Laserfest Tri-Series Round 3 at Herne Bay Sailing Club

Too Tall Tom Oliver experiments with alternative windward technique - Laserfest Tri-Series Round 3 at Herne Bay © Nicky Whatley

Laserfest does sailing differently - and that even comes down to event reporting! Yep, nearly a month down the line, here's how Laserfest Tri-Series 2019 supported by SailingChandlery.com reached a truly nail-biting finish at Herne Bay Sailing Club on September 1.

Going into the final round of this three-round inter-club challenge (the 'Tri-Series') the big story was the fight for the Elite teams shield. Whitstable YC had scored a surprise win at the opening round at Broadstairs SC in July. The BSC Elite team (2018 champions) had been expected to dominate, but with four races and all to count, a series of gear and brain failures among the usually slick youthful locals let the wily WYC old boys into an early victory. A month later the BSC boys took their revenge at the Whitstable round, led by Olly Cