RC Lasers at Yateley Model Sailing Club

by Class Association 26 Sep 2005 21:13 BST 25 September 2005

Following a short break for the National Championships the RC Laser TT resumed for round seven at Yateley.

A good turnout of twenty three, including yet more new faces, looked forward to a sunny but testing days racing, the wind was generally light but shifty and gusty, leading to many headaches over correct rig selection. The seeding races ended up with a win each for John Arundell and Ricky Tagg, but it was the next race that was to set the tone for the rest of the day. John Tushingham and Ricky were never more than a couple of boat lengths apart throughout the race but Ricky kept a cool head and a tight cover to take his second win in a row.

A slight increase in the wind prompted a change down to B rigs and a win for John T with John A and Ricky in second and third. So we went into the lunchbreak with only a point betwen the three and a chance for Ricky to get his first coffee of the day! It must have worked, he stole over the the line to take a last minute victory in race four after race-long leader Chris Treagust saw his huge lead vapourise up the tricky short beat to the finish, John A added to the frustration by claiming second.

John Tushingham then chalked up a couple of wins but Ricky fought back in both races to cross second. With only one race to go it was time for the Neurofens, a quick look at the results had John T and Ricky showing three wins and two seconds apiece with discards of fourth and third respectively. John A was only a couple of pionts adrift but could not now break into the top two positions. So it was all set for a bit of good natured match racing for the overall win, the pre-start looked like something from the Americas Cup, Ricky established the leeward position and got the better of John off the start. Whilst John Arundell sailed away to an easy win Ricky had managed to sail John T to the back of the fleet, but with one lap remaing John managed to get through Rickys lee and set about trying to get back to third place. It was starting to look possible when the leading bunch parked up down the run, John got onto the back of the group and took a desperate flyer up the last beat, but to no avail. In the end it couldn't have been closer, Ricky sealing victory by a point from John T with John A only one point adrift in third.

A special mention for Skip Reaser, from West Lancs YC, who finished sixth overall, by far his best result in a TT event to date.

With two events left on the calendar it's all square and a straight fight between the two Johns, but the titles of Best Newcomer and Best Improver are still wide open.

Thanks to all at Yateley for putting on a superb event and our Sponsors Marine Modelling International magazine for their continued support.

The next round takes us to yet another new venue, Yeovil MBC on Saturday 22nd October. See www.rclaser.org.uk for more details.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	Pts
1st	88	Ricky Tagg	Gosport	10
2nd	311	John Tushingham	Keighley	11
3rd	27	John Arundell	Yateley	12
4th	423	David Hivey	West Lancs YC	27
5th	97	Chris Treagust	Gosport	28
6th	39	Skip Reaser	West Lancs YC	38