Laser Open at Haversham Sailing Club
by Barrie Lyman 20 Mar 2007 20:20 GMT
17 March 2007
The fleet power to the wing mark during the Haversham Laser open © Barrie Lyman
The first Laser Thames Valley Circuit event of 2007, held at Haversham Sailing Club, welcomed a mixed Standard/Radial/4.7 fleet of 22 boats to Milton Keynes, along with a westerly force 4 wind which gusted viciously to a force 6 over the trees. This kept the competitors awake, but also provided the race officer with no choice but to try to set beats across the narrow width of the lake, giving plenty of off-wind sailing!
With many of the young guns away at a Champion’s Club event the fleet was well behaved and all three races saw the fleet away cleanly first time. In the first race Dave Goddard led the fleet to the first mark and was never headed, but he had opened up such a lead that the following group of four, Rob Hardwick, Fred Abels, John Peck and Daniel Scott all lost their way in the spray on the second lap and scored discards for missing out a mark. Sarah Butcher (Radial) and Barry Yearsley realised once they saw the group behind them head off in a different direction and managed to rectify their error. Dave Cowan gained the most from this, finishing second after sailing the correct course, although if the handicaps were taken into account he was beaten by Jonathan Pakes in his 4.7.
Goddard again led the fleet to the first mark in the second race, and although he initially got away Hardwick kept him in sight. Pete Roberts and Yearsley followed them round, whilst Cowan took himself out of contention with his mast stuck firmly in the lake bed. Butcher and Pakes again featured in the overall placings.
With two wins Goddard took the opportunity to pack his boat away leaving Hardwick and Yearsley to fight for the last race, enjoying very close racing and constant place switching. They finished in that order, although the 4.7s of Pakes and his sister Joanna would take first and second on handicap. Overall Goddard took the win, Jonathan Pakes second overall and first under eighteen, Hardwick was third, Joanna Pakes fourth and first lady whilst Barrie Lyman claimed the over 50’s award.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Type | Sail No | Helm | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Laser | 186948 | David Goddard | Bewl Valley SC | 2 |
| 2nd | Laser 4.7 | 118365 | Jonathan Pakes | Haversham SC | 3 |
| 3rd | Laser | 179657 | Rob Hardwick | Papercourt SC | 4.5 |
| 4th | Laser 4.7 | 119297 | Joanna Pakes | Haversham SC | 6.5 |
| 5th | Laser Radial | 165223 | Sarah Butcher | Cargreen SC | 9 |