine and a W 3 to 4 got the morning’s races off to a fine start, with good start lines and use of the black flag ensuring no recalls, despite the tide bringing competitors up to the line. Martin Frary led race 1, with Robert Goodwin and Mark Littlejohn in hot pursuit; Littlejohn managing to get past Frary to score his first win of the day. Littlejohn led Frary from start to finish in Race 2, with Richard Valentine holding 3rd ahead of Ian Morgan.
As the sea breeze strengthened it’s hold, the wind backed to WSW 5 for the 2 afternoon races, with a corresponding increase in wave height. Littlejohn again showed his dominance of the conditions in Race 3, with Ian Gregory getting up to 2nd on lap 2, only to drop back at the finish behind Frary, Morgan and Robert Godwin. Littlejohn went for an early shower, leaving Frary to win in Race 4, with David Binding’s bid for 2nd faltering on the last lap against a fast finishing Valentine.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Mark Littlejohn | Lancing | 3 |
| 2nd | Martin Frary | Stokes Bay | 5 |
| 3rd | Richard Valentine | Stokes Bay | 11 |
| 4th | Ian Morgan | Weston | 11 |
| 5th | Robert Goodwin | Hayling Island | 12 |