RC Laser TT at Kingsmill Model Boat Club
by Dave Fowler 13 Mar 2012 14:41 GMT
10 March 2012
It was the first national TT of the 2012 Calendar, 11 sailors arrived to tea and bacon butties, with a nice wsw breeze of 8 mph gusting to 12mph. With an Olympic course laid, the racing commenced, all competitors started with their ‘B’ rigs which were used all morning.
Due to the expert race team, and the tightness of the competitors abilities 12 races of the triangle sausage course were managed before a lunch of pie, chips and peas was called. The morning racing was dominated by current national champion Dave Fowler at his home club, claiming 9 bullets, but the others were hot on his heels with Neil Coleman claiming 2 bullets, and local helm Keith Holmes getting his first TT bullet. Adrian Tomlinson and Andy Kissick, were consistently in the top 4 some times loosing a lead on the last beat to the line, so close is the racing in the laser fleet.
After lunch with full bellies, the wind had increased to its peek of the day, and the laps doubled, nearly all the helms went for the ‘C’ rig, there was an absence of Fowler on the start line, Was it the race 13 superstition!, no he went out in the rescue boat to film it and take some pictures, missing the best race of the day for wind strength, which was won by newcomer Tim Long from Abersoch from Adrian Tomlinson and Skip Reaser who also was starting to string a list of top 5 results.
A further 5 races were held to make 18 in total for the day; Adrian finally found the bullets in race 16 and 18, with Dave taking the other 3. In the final race (18) half the fleet went for the ‘A’ sail as the wind had dropped, but Adrian changed his mind (I think he didn’t want to get his brand new sail wet) and went back to the ‘B’, which turned out to be the best decision of the day, as down the first reach there was synchronised nose diving and pirouetting, from the ‘A’ sail competitors, just like watching swan lake.
A big thank you must go to Sutton in Ashfield Sailing Club for the use of their water, rescue and keeping us topped up with food and drinks. And the race team of Alan (RO), John (rescue), Diane and Frances (Scorers).
The next TT will be at Keighley on the 15th April.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 840 | Dave Fowler | Kingsmill | 19 |
| 2 | 30 | Adrian Tomlinson | | 40 |
| 3 | 430 | Tim Long | Abersoch | 50 |
| 4 | 39 | Skip Reaser | WLSC | 66 |
| 5 | 102 | Neil Coleman | Two Islands | 71 |
| 6 | 25 | Andy Kissick | Alderney | 80 |
| 7 | 903 | Keith Holmes | Kingsmill | 84 |
| 8 | 5 | John Park | Yatley | 99 |
| 9 | 762 | John Faulkner | Aldenham | 116 |
| 10 | 71 | Alan Tickle | WLSC | 118 |
| 11 | 865 | Tony Hart | Kingsmill | 160 |