Noble Marine Laser Radial Spring Qualifier 2 at the WPNSA

by Georgina Povall 16 Mar 2017 15:16 GMT 11-12 March 2017

Georgina Povall wins the Radial fleet in the Noble Marine Laser Qualifier held at WPNSA © James Tomlinson

The second Noble Marine Laser Qualifier of the year was held at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, and with 86 Radials entered, the decision was made to race as one fleet.

The forecast for Saturday was for 10–12kts decreasing throughout the day. Racing was to take place in Weymouth Bay with a stronger and longer-lasting wind than originally expected. The Standards and 4.7s got underway, but as usual, the large Radial fleet needed a few warm up starts and some black flags were given. Unfortunately, the visibility rapidly started to decrease and, despite a good breeze, we were held under postponement. The cloud that had enveloped the Radial fleet showed no signs of moving so, for safety reasons and the minor issue of being unable to see the pin end, we were sent ashore to await further signals and eventually racing was abandoned for the day.

Day two was more successful with three races completed in a building breeze, starting at about 5kts and reaching up to 10kts by the end of the third race. Race 1 saw those at the starboard end of the line come out on top with the leaders linking up the pressure which seemed to be the key strategy of the day. Ali Young came in from the right to lead around the top mark with Jon Emmett and Georgina Povall following having played the left. Pressure and shift on the left up the second beat gave Povall the lead, but after a solid downwind, Young reclaimed the lead and the win, followed by Povall and Emmett. The flat water and wind strength meant there was little difference in boat speed across the fleet so maintaining a clear lane and being in pressure were the priorities. This made it difficult to catch up with the front group if you were behind so a strong start at the biased end was important.

In Race 2, the leaders came from the left taking advantage of the pin-end bias and increased pressure on that side of the course. Rheanna Pavey led the way around maintaining a good lead on second and third by linking up the pressure and sailing lifted tack. Emmett and Young finished off the top three building up a consistent set of results.

Eager to get racing, the Radial fleet had yet more recalls in Race 3 with seven unfortunate sailors adding black flags to their scoreline. Starting at the pin-end and working the left paid up the first beat with Sally Bell from Ireland taking the lead at the windward mark followed by Povall. In the end, Povall took first, with Young in second and Bell in third.

