Noble Marine World & European Autumn Qualifying Series – Round 2

Even with several of the top helms away at international events nearly 130 Standard & Radial Lasers made the trip to Whitstable Yacht Club in Kent for the second of the autumn series of Qualifiers sponsored by Noble Marine, incorporating the Crewsaver Youth Series. The weather was not particularly hospitable, tricky in the words of the Race Officer Ken Falcon, but even so both fleets managed to sail two races each day. The Radial fleet had 93 entries and so the fleet was divided into four sections and sailed in a Round Robin format for both days.

Saturday's racing got under way promptly in an Easterly breeze that was forecast to die during the afternoon. In order to minimise course setting a triangle / sausage course was set for all starts. In the Standard fleet Lorenzo brando Chiavarini took the first race ahead of Henry Wetherell with Bronze fleet helm Thomas Scott 3rd. In the first Radial start, Blue flight versus Yellow, Lottie Harland beat Ollie Sellers & Ross Mackley to the line. In the Red v Green start John Booth beat Nicholas Froud and Chloe Martin to start his weekend on a good note. By the second set of races the wind was down to about 5 kts and there was more of an element of luck / skill in the winning performances.

In the Standards Matt Reid showed everyone the way round the course. Lorenzo was 2nd and Rupert Stock did really well to finish 3rd. The Radial first start (Red v Yellow) saw Nicholas improve to take the gun ahead of Rheanna Pavey & Georgia Booth. In the other start youth won out as Adam Stone & Joe Woodley (both Youth helms) took 1st & 2nd ahead of Ben Elvin. After everyone had finished the fleets were sent ashore.

Sunday saw a complete change in the weather. A strong Westerly and driving rain greeted everyone when they arrived at the club. The forecast was for the wind to drop by midday and so Ken hoisted the postponement flag. By 12:00 the wind was down to about 17 kts and the rain was lessening. However the later start time did mean that there was only going to be time for two races. Both fleets were sent afloat and again the old style Olympic course was used. In the Standards Lorenzo didn't seem to mind the change in conditions as he finished ahead of youth sailors Henry W and Hector Simpson. He also finished of the day in fine style by taking the final race of the weekend, this time ahead of Matt, Henry & Hector.

With only two races completed on Saturday it was not possible to divide the Radials into Gold & Silver fleets and so they sailed two more 'Qualifier' races. In the first start Jon Emmett, who had had the Saturday from hell, showed his true form by winning from Hannah Snellgrove, Alastair Goodwin and Chloe. This was also the start where two sailors started prematurely, the only blemish on the whole weekend and that under the 'I' Flag not the black flag. A gold star awarded to everyone for their start line behaviour. It helped enormously. In the other start John Booth added another win ahead of Rheanna and Ben with Freddie Chiddicks 4th. The last two starts for the Radials gave victories to Hannah and Jon E., with the minor placings going to John Booth & Chloe and Ben & Matt Whitfield.

Our thanks go to all the club members who helped with the weekend in very trying circumstances, also to Ken & Dot and her team and, never forgetting, our sponsors, Noble Marine & Crewsaver. The final 2013 Qualifier will be at the Mountbatten Centre, Plymouth over the weekend of the 26th & 27th October. The full results and Overall Standings can be seen at the UKLA website, www.laser.org.uk

Overall Results:

Standard
1st Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini
2nd Henry Wetherell
3rd Matt Reid
4th Hector Simpson
5th Michael Beckett

Radial
1st John Booth
2nd Hannah Snellgrove
3rd Ben Elvin
4th Rheanna Pavey
5th Nicholas Froud

Crewsaver Youth Series
1st Standard, Henry Wetherell
1st Radial, Nicholas Froud
2nd Radial, Alistair Goodwin
3rd Radial, Freddie Chiddicks