Laser 'Big Monday' at Parkstone Yacht Club
by John & Ann Keates 3 Jul 2015 08:01 BST
29 June 2015
Laser 'Big Monday' at Parkstone Yacht Club © Roger Hake
On most Monday evenings between late April and early September, lasers from Parkstone Yacht club are able to enjoy 2 races, each lasting about 30-35 minutes. Usually, about 20+ boats turn up, but on Monday 29th June, things were a little different.
54 Lasers, including standard and radial rigs, answered the call of the Fleet Captains, (a.k.a. Commanding Officer & Dog Robber) to make this evening a 'Big Monday'.
The concept of a 'Big Monday' was born two seasons ago, where we had 34 and then 45 boats. We were delighted to top the fifty mark on this occasion, and it was also brilliant to see such a mix of youth, masters and quite a few who were closer to the latter distinction than the former! We were also joined by the club's Commodore, Brian Drake, who drove the committee boat and Steve Tyler, the club's Hon. Sailing Secretary who steered his brother-in-law's laser with a competence that belied his recent lack of experience in single-handers.
Members of the club's ladies' night sailors (about a dozen of these sail Lasers) also joined in, which made the area just off the club's marina quite a crowded place to be.
It was a gorgeous, summer evening of gentle breezes: perfect for accommodating such a wide variety of racing expertise. Two races were sailed, using a Gate Boat style start. The Race Officer, Andrew Taylor, set us the longest beat he could in a partially restricted area, (Cruisers, J24s and others also sail on Monday nights), which compromised the reaches but, crucially, enabled the fleet to round the windward mark without too much argy-bargy!
Both races were won in fine style by Nathanial Gordon but he had stiff competition from Giles Kuzyck and Roberta Hartley.
The evening was nicely rounded off by the Fleet Captains' use of fleet funds to buy all participants a free drink. But we were assured that this offer had nothing to do with the excellent turn-out!
www.parkstonelasers.org.uk
Results:
| Place | Name | Place |
|---|
| 1 | Nathanial | 1 |
| 2 | Roberta | 2 |
| 3 | Giles | 3 |
| 4 | Commanding Officer | 4 |
| 5 | Chris G | 5 |
| 6 | Gary H | 6 |
| 7 | Iain R | 7 |
| 8 | Pete T | 8 |
| 9 | George K | 9 |
| 10 | Pete N | 10 |
| 11 | 192450 | 11 |
| 12 | Richard P | 12 |
| 13 | Tim A | 13 |
| 14 | Peter G | 14 |
| 15 | Simon B | 15 |
| 16 | Ross Neville‑Jones | 16 |
| 17 | Rob C | 17 |
| 18 | Ashley H | 18 |
| 19 | Lydia James | 19 |
| 20 | Bob C | 20 |
| 21 | Bob A | 21 |
| 22 | Steve Tyler | 22 |
| 23 | Dog Robber | 23 |
| 24 | Nigel P | 24 |
| 25 | Courtney | 25 |
| 26 | 169013 | 26 |
| 27 | David H | 27 |
| 28 | Gary W | 28 |
| 29 | Mike A | 29 |
| 30 | Amanda Corn | 30 |
| 31 | Phil M | 31 |
| 32 | Trevor A | 32 |
| 33 | Richard S | 33 |
| 34 | Matt V | 34 |
| 35 | Mark S | 35 |
| 36 | 169027 | 36 |
| 37 | Peter Castle | 37 |
| 38 | Ben Lees‑Smith | 38 |
| 39 | Katie Stoate | 39 |
| 40 | Eve K | 40 |
| 41 | Matt S | 41 |
| 42 | David Pratt | 42 |
| 43 | 195734 | 43 |
| 44 | Mike Hennesy | 44 |
| 45 | Kiersten Metcalfe | 45 |
| 46 | John S | 46 |
| 47 | Luke N | 47 |
| 48 | Rosie A? | 48 |
| 49 | Judith | 49 |
| 50 | Eden | 50 |
| 51 | Alison W | 51 |
| 52 | Helen | 52 |
| 53 | Colston | 53 |
| 54 | Marie‑Laure | 54 |