Laser South Coast Grand Prix at Mudeford Sailing Club
by Ian Payne 30 Jul 2013 18:55 BST
27 July 2013
Start of race 3 at the Laser South Coast Grand Prix at Mudeford © Mike Roach
Mudeford Sailing Club held the 10th meeting in the Laser South Coast Grand Prix series. The weather forecast was unpromising with light variable winds and the possibility of thunderstorms, which may have put some competitors from travelling down to Christchurch Harbour.
In the small standard fleet Will Lack (Mudeford) used his local knowledge of the harbour to win the event from Peter May (Spinnaker), but this was only decided on a tie-breaker with both competitors counting a first and a second. Will Lack had some luck in the second race when he broke his mainsheet block on the end of the boom, but he held on to win.
A quick boom change (helped by the Race Officer, Mike Roach, having to swing the course around) meant that Will could get back to the sailing area in time for the last start.
In the Radial fleet Niall Houston (Hayling Island) showed great speed around the course in the light winds to win with two firsts. Ross Mackley (Royal Lymington) was second and Matthew Stephens (Hayling Island) third.
Kate Jardine (Mudeford) picked up the 4.7 prize.
In the Laser South Coast Grand Prix series Ian Morgan (Hill Head) leads the standard fleet. Peter May moves up to second with Ian Payne (Chichester) third. In the Radials, Ross Mackley now leads from Kerry Morgan (Hill Head). Alexander Lee (Arun) is third.
The next event is at Swanage Sailing Club on the 3rd August 2013 at 11am. See their website for details, www.swanagesailingclub.org.uk or contact David Bryant.
The Laser South Coast Grand Prix is sponsored by Rooster Sailing and Wildwind Sailing Holidays.
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