Rescheduled 2013 Rutland Sailing Club Laser Club Championships
by Rutland Laser fleet 10 Apr 2014 20:51 BST
6 April 2014
Rutland Laser Club Championships 2013 © Rutland Laser fleet
Sunday the 6th of April 2014 was the rescheduled date for the annual Rutland Laser Club Championships for the Len and Judy Brereton Trophy as the original date was cancelled due to an adverse weather forecast which turned out to be correct. The intention was to sail 4 races with results counting for up to 3 championships. The blue riband Laser Championship, The Personal Handicap Championship and the Novice championship.
The aim of the championships is to include as many sailors as possible, but with winds forecast to be gusting up to 30 knots the Novice Championship was postponed for another day. Meanwhile 20 Laser sailors took to the water for the first race. Winds were a constant 20 knots gusting 30 frequently. The first 2 races were set on a trapezoid course and 19 out of the 20 sailors made the finish of race 1 which was won by Steve Tylecote in a radial rig followed by Mark Williams, Jon Williams (former winner), Richard Pratt (defending Champion) and Simon Morley all sailing Std. Rigs.
Race 2 saw Simon Morley Round the First mark in the lead closely followed By Richard Pratt and Steve Tylecote. Lap 2 was the same order until mark 3 where Simon capsized at the gybe mark generously handing the lead on the water over to Richard. Meanwhile Steve was plodding on in the background with his radial rig at full power eventually winning the race by 18 seconds on corrected time.
After the lunch break an inverted 'P' course was set to keep the sailing area out of any wind shadows. 2 minutes before the start Steve Tylecote lost his top section and retired from the race. Mark Williams led the fleet round the first mark closely followed by Richard Pratt, Simon Morley and Jez Lightfoot. The second lap saw the same running order at the front of the fleet with inches separating the 2 full rigs at the front of the fleet. Mark Williams rounded 1st but struggled to bear away on the gust and shot downwind at full speed with the mainsheet in a knot which resulted in a capsize. Richard Pratt took over the lead and screwed into the second mark but maintained the lead after completing his penalty turn, Simon Had another go at cleaning his sail and Jez who was still going well after lap 1 finally succumbed to several swims and ended up 13th.
The attrition rate had the fleet down to 11 boats for Race 4 was set on a triangle course. Steve Tylecote had re rigged and was back in time for the final race which after his rest he showed the fleet the way home. Mark Williams put up a hard chase but never overhauled Steve on the water.
In the personal handicap series (which rewards the improving sailor) unbeknown to all on the water, novice Mike Hatfield was leading the way at the lunch break closely followed by Jez Lightfoot and former winner Beverley Lyndsey tied just 2 points off the lead. The afternoon saw Mike take 2 wins out of 2 with Jez Getting in a 2 and 11 and Bev scoring a 5 before calling it a day after 3 races.
Prizes were presented afterwards for this event and the series which had been running throughout selected weekends during 2013.
Winner of the Len and Judy Brereton Trophy for 2013 was Steve Tylecote, winner of the Personal Handicap was Mike Hatfield, winner of the Laser series for 2013 was David Hodson and finally the winner of the personal handicap series was Rob Stenhouse.
Full results on the web in the 2014 section of the club racing results: