SailSport UK Laser 2 Nationals at Felpham Sailing Club

Action from the Laser 2 nationals at Felpham © David Rowe

Action from the Laser 2 nationals at Felpham © David Rowe

Action from the Laser 2 nationals at Felpham © David Rowe

A small, but select gathering of 15 boats, including the crews which finished 2nd, 4th and 5th at the recent World Championships in Canada, assembled at sunny Felpham for the SailSport UK Laser 2 National Championships. As predicted by the event organisers, the rain which affected most of the rest of the UK was absent for all 4 days, although the winds were mainly on the lighter side, resulting in some grumbling from crumpled crews with aching thighs from much marginal trapezing.

Day 1 presented the competitors with a SW 2-3 sea breeze and a choppy sea (due to wind against tide). Having been lulled into a false sense of security by winning the practice race, Alex Taylor & Bryan Mobbs could only manage a 3rd in the first race behind Marty O'Leary & Yvette Deacon and Mike and Di Croker; the penalty of having to dip back behind the line after the start being too much to overcome. Race 2 saw Taylor & Mobbs back on song, winning easily from Tom Derham & Racheal Avillerton, with O'Leary & Deacon in 3rd place.

The wind gods decided to have a laugh on day 2, presenting competitors with a light easterly over an increasingly strong ebb tide. Nigel Skudder & Keith Hills made the best of the shifty conditions in race 3, just ahead of Taylor & Mobbs and the local team of Tim Cutsforth & Sally Cooper. The first two placings were reversed in race 4, followed by Derham & Avillerton. The tide played havoc with the later competitors at the last leeward mark rounding and the RO wisely halted play for the day with one race outstanding.

The SW breeze made a welcome return on day 3, allowing the crews to stretch their legs again for a while. Taylor and Mobbs made sure of the championship with 4 straight wins, the minor placings going to the usual suspects, although Steve Skudder and Kate Fitzsimmons grabbed a 2nd in race 7.

With the championship decided, 2 teams were contesting the runner up spot on the final day in a shifty, but welcome NE 3-4. Skudder & Hills comprehensively got the better of O'Leary & Deacon, who could fairly be described as “having an off day” with an OCS and RAF! In contrast, the Crokers had a good day, gaining a 2nd and a 4th, to secure 4th place overall.

Overall Results: