OK Worlds Qualifier at Largs Sailing Club

OK UK Traveller and worlds Qualifier at Largs © Alan Henderson / www.fotoboat.com

OK UK Traveller and worlds Qualifier at Largs © Alan Henderson / www.fotoboat.com

OK UK Traveller and worlds Qualifier at Largs © Alan Henderson / www.fotoboat.com

The first of the 2011 World qualifiers took place over the weekend of the 22/23 May at Largs Sailing Club. The forecast was for light winds and glorious sun. A highly competitive fleet took to the water for the first race after a short postponement to allow the breeze to fill in.

Race 1 – Immediately after the start the fleet split into two distinctive groups with the inshore sailors taking advantage, hot out of the blocks was class secretary Andy Turner closely chased down by Mike Edwards. The light winds and shifty conditions proved testing with places changing on every beat. Approaching the windward mark Edwards finally got the better of Turner right on the line to claim 1st place, Turner taking second and Keith Byers just piping Tony Rich to take 3rd.

Race 2 – The race started in similar conditions Turner making no mistakes and covering the rest of the following fleet closely successfully maintained his lead until the finish, followed by Edwards and Tony Rich 3rd with Neil Goodhead in 4th.

Race 3 – The final race of the day, once again Turner and Edwards lead from the off, with Daz Prior this time fighting through to take 3rd place narrowly piping Byers who finished 4th.

Day 2

Race 4 – The day started with very light winds resulting in a postponement. Once racing started the fleet again split into 2 groups with the off shore group gaining advantage of the light conditions. Andy Holmes rounding the windward mark first, followed by Byers and Turner. In a steadily decreasing breeze the wind swung round with Byers taking full advantage to finish 1st, Tony Rich pulling through to 2nd with Turner 3rd and Mike Edwards 4th.

Race 5 - This proved to be the windiest of the entire weekend, Conditions were extremely shifty with the windward mark being placed towards Great Cumbrae. With excellent speed Neil Goodhead rounded first and pulled away on a gust to create a cushion from the pursuing fleet. Remaining positions were closely contested and changed hands throughout the race with Goodhead maintaining a long lead to finish 1st, Turner 2nd, Tony Wood 3rd and Edwards 4th.

Overall Results:

1st Andy Turner (Overy Staithe SC)
2nd Mike Edwards (South Staffs SC)
3rd Keith Byers (Morecambe & Heysham YC)
4th Neil Goodhead (South Staff SC)

and the alternate version...

On arrival it was obvious this first world qualifier of the 2010 season had generated much international interest with competitors from no less than 17 countries ready to compete. Prevailing conditions, over the whole weekend, remained very light and therefore challenging but the sun blazed down in the midge free zone.

Race 1 - from the pin end, Captain von Turner (Germany), in his durk sprung tecknic machine, lead the field. Soon the field split with some boats going over to the Cumbrae slide, which proved disastrous. The group inshore made great progress, the designer stubbled Shiniwar Edwards (Thailand), took up pursuit with Pavolovski Rich. This all changed on the finishing line when Shiniwar Edwards who (as we know) is always smothered in aromatherapy oil, slithered past Captain Von Turner, also sneaking into 3rd Bulldog Byers from Blighty, piping Pavolovski Rich who ended 4th.

Race 2 – with all competitors realising inshore paid, the racing was much closer. Still Captain Von Turner, Shiniwar Edwards, Pavolovski Rich pulled the fleet along to the finish, with Jurgen Goodhead showing a great turn of speed to come in 4th.

Race 3 – with all the international sailors getting to grips with this new venue, Race 3 started red hot and sunny. Captain Von Turner really had his durk sprung tecknic machine finely tuned into the conditions. Mais oui, who is this popping up? It’s Pierre Prior with Shiniwar Edwards hot on his derriere. Also from “down under” was new OK sailor boozy (XXXX) Bower from OZ. Cool Von Turner sailed a classic race to win from Shiniwar, Pierre Prior and Bulldog Byers.

Saturday evening proved telling for some entrants, Gandi Waldron representing India, went on a bender and took out several others with him. Wing Wong Lovegrove from Korea who could barely walk and was very slitty eyed in the morning.

Race 4 – the race got underway – a new leader Sven Holmes rounding first from Bulldog Byers with Captain Von Turner 3rd. The international jury almost disqualified Jurgen Goodhead and Shiniwar Edwards for sledging Sven. With the wind dying the race was shortened and Bulldog Byers sneaked past. With Pavolovski Rich 2nd and Captain Von Turner 3rd.

Race 5 – was by far the windiest race from a different direction over by Cumbrae. The wind was very shifty. Hot off the start was boozy (XXXX) Bower who had the hammer down, pursued by Mounty Woods (who always gets his man) from Canada, matching him for pace but on opposite tacks. Approaching the windward mark, most of the boats looked good at times, but Jurgen Goodhead rounded first, got a gust and blasted away. Captain Von Turner was well back. Racing was intense with much place changing. At the finish Jurgen Goodhead had a clear lead, Captain Von Turner powered through to second with Mounty Woods 3rd.