Medway RC Laser Winter Series - Day 8

Medway RC Laser Winter Series day 8 © Jamie Blair

No lie-in for the keen racers for Round 8 of the Medway RC Laser Winter Series. Weather predictions were for 13-15 knots from the West and with temperatures above freezing. The wind direction was right but the wind provided a minimum of 20 knots and a peak of 30 knots were recorded.

This did not put off the eleven racers who braved the elements. The course was positioned to provide some shelter from the steep waves from the westerly breeze and long fetch down the lake towards the launch/race area. A trapezoidal layout laid to keep boats separated and provide a variety on courses previously used.

The "D" sail was the rig of choice. The beat towards a headland provided varying shifts near the top of the course and produced many position changes. It also allowed the OCS boats an opportunity to catch up!

Pete Freeman and Ian Foxwell set the pace taking a mixture of top three places and with Jamie Blair, Jon Moon, Richard Stone and Tony Alexander all chasing hard.

Medway RC Laser Winter Series day 8 - photo © Jamie Blair

Some notable results from Brian Lev'y with a 4th place in race 8 and an improving Mark Penny with four 4th places. Jon Moon with a list of 3rd and 4th places and Tony Alexander a couple of 2nds. One casualty with damp electronics was Scot Atkinson that started in Race 1 and kept him out for the whole morning. Andrew Nichols first outing of the series was a true baptism of fire finding the going very tough and joined David Townshend for a spectator position after the coffee break.

Robert Owens was watching and continuing "on the water" judging. With the windy and shifty conditions, the sun in your eyes for the downwind leg of the trapezoid and the reach across the bottom some latitude was asked for!

By our cut-off time of 12.30, 14 races had been completed. Two sailors were tied on equal points – Pete Freeman and Ian Foxwell, with Pete out on top with six 1sts against five 1sts. Jamie in third, 10 points behind the leaders. Jon Mon, Richard Stone and Tony Alexander with 10 points apart gave us the next three places.

Medway RC Laser Winter Series day 8 - photo © Jamie Blair

The Winter Series Overall is well poised with the Tony Owens out in front and the next 3 places only points apart. The enthusiasm for the next half of the series will keep these and the rest fully in contention for the overall places for the series.

Our next outing is next Sunday for Round 9 with 6 rounds left.

Round 8 Results:

Medway RC Laser Winter Series Results: (after Round 8)