Laser Training and Open Meeting at Weston Sailing Club

Weston SC hosted a Laser training day with Jon Emmett coaching on 13th September. The light winds were not ideal but Jon made the most of the day looking at rig set up and tactics advice until just enough wind arrived mid afternoon to launch for a short session on boat handling exercises. In spite of the forecast all participants learnt lots over the day – many thanks Jon.

Weston had put on a social that evening for all the Lasers, RS400’s and RS700’s and several laser sailors stayed on for that demonstrating their dancing skills and enjoying the curry on offer.

The weather gods were still not smiling on us on Sunday morning. Very light winds but less sunshine was the order of the day. Despite this the racing got underway with only a half hour postponement.

Standard Fleet

Race one saw Michael Clark (Warsash) lead from start to finish with Ian Morgan (Weston) and Mac Courts (Stokes Bay) close behind with Mac able to overtake Ian for second place despite the drifter conditions of the last lap.

Race two saw Peter May (Spinnaker) lead for most of the race only to let Mac and Matt Reid (Spinnaker) through at the last lap.

Race three and Ian lead round the first mark only to let Mac and Matt through when the gybe mark was in the wrong position. Michael managed to get into second place down the run, leaving Mac to get his second 1st of the day.

Results:

1st Mac Courts
2nd Michael Clark
3rd Matt Reid

Radial Fleet

For race one the committee boat end was the only place to be on the line. At the first mark the leading two had come from opposite sides of the beat however. Tom Greenaway (Emsworth) lead round the windward mark followed by Nigel Thomas (Weston). By the next beat the right hand side was paying and Nigel lost out by going left. Jon Emmett (Weir Wood) was catching up the leader fast and took the lead at the end of the run which he then held to the finish. Tom held second to the finish and Kerry Tucker (Weston) took third.

When the full rigs started the second race the beat was fair, however by the time of the radials start the wind had shifted massively so those that starting at the committee boat made the windward mark without tacking. Ralph Bonfield (Weston) took the early lead followed by Jon, Kerry and Nigel. By the gybe mark Jon was leading with Ralph, Kerry and Nigel following close behind. At the finish positions were Jon first, Kerry second, Nigel third.

In race 3 Jon made hard work of the start so was left playing catch up. Ralph rounded the windward mark first followed by Lawrence Walters (Keyhaven). The gybe mark had drifted substantially down tide and meant the next leg was another beat. The fleet all rounded this close together and were then faced with a long run against the tide in a dying breeze. Lawrence moved into the lead but Jon was on the charge moving up to second place by the end of the run where the race officer had sensibly shortened the race. Ralph took third place.

Results

1st Jon Emmett
2nd Lawrence Walters
3rd Kerry Tucker

Many thanks to the Race Officer, Stuart Offer, and his team. Despite very difficult conditions three good races were sailed and the black flag wasn’t required. Hopefully we’ll have better wind next year and look forward to seeing everyone again.