Laser Spring Qualifier at Hayling Island Sailing Club

Laser World & European Qualifier at Hayling © Eddie Mays

Laser World & European Qualifier at Hayling © Eddie Mays

Large international contingent

Sixty Laser Standards made the trip to the south coast for the final spring World and European Qualifier of 2010. Race Management was handed over to Tim Hancock and his team who are due to oversee the racing at the upcoming Laser Senior and Junior World Championships being held at Hayling Island Sailing Club in August and September. For all competitors this was a chance to gain familiarity with the venue, which also saw the French Olympic Team, and the Canadian and French 2008 Olympic representatives attend the event.

Race 1 was started in a 7 knot south-easterly breeze which died throughout the race. The tide was running roughly from left to right looking out to see, pushing the sailors away from the windward mark as they sailed upwind. Following a general recall, the fleet got underway under black flag. Good starts and fast downwind speed proved to be the success formula for racing in the fickle light winds. Olympic Gold Medallist, Paul Goodison, led at the windward mark and never looked back as he extended away from the fleet on the downwind legs. Felix Pruvot from France held off a strong charge from Stuart Godwin and Rob Holmes who were sailing very fast in the light wind conditions. Goodison sealed victory with Pruvot taking 2nd, Godwin 3rd, Holmes 4th and Eifion Mon completing the top 5 placings.

Race 2 started in a dying 5 knot breeze. The wind having moved right was now creating leebow opportunities on Starboard as the sailors headed upwind. Jean Baptist Bernaz led at the windward mark closely followed by James Gray and Rob Holmes. Sailors battled downwind for the right angle of sail to gain both speed benefits whilst making the most of the right to left sweeping tide. Goodison, Pruvot, and Holmes proved the fastest in the now 3-4 knot breeze as the race was shortened after the 2nd beat where the sailors finished in between the leeward mark gate. Goodison held off a last minute assault from Holmes taking 1st and 2nd respectively. Pruvot took 3rd ahead of Mark Powell who had made large gains by sailing to the left of the fleet on the 2nd beat. Stuart Godwin put in another solid performance finishing 5th.

Sunday was graced by flat clam conditions. The fleet waited ashore waiting for a thermal sea breeze to fill in. At 1245 it was decided that one race would be sailed in a 4-6 knot southerly breeze. With the tide running from left to right looking out to sea there were still opportunities to leebow the tide on starboard tack. Rob Holmes, who had been consistently one of the fastest sailors in the light conditions, led at the windward mark with James Gray, Stevie Beckett, and Alex Mills-Barton close on his heels. Holmes extended on the run whilst French sailors Felix Pruvot and JP Bernaz also made large gains on the right hand side of the run. Gains were made on the right hand side of the course on the 2nd beat as the breeze often shifted right with a small increase in pressure. Holmes held on for a convincing victory ahead of Pruvot 2nd, and Bernaz 3rd. Mike Leigh from Canada overhauled Mills-Barton and Gray on the final run securing 4th. Mills-Barton took 5th.

Overall Results:

1st Paul Goodison, 2pts
2nd Rob Holmes, 3pts
3rd Felix Pruvot (France), 4pts
4th Stuart Godwin, 8pts
5th Jean Baptiste Bernaz (France), 9pts