RC Laser Autumn Series at Fleetwood Model Yacht Club - Day 4
by Tony Wilson 8 Dec 2016 11:19 GMT
4 December 2016
18mph from the South East was the wind strength forecast for the day... Yeah right. When I arrived at the Fleetwood pond there were 3 boats already on the water and just drifting along. Hardly 'A' rig weather, never mind anything stronger. 11 skippers had made it for the 4th episode of the 2016 Autumn series.
Race 1 seemed to have started while three of us not too quick off the mark were still faffing around with batteries etc. Then Trevor our Race Officer said that we weren't supposed to start until 11:00 anyway. So the first race was classed as a warm up. Good lad Trev.
The breeze was straight down the lake, like the last few meets, so a similar course was sailed as the previous events, an anticlockwise triangle.
Peter Isles won the rerun and by now the wind had started to fill in just in time for our morning batch of races. After about the third race it was getting towards B rig just nicely.
We had eight before a slightly later lunch and then it was time for the cabin where the prize giving for the whole of the year's RC Laser sailing was to take place, while having a cuppa, butties and lots of cakes and goodies that the lads had all brought down for a feast.
Silverware stowed away, and it was back out again on the lake. The wind had dropped a touch so it was a bit of a mix with the sail selection. Ken had good scores and it looked like if he kept up some top places he would go home victorious.
A slight change of course and we had the same beat and anticlockwise circuit but the added novelty of the gate at the end of the run. Ken now had slipped the pack and was putting in a couple of last places taking along Tony with him. Was his previous record throughout the day enough to save him. Others were also having a couple of weed issues, but not fairing as badly.
It was a bit of a hard call to say who would be in the top 3 as there was quite a bit of good competition going on and many different skippers posting good or similar results.
In the end a fairly orderly day with an average amount of collisions but with the required 360 degree penalty turn when a rule was broken by the guilty party. When neither own up to the fault both could actually get disqualified by the class captain if non resolved.
Many posted good results, but it was Ken that came off victorious. Midfield skippers had very similar results and it was only a point or so between each other in sequence.
Thanks to Tim Lanigan for the great action pics. Please also check out the latest posted videos from flyingtony.
Day 4 Results:
1. Ken Crabtree 44pts
2. Jim Lydon 46pts (on count back)
3. John Plant 46pts
Midfield
4. Eric R. 51pts
5. Peter I 53pts
6 Trevor B 54pts
7 Tony W. 55pts
So as you see there wasn't lots between them.
Results for the Year:
Autumn Series: Welsh Cup - Tony Wilson
Winter Series: Yachtsman Trophy - Tony Wilson
Spring Series: J. Parkinson Trophy - Peter Isles
Summer Series: Harrowside Trophy - John Plant
Club Championship 2016: Mather Richardson Trophy - Peter Isles