Laser Thames Valley Circuit double-header at Welsh Harp

Laser double header at Welsh Harp © Julian Bradley

Laser double header at Welsh Harp © Julian Bradley

The Laser Thames Valley came to the Welsh Harp, north London, for a double ‘A’ weekend, with Saturday 18th’s event hosted by British Transport Yacht Club, and Sunday 19th’s by Wembley Sailing Club.

Both days followed our standard format: 3 back to back races, with the quick turnarounds only punctuated between races 2 and 3 by the provision to the fleet of Mars Bars, bottles of water, and to the roguishly decadent, cigarettes, by the rescue teams.

Saturday was one of those gustacular days which involved the 30 participants managing the 30 knot Westerly. To the best of my knowledge, everyone went in, with brown mastheads providing a fair amount of upside down gardening – the downwind legs were hairier than a bear trapper’s hat.

Wembley’s Steve Janering carried on imperiously from his recent win at Weir Wood to win the first two of Saturday’s races. (Locally, some say he is a sailing cyborg sent back from the future to make the rest of us look stupid, and that he signs on for events in binary). Julian Bradley sneaked 2nd in race 1, followed by Canadian Niall Martin. Thereafter it was a day for people with plenty of leverage – ex-Contender sailor and Laser newcomer Alec Gass getting the win in the third race from Graham Lund of Aldenham.

The Sunday saw 40 entrants, including the welcome return to Laser open events of Richard Patrick of Great Moor SC - I am sure he’ll be up to speed again soon. Again, races 1 and 2 saw Steve Janering make the force 4 westerly as unchallenging as he did the rest of the fleet, with Daniel Francis of Paper Court beating Julian Bradley to the gun in Race 3. Julian Bradley, recently ‘promoted’ to Laser ‘Master’ and seriously considering pipe and slippers, was 2nd overall. Another notable performance was from John McKelvie of Strangford Lough Sailing Club, grabbing a 3rd in race 2. Most competitors will be feeling stiffer than a nun in a straitjacket this Monday morning.

Thanks must go to the race teams for each day – a very successfully managed weekend.

Overall Results: