Laser Open at Chipstead Sailing Club

Lasers at Chipstead © Sophie Poston

Lasers at Chipstead © Sophie Poston

Lasers at Chipstead © Sophie Poston

The highest entry for some years, 29 boats of which 8 were visitors turned up for this year's Chipstead Laser Open.

They were met with conditions which were more appropriate for the middle of winter rather than late April, including a biting Northerly wind which varied from nothing to gusts of 15 mph, and occasional snow!

A Northerly wind at Chipstead poses difficulties for the Race Officer but Alan Warren supported by a hardy team, set a course which managed to include two beats for the two races held in the morning.

Race 1 saw Alan Ritchie from the home Club pull out a sizeable lead chased by David Goddard from Weirwood SC, with Richard Lewis, a welcome refugee from CSC's Enterprise fleet, and Neil Bond (CSC) chasing hard. As the race progressed Sergio Messina (CSC) came charging through the fleet after a poor start. At the end Ritchie won, but only just from Goddard, Bond and Lewis swapping places, and Messina recovering to fifth.

Race 2 saw local sailor Andrew Sorrell take an early lead chased by Goddard and Messina. They both managed to overtake him and battled to the line with Messina winning and the consistent Goddard taking second.

After an excellent lunch provided by Shirley Sinclair, the course was changed to provide no less than three beats and those who still had enough patience put up with the vagaries of the wind and the cold in Race 3. This was a close affair between Messina and Goddard who were tied together the whole way round with Messina taking line honours and Goddard recording his third second place of the day. Matthew Cox from Bewl and Simon Gillow (CSC) were third and fourth recording their best results of the day.

Lasers at Chipstead - photo © Sophie Poston

With one discard allowed, all was to play for between Messina and Goddard in the last race, but the issue was decided at the start when after some tactical manoeuvring, Messina retired. This left Luke Hagon (CSC) in the lead which he maintained almost to the end of the race, only to capsize just before the finish allowing Martin Brooking of Bewl to win, followed by the First Lady of the day, Janet Ritchie (CSC) in second with Goddard in third, winning the meeting overall, with Hagon in fourth and Alan Johnson (CSC) having a great result in fifth.

The Radial class was won by Catherine Wynn (CSC) and the 4.7s by Ami Jewell (CSC).

Many thanks are due again to Alan Warren and his hardworking team for making the very best of the adverse conditions, giving good racing and keeping the sailors fed and watered, and to Shirley Sinclair for providing a very welcome tea at the end of the day.

Overall Results: