Medway RC Laser Winter Series 2018-19 - Round 2

Having lost last Sunday due to excessively high winds the fleet was keen to get back on the water and saw the second round of our Winter Series sailed with 11 starters.

The lake was at an almost flat calm but enough wind to power the "A" rig. The wind remained as a SW and varied from 5 – 8 kts.

The first race saw a pin end rush with Jamie Blair making it the windward mark first. Jon Moon came in from the right side of the beat with increased pressure to chase round in second. The light breeze compressed the filed and caused a bit of a pile up for the remainder of the fleet. Richard Stone missed the mark along with a number of others, eventually sorting themselves out and on to the wing mark and the rest of the course. Jamie took the win and Jon behind with Phil Walker in third.

Races 2, 3 and 4 saw Richard Stone recover from his re-rounding of mark 1 in Race 1 to take bullets in all 3. The course started to skew with a definite left side beat, leading to many boats arriving at the windward mark on the port lay line. No serious infringements but meant that slick tacking or going through the starboard lay line was the solution.

During the morning the wind kept up its light and variable direction with one memorable race where the back of the fleet picked up a selective lift to the windward mark that left the front runners stranded out to the right and in no breeze.

Coffee and bacon sarnies at 11.00 after race 6 put Jamie leading the points with Jon Moon and Richard having been in first place during the first period. Richard seemed to loose his luck after the break with again misjudging buoys and having to re-round. Jon Moon and Tony Alexander maintained a good succession of top 3/4 places. Persistence from others in the fleet paid off with Mark Penny collecting a string of 2, 3, 2, Charles Pegram taking the bullet in Race 10 and Brian Lev'y a second. Great results.

Many of the sailors showed moments of potential – starting well but being flummoxed by the variable wind and still learning the art of making the RC Laser go.

Thirteen races were completed by our 12.30 cut-off. Jamie took the day with Jin Moon in second and Tony Alexander in third.

Next Sunday 23rd December for Round 3.

Overall Results: