Laser Open at Maidenhead Sailing Club

Lasers at Maidenhead © Jenni Heward-Craig

Lasers at Maidenhead © Jenni Heward-Craig

Consistency in conditions helped the sailors at Maidenhead Sailing Club's recent Laser Open, held on 17 October. Twenty-three sailors turned out, sixteen of them visitors from other clubs in the Thames Valley region. Over each of the three races, the leaders maintained a fifteen minute lap on a course that covered most of the lake, and was not changed for the entire Open.

With the wind a 8mph northerly, the conditions were right for some good sailing, and they did not disappoint. The first race started cleanly, with Matthew Hill (183492) and MSC's own junior sailor Sasha Mayhew (118148) first and second around the first mark. Mayhew managed to stay close to the leader for much of the race, but his inexperience told when he was over taken during the last lap to fall back to a respectable 12th position, leaving Hill to take the first race, ahead of David Jessop (200482) and Gary Bullock (194658).

Conditions unchanged for the second race, and with two retirements, the sailors were eager to get started - too eager for some, as three boats were recalled. Hill led at the first mark, followed by Nigel Rolfe (196180) and Colin Carver (209002). Positions changed throughout the race, with boats moving up and down the fleet with an unfortunate early tack or catching a wind shadow. Of the first three around the first mark, only Hill held onto a top three position, coming third behind Neil Davies (161539) first, and Rob Beere (209411) second.

Lasers at Maidenhead - photo © Jenni Heward-Craig

Overeagerness and crowding at the line at the start of race three lead to a general recall. On the second start, Beere got away ahead of Rolfe and Davies. Again, skill and luck determined the placegetters: Rolfe first, Hill second, and Jessop third.

With three different winners over the three races, results came down to maths. The winner was Hill, with Jessop second and Rolfe third. Of MSC's seven entries, Ian Stone (197196) ranked highest with eighth position. For the Laser Radials, Will Burchall (198882) finished just ahead of Sarah Edwards (174956).

Overall Results: