Harken Laser 2000 Nationals at East Lothian Yacht Club - Day 5

Laser Nationals at East Lothian day 5 © Alan Henderson / www.fotoboat.com

Laser Nationals at East Lothian day 5 © Alan Henderson / www.fotoboat.com

The various different forecasts agreed, a gentle Westerly becoming a gentle Easterly, but none could agree on when the change (and a couple of hours of no wind) would happen. After lots of persuasion, "the man with the fan" kept it blowing at 6 to 8 knots for 2 races at the Harken sponsored Laser 2000 National Championships at North Berwick. On Wednesday, despite a reasonable breeze building later in the afternoon, we didn't manage to get in any racing – so the Highland Games followed by the Andreas Taverna Greek evening with the extra, extra virgin Olive Oil, went down very well with everyone.

On the water, those who like sailing in double figures have been very disappointed this week, but for those who like their wind in single figures, today was glorious sailing; bright sunshine, blue sea, seals, puffins and 47 boats out racing. Matt Thompson and Elliott Richards from the Army Sailing Association were joining in the pink theme, by racing in some very fetching, pink, lycra, ballerina outfits!

Despite the decent length of line, the fleet (after an enforced rest yesterday) were very keen, and needed a general recall and black flag to get them away cleanly. Those near the pin end with clear wind, headed inshore up the left hand side of the course, and received a useful lift on starboard, as well as benefitting from the tidal back eddy near the shore. Jasper / Laura Barnham followed Dave Adams / Richard Thomas on the long port tack back to the windward mark, but Jasper spoilt Dave's birthday by sliding past him down wind. Graham Sexton and Kristina Harbourne held onto third place.

For the second race of the day, the black flag was sensibly in place for the first start. With the tide setting the fleet down the line, a tidal advantage expected on the left of the course, but what looked like more wind to the right, the fleet was better spread on the beat. But Jasper / Laura and Dave / Richard repeated their trick of hitting the left hand side and timing the long port tack back to the mark just perfectly to lead the fleet for the second time, this time followed closely by Rob / Gemma Burridge.

If it paid inshore on the beat, surely it must pay off-shore on the run? No, the wind started to swing and to drop, so those who had headed inshore benefited from the faster course to the mark in the second half of the run. The tricky piece of going inshore was having to avoid the various lobster pots - catching the oddly floating lines was a sure way of losing a couple of places.

After two light wind races, a postponement was hoisted; then the fleet did some sun bathing; then some committee boat chasing; then some swimming, and finally a drifting race back to the shore. The lucky ones hitching a lift from friendly safety boats.

Results after Day 5: