Laser 5000 Nationals at Broadstairs Sailing Club
by David Scammell 10 Sep 2004 12:11 BST
2-5 September 2004
More action from the Laser 5000 Nationals © Iain Lewis
The very hospitable Broadstairs SC hosted the Laser 5000 National
Championships over four glorious days. Sixteen boats competed in light airs
over seven races with Andy Temple and Tim Seward, Copy Shop.com, being
crowned National champions.
First day's racing was cancelled due to no wind and fleet enjoyed
volleyball on the beach followed by the Commodore's reception buffet and the
enthusiastic celebration of Dave Watson's birthday. The next day wind
arrived for racing. Race one saw Suffolk Sails, Simon and David
Scammell, started poorly at the back of the fleet leaving Wycliffe, Mark
Lawrence and Charles Morland, to lead the fleet to the finish from Copy
Shop.com and 5074, Carl Gibbon and Jon Carkeet. Suffolk Sails climbed up the
fleet to grind out a top fleet position.
In race two Team Shed, Nick Farrar and Chris Grosscurth, showed the
fleet a clean pair of heels winning easily from Wycliffe and Copy
Shop.com. The Fat Slugs, Peter Giffen and Steve Emby showed they were not so
slow as their name posting a fourth even though penalty turns had been
completed. Suffolk Sails woke up in race three and show the performance
expected posting a third whilst Copy Shop.com won from 5120, Nick
Cutter. In building breeze further close racing took part in the final race
of the day Copy Shop.com took line honours from Team Shed. The final
downwind leg the battle for third was hotly contested with 5254, Iain and
Matthew Lewis, nipping in from Suffolk Sails. The days sailing was
rewarded by an excellent homemade curry, an evening of bar games and
fireworks on the beach.
Again the next days racing was cancelled due to no wind, less than 3
knots against a 4 knot tidal flow! After volleyball and waterskiing the
Class AGM and supper, a superb roast beef dinner, was held. The
highlight being Iain Lewis voted as Chairman.
Suffolk Sails woke up for the final days racing feeling quietly
confident of posting some good results unfortunately this was not transposed
into starting on the line at the gun on the first race. The light airs
and ripping tide meant that clean wind was the order of the day.
Persimmon Homes, Mark Nowell and Alastair McHardy revealed in the conditions
and found a clear track to lead round the windward mark holding this all
the way to the finish from Copy Shop.com and Wycliffe. Suffolk Sails
battled up the fleet to fifth place by using their boat speed and early
gennaker drops, in particular nipping round Infocube.com, Craig Johnson
and Justin Linnel who were stranded on the first leeward mark.
The second race saw another shocking start from Suffolk Sails who
watched 5307, Chris Rebbeck and Claire Stubbs led the fleet to the first
mark but were pipped at the finish by Copy Shop.com. It was a close battle
for third place on the downwind leg to the finish Suffolk Sails passed
Persimmon Homes by taking the inside track at the spreader mark to take
fourth but were unable to catch Team Shed in third, who made a quick
recovery from a surprise downwind capsize. The final race saw a
blistering start from Suffolk Sails but 5074 led around the windward mark.
Suffolk Sails recovered the lead with an early gennaker drop and a tight
mark rounding but a conservative lay line at the final windward mark let
Wycliffe in to finish first. Copy Shop.com finished in third behind
Suffolk Sails to wrap up the championship win. Broadstairs SC ran an
excellent National Championship on and off the water and excellent value for
£78 (including suppers). Enjoyed by all, the Laser 5000 fleet class
will be back!
Overall Results:
1st 'Copy Shop.com' Andy Temple and Tim Seward 10pts (BSC)
2nd 'Wycliffe' Mark Lawrence and Charles Morland 16pts (Warsash SC)
3rd 'Team Shed' Nick Farrar and Chris Grosscurth 25pts (Felpham SC)
4th 'Suffolk Sails' Simon and David Scammell 25pts (Felixstowe Ferry SC)
5th 5074 Carl Gibbon and Jon Carkeet 33pts (Ogston SC)