RC Laser Winter Series at Fleetwood Model Yacht Club - Round 3
by Tony Wilson 11 Feb 19:06 GMT
Fleetwood RC Laser Winter Series round 3 © Tony Wilson
Whatever happened to the last couple of events?! Round 1 was cancelled due to winds in excess of 30 MPH and round 2 a fortnight later was even worse with winds above 40 mph. Other clubs more inland may have gotten away with it, but here on the coast, we sometimes get hammered in the open.
Six skippers turned up for today's sailing and it was more like about 20 mph with a few chancing a B rig, although only for the warm up. Choice of sail for the day was going to be on a C rig. The wind was just off the length of the lake and a windward mark just past the half way on the far side was agreed upon. Back across the lake towards us, then diagonally down the lake and across to complete a figure of eight course.
Being a fairly short race kept us all seeming close and leaving none behind. It was debated to whether we should sail two laps as the races were taking around 10 minutes or so, although we were all happy.
The New Laserling to the block 'Our Steve' was doing well. Considering he hadn't done any radio sailing in the past and has only had his new RC Laser boat barely six months he is coping very well.
Trevor's plan was for us to get eight races in before lunch. It's always best to get a good start to the day in case the afternoon turns for the worse and means you have at least a complete day of racing in the bag.
As it was all going so swimmingly smooth, an adaptation of the plan soon added a twist. We had nearly completed eight races by just gone 12:00 and this was now to be called race day 3A. A couple more races to make it 10 to give us a better selection for our discards. Some were starting to feel hungry, but hardy task master Trev decided to get the first two races in before the afternoon session for race day 3B.
The guess to whom would have won the morning's edition was fairly open. Nearly all by now had a win under their belt. The racing had been very close, and odd comings together or missed marks would change the order in a jiffy. An unauthorised sneaky peek at the results and Peter had snatched the morning with Eric in second place.
On to the afternoon's racing and as a bit of variety, the whole lake was to be used for the next couple of races. The wind was now straight down the lake and a windward-leeward course was to be adopted with a gate at this near end and finish a third way up the lake.
Derek joined us just for a race, to keep his fingers nimble and show us how it was really done.
The use of a gate was new for some and a bit of a novelty that would be good to introduce in case we use it for the Nationals when they are held at Fleetwood later in the year.
A change back to the morning's course and a more distant finish was the balance, making races not to short with the wind strengthening all the while, otherwise two laps would have been too much.
Eric, Bob and Ian were also racing very well and showing the 'Old Hands' Peter and Tony they could put in a good result or two.
The wind was now threatening the use of the D rigs. Eventually some had to give in and make the change, all except the brave. Was it worth it for just the last couple of races, but it was actually more than a couple and somehow Tony managed a few wins by holding on with the bigger rig, but it was way too late for him as all results count in the end.
The afternoon session was won by Steve and it certainly makes the next outing interesting, as next week concludes the Winter series for Fleetwood.
Everyone had at least one win during the day and it was good to see our newer sailors able to stand their ground and not feel to intimidated by the rules.
Very enjoyable sailing with favourable weather. We had completed 20 races in total and it was a good idea to split the day, as all those present were the same six individuals on the two abandoned races days prior.
Day 3A results:
1 Peter Isles
2 Eric Austwick
3 Bob Jolly
Day 3B results:
1 Steve Mattison
2 Tony Wilson
3 Peter Isles