Laser Midland Grand Prix Round 6 at Blithfield Sailing Club
by Mark Abbey 19 May 07:35 BST
13 May 2018
The event was graced yet again with warm, sunny weather throughout. 31 competitors took to Blithfield's splendid reservoir in a wind that was untypically capricious in both strength and direction. This was to produce compelling racing throughout the day.
It was always going to be a big ask to set a line and beat exactly on the median of such a wind but the PRO got it right for all three races.
If setting the beat was challenging, then sailing it was even more so. There were significant wind shifts all day with many being of the non-intuitive variety. One minute you could feel gleefully assured of arriving at the first mark comfortably ahead of the five nearest boats and then the next minute have to conjure a philosophical acceptance of the exact reverse.
Off-wind it was a similar story. In race 1 you could be planing along happily on a reach only to find yourself almost becalmed on a run on the next leg.
After lunch, races 2 and 3 were held back to back in a wind of reduced strength but still as variable. This favoured the lighter helms of the fleet.
In or out of the prizes, I think everyone found it very pleasant indeed being out on the water and the racing was utterly absorbing from start to finish.
Congratulations to Joe Scurrah of Carsington S C who won the event with two firsts.
Many thanks to PRO Ian McDonald, his assistant Jonathan Gibbons and all the Race Team. Also to Barbara Gibbons, Paula and Phil Mason and everyone on the House Team. Without all their hard work the Lasers would not have been able to enjoy such a memorable event.
Overall Results:
1st Joe Scurrah (Carsington SC) 1 (8) 1, 2pts
2nd Mark Abbey (Blithfield SC) (5) 1 2, 3pts
3rd Craig Williamson (HISC/SHSC) 3 3 (9), 6pts
4th Cameron Smith (Chelmarsh SC) 2 (5) 5, 7pts
5th Paul Williamson (Staunton Harold SC) (4) 4 4, 8pts
1st Radial, Ellie Craig (Draycote SC) 8 11 (12), 19pts
2nd Radial, Jamie Mason (Blithfield SC) (22) 21 22, 43pts
3rd Radial, Lydia Barber (Blithfield SC) 26 24 (29), 50pts
1st 4.7, Sarah Rumball (Ogston SC) 24 (28) 27, 51pts
1st Lady, Heather Matthews (Blithfield SC) (9) 7 8, 15pts
1st Under 21, Dan Johnson (Blithfield SC) (11) 9 3, 12pts