Laser 5000 UK Series at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club

The Laser 5000s head downwind at the Felixstowe Ferry open © Felixstowe Ferry SC

The Laser 5000 fleet descended on Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club on the 12/13 June for the second leg of the 2004 UK Series. Building breeze on Saturday morning gave both competitors and the race committee something to think about, and made for an excellent days racing.

The first race began with the local team of Simon and David Scammell sailing ‘Suffolk Sails’ leading the way round the windward mark followed by Iain and Matt Lewis. ‘Infocube’ sailed by Craig Johnson and Ben Lloyd stormed downwind to take the lead by the leeward mark only to be overtaken again during the kite drop. A squall bringing torrential rain and 20+ knot winds on the second lap presented some testing conditions, however the fleet coped well and after several more position changes the Scammell brothers took the bullet with Lambert Smith Hampton sailed by Dave Watson and Toby Linnell getting second and the Lewis brothers in third.

The second race began with Watson and Linnell in Lambert Smith Hampton storming off followed by Suffolk Sails and the Lewis brothers. Constantly changing wind made the layline to the downwind gate difficult to pick as demonstrated by the Lewis brothers who capsized whilst trying to flog to the line. Infocube nearly came a cropper as well, but managed to hold on and make it around the leeward mark in one piece. Lambert Smith Hampton sailed by Watson and Linnell gave a storming performance to take the bullet followed by Mark Lawrence and Charles Morland who found the turbo button to get second.

The third race was uneventful until the final leg to the finish when Lambert Smith Hampton missed the layline to the finish allowing Suffolk Sails to take the win with Infocube storming into second and Lawrence and Morland in third.

After much fun, frivolity and alcohol on Saturday night, the fleet appeared bright and early on Sunday morning greeted by lighter 5 – 10 knot winds. These lighter conditions seemed to suit the Scammells in Suffolk Sails who eeked out a large lead to take the win followed by Lambert Smith Hampton and Infocube in second and third respectively.

In the penultimate race the Lewis brothers appeared to have found their speed by rounding the windward mark ahead, but the lead was ephemeral as Suffolk Sails and Lambert Smith Hampton had overtaken by the leeward mark. Lawrence and Morland found some spectacular pace to comfortably take the win followed by Suffolk Sails and Lambert Smith Hampton.

The final race saw some close action at the leeward mark with Suffolk Sails narrowly in the lead. Infocube came in to take second from Lawrence and Morland but cut it a bit close to Suffolk Sails and conceded a penalty pushing them down to fifth. Lambert Smith Hampton took the wrong side of the last beat to drop to fifth allowing Infocube to move up to forth. Mark Howell and Alistair McHardy were storming in third, but Infocube managed to overtake on the final leg to the finish taking third and pushing Howell and McHardy into 4th.

An excellent weekend was had by all, with the fleet now very much looking forward to the European championships in Lake Garda on 23rd – 26th June.

Overall Results:

1st Simon and David Scammell (Suffolk Sails)
2nd Dave Watson and Toby Linnell (Lambert Smith Hampton)
3rd Craig Johnson and Ben Lloyd (Infocube.net)
4th Mark Lawrence and Alistair Howell