Zhik Laser Masters Nationals at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

Laser Masters nationals at Stokes Bay © Eddie Mays

Laser Masters nationals at Stokes Bay © Eddie Mays

The major event of the 2010 Laser Masters series, sponsored by Zhik performance gear, took place at Stokes Bay SC over the extended weekend of 2–4 July. The event was also a ranking qualifier for the 2011 World Masters Championships in San Francisco. A total of 114 sailors entered, split into 75 standard rigs and 49 radial rigs, with a number making the trip from mainland Europe.

Friday’s racing started in a 7 knots westerly wind that resulted in both fleets beating up the Stokes Bay shore to overcome the tide before tacking for the windward mark. For Race 2 the wind picked up to 12 knots and the tide reversed. The black flag was introduced to hold the fleets back as the tide was taking the boats over the line, the wind strength starting to decline. Race 3 saw the wind almost disappear resulting in many boats having difficulty rounding the wing mark. Boats behind converging on the mark were blanketing those in front leaving them with no power to overcome the tide pushing them backwards.

At the end of Friday top positions were:
Standard fleet: 1st Orlando Gledhill 7 points, 2nd Thomas Muller 12 points, 3rd Alan Davis 17 points.
Radial Fleet: 1st Steve Cockerill 4 points, 2nd Jason Belben 13 points, 3rd Ian Jones 17 points.

Following the racing, the sailors were treated to a curry at the club followed by the annual Laser Masters trivia quiz put together and hosted by Phil Bead. For the winning five teams Zhik had provided a selection of caps, gloves, toe straps and visors.

Saturday started out much the same as Friday, the wind initially reasonable but this was not to last. The wind strength in Race 4 dropped to such a level that boats had to sail almost to Lee-on-Solent before they dare tack across for the windward mark. Many in the standard fleet did not make it round on the second lap and in the radial fleet many did not make it round on the first lap within the time limit. This resulted in a protest being put in for redress.

The fleet returned to shore and await the wind to return which it did just as most sailors were having something to eat. Conditions turned out to the best of the weekend for Races 5 and 6 with 15 – 17 knot westerly wind. The day ended with Muller leading the standard fleet, subject to the protest outcome, and Cockerill still leading the radial fleet. Following the racing, the club put on a hog roast with Tony Woods picking up his saxophone to provide the music as the events of the day were dissected.

The forecast for Sunday indicated stronger winds; the strength varying from 25 to 37 knots depending on whose forecast was viewed. The wind turned out to average 25 -27 knots with gusts above 30 knots from the south west for Races 7 and 8. This resulted in an upwind grind in the chop to the windward mark and then exhilarating off wind legs. Observers on the shore praised the competency of the lady radial sailors in handling and surviving these conditions.

The standard fleet finished only to find that Race 4 was going to be re-sailed which avoided congestion in the changing rooms but resulted in another protest after the race had finished. The outcome was that Race 4 was discarded.

In the standard fleet Gledhill remained in first position on 10 points with Nick Harrison finishing second on 15 points and Alan Davis third on 29 points. In the radial fleet Cockerill retained his first position finishing on 23 points, Jones and Belben changed round, scoring 28 and 42 points respectively. Following the prize giving a range of quality Zhik performance clothing was raffled off amongst the sailors creating some very large smiles! The range included Spandex Vests, Hydrophobic Tops, Short Hikers, Three Quarter Hikers, Pant Hikers, Superwarm Hikers and a buoyancy aid. The UKLA Masters would like to thank Zhik & Tim Pearce in particular for this generous sponsorship and also the Race Officer Mike Rayden, all at Stokes Bay for putting on the event.

Overall Results:

Full results are available at www.stokesbay-sc.co.uk/result/open/LMRad.htm and www.laser.org.uk