The racing remained similar throughout the day and those that were able to link up the pressure gained. A clear start at the biased end was needed with the large fleet size and keeping the boat flat and powered up to maximize speed. Overall, despite the lack of racing on day one, we managed to get three good races in on Sunday. Georgina Povall took first overall on countback, tied on points with Ali Young who took second place, and Jon Emmett was third.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1	7773	Georgina POVALL	2	15	1	3
2	3978	Ali YOUNG	1	3	2	3
3	604	Jon EMMETT	3	2	BFD90	5
4	7779	Rheanna PAVEY	8	1	29	9
5	9294	Arthur BROWN	26	4	7	11
6	4963	Hannah SNELLGROVE	44	5	9	14
7	9112	Yann BRACEGIRDLE	33	11	4	15
8	9199	Stephanie WINGEATT	10	7	33	17
9	9374	George GRAHAM	7	13	BFD90	20
10	8944	Ben WHALEY	24	8	13	21
11	8876	Chloe BARR	4	18	21	22
12	9390	Tom RENNY	16	31	6	22
13	9221	Daisy COLLINGRIDGE	13	33	12	25
14	NM1	Harris CARTWRIGHT	17	9	BFD90	26
15	8751	Iona DIXON	5	43	22	27
16	294	Rob CAGE	18	27	10	28
17	9279	Rhys WILLIAMS	9	21	40	30
18	9115	Mila MONAGHAN	20	10	BFD90	30
19	9508	Christine WOOD	6	25	53	31
20	9291	Arthur FRY	19	14	44	33
21	8788	Ted BLOWERS	11	24	39	35
22	9495	Rory HARPER	12	59	23	35
23	7379	Ben ELVIN	37	20	18	38
24	IRL6	Conor QUINN	28	29	11	39
25	9008	Milo GILL‑TAYLOR	51	6	34	40
26	8936	George FORD	21	19	25	40
27	7641	Ellie CUMPSTY	14	34	28	42
28	8038	Alice WOODINGS	30	36	14	44
29	9166	Anya HAJI‑MICHAEL	38	55	8	46
30	9368	Tom POLLARD	43	16	30	46
31	8358	Clementine THOMPSON	42	44	5	47
32	9209	Christopher JONES	25	23	26	48
33	9461	Martin COWELL	27	22	77	49
34	9384	Joseph DRAKE	36	26	24	50
35	9017	Deborah HUGHES	40	12	64	52
36	8198	Graham COOK	73	32	20	52
37	8712	William BIRCHALL	15	60	41	56
38	9184	Eleanor CRAIG	29	28	38	57
39	9263	Paul MOUGHTIN‑LEAY	22	37	37	59
40	9160	Arthur CONNOLLY	45	17	65	62
41	8100	Daniel WIGMORE	39	35	27	62
42	9385	James RUSS	23	40	56	63
43	8844	Jordan GILES	48	48	19	67
44	9406	Hugo HANSEN	34	65	35	69
45	IRL7	Sally BELL	BFD90	69	3	72
46	9290	David SAUNDERS	58	78	15	73
47	9238	Thomas WOODINGS	53	30	43	73
48	8992	Will BEDFORD	BFD90	38	36	74
49	9502	Jake BOWHAY	31	46	50	77
50	9254	Matilda NICHOLLS	DSQ90	62	16	78
51	9218	Emma CRANE	57	47	31	78
52	9337	Molly SACKER	49	77	32	81
53	8199	Ellie HUTCHINGS	32	53	70	85
54	9044	Harry COWELL	61	42	46	88
55	4631	Max HUNT	56	41	48	89
56	IRL1	Luke MCILWAINE	35	75	55	90
57	IRL3	Angus FERRIS	41	56	49	90
58	9161	Eloise TANGUY	66	45	47	92
59	9507	Krishan BHOGAL	DNC90	76	17	93
60	9487	Scott PARKER	63	51	42	93
61	9431	Thomas BRINDLEY	59	39	76	98
62	9247	Freya CUMPSTY	52	52	69	104
63	IRL8	Olivia MOONEY	47	81	58	105
64	8998	Imogen KEMP	46	66	60	106
65	9407	Charlie SOUTH	69	57	51	108
66	IRL2	Peter GILMORE	BFD90	50	59	109
67	8952	Dan THORNE‑LARGE	67	68	45	112
68	9391	Franklin WRIGHT	55	61	57	112
69	9012	Ciaran RANDERIA	64	49	BFD90	113
70	471	Bob CUDMORE	78	64	52	116
71	9576	Freya ANDERSON	54	74	62	116
72	9411	Theo PHILLIPS	72	58	61	119
73	9550	Magnus HANDLEY	76	54	72	126
74	9630	Rebecca ROBERTS	74	73	54	127
75	9558	Luke BEUVINK	50	80	BFD90	130
76	9551	Natalya WILLIAMS	68	67	63	130
77	9301	Iain DUNCAN	60	71	73	131
78	9546	George SUNDERLAND	65	82	66	131
79	9344	Elizabeth BROWN	75	63	71	134
80	8849	Haydn LAVENDER	62	85	75	137
81	9026	Douglas CALDER	BFD90	70	67	137
82	9397	Eleanor POOLE	71	72	68	139
83	9497	William COOK	70	79	BFD90	149
84	9489	Molly TULETT	77	83	74	151
85	NM2	Ella BOXALL	79	84	78	157
86	9210	Henry BEARDSALL	DNC90	DNC90	DNC90	180
86	9330	Sam DAVIS	DNC90	DNC90	DNC90	180
86	9403	Jago STRONG‑WRIGHT	DNC90	DNC90	DNC90	180
86	9500	Jason KIRK	DNC90	DNC90	DNC90	180