Laser Home Counties and Eastern Grand Prix at Ely Sailing Club

Eleven sailors, including eight home boats, rigged their Lasers on Sunday morning to compete in the annual Laser Open held at Ely Sailing Club. The Laser Open is part of the Home Counties and Eastern Region Laser Grand Prix circuit.

Three races where held with a competitor's two best races counting to the final result.

The first race started at 11.00am and took place in light but shifty winds typically seen at Ely. Alan Bishop from Girton Sailing Club led from the start to take the first race win. Behind Alan the reset of the fleet had a very close race with seven boats tightly packed together with places two to four changing several times, John Wells and Scott Bilham of Ely Sailing Club finishing second and third respectively and Matthew Aldous-Horne from Fishers Green Sailing Club finishing forth as well as being the first Laser Radial home.

The second race was held after a good lunch provided by members of the House Committee at Ely. During lunch the wind had picked up considerably with strong thermal gusts making the conditions challenging for the sailors with the gusts coming form both the South and East. The second race started with the fleet tightly bunched for the first half of the lap. Again Alan broke away closely followed Matthew. The lead changed several times between Alan and Matthew, Alan holding off Matthew to take the win with John in third and Scott holding forth despite his traveller being pulled off his boat in the gusty conditions.

The last race again saw Alan take the lead. This time John and Matthew closely contested second and third places with Scott holding forth until he parted company with his boat and then had a double capsize due to his toe-strap braking, which eventually forced him the retire from the race. The third race was won by Alan with John just piping Matthew to take second, Matthew third and Jack Cammann form Ely Sailing Club in forth.

Overall Results:

1st Alan Bishop (Girton Sailing Club)
2nd John Wells (Ely Sailing Club)
3rd & 1st Radial, Matthew Aldous-Horne (Fishers Green Sailing Club)
4th Scott Bilham (Ely Sailing Club)

Prizes were presented by Ely Sailing Club Commodore Gary Ungless and by Christine Levett. Further congratulations must go to Alan Bishop as has now holds the winner's trophy for the eighth time.