Laser Qualifier at Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club

Thompson tastes success again

Forty-eight Laser Standards made the Bank Holiday trip up to Lowestoft to take part in the final spring qualifier where the Laser World and European teams for 2009 would be decided. Saturday's light forecast meant that sailing had to be abandoned for the day. Race officer Ken Falcon pushed for 3 races to be sailed on the Sunday allowing the fleet to have one discard for the race series.

Race 1

Following a general recall under black flag, the fleet got underway in a 15-20 knot WSW offshore breeze. The leaders emerged from the left hand side of the course where large bands of pressure had enabled the sailors to gain vital boat speed advantages over those sailors in the middle of the racecourse. Nick Thompson led at the windward mark and used the first two reaching legs to extend his lead over the rest of the fleet. Chasing Thompson were Paul Goodison, Sean Evans, Eifion Mon, and Greg Carey. With shifty upwind legs and large pressure changes, places were constantly under attack. Thompson extended his lead throughout the duration of the race taking a comfortable victory. Goodison held of the chasing pack finishing 2nd. Sean Evans took a well deserved 3rd following injury a few months earlier. Carey finished 4th and Eifion Mon 5th.

Race 2

Racing got underway with the main contenders aiming to protect the left hand side of the course by starting at the pin. Among the leaders at the windward mark were Thompson, Phil Reynolds, Paul Goodison, and James Gray. The leading pack managed to use the reaching legs to their advantage, creating greater separating between themselves and the chasing fleet. The race was shortened to a two lap race on the final downwind leg. Thompson held on to secure his second victory and took the title with a race to spare. Goodison, fresh from his triumph at the grade 1 Hyeres regatta in France, took second. Eifion Mon held off the charge from Gray and Reynolds taking 3rd. Gray finished 4th ahead of the 2009 National Laser Youth Champion Reynolds who took 5th.

Race 3

The tide had turned and was now running from left to right across the course. At the windward mark, Goodison led from Rob Godwin and James Gray, all of whom were able to make gains on the left hand side of the course. The tidal direction meant the sailors could take advantage of a leebow on port tack as they sailed upwind. Gray overhauled Godwin on the first reach leg only to be passed again on the 2nd upwind leg. Thompson made large gains on the first 2 laps and having initially looked out of contention caught up with the front group by the 2nd windward mark. Going into the final lap Goodison led, Thompson 2nd, Godwin 3rd, Gray 4th, and Youth sailor Alex Mills-Barton holding onto 5th spot. Errors on the final upwind leg made for an interesting finale. An error from Goodison allowed Thompson to get within striking distance. A close final downwind leg saw Goodison hold on taking victory from Thompson in a nail biting finish. Rob Godwin took 3rd, Alex Mills-Barton 4th, and Greg Carey 5th.

Overall Results: (top five)

1st Nick Thompson 2pts
2nd Paul Goodison 3pts
3rd Eifion Mon 8pts
4th Greg Carey 9pts
5th James Gray 10pts

Thanks to the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club and volunteers for hosting the event. Well done to those who qualified to represent the UK Laser teams this summer. The lists will be published on the UKLA website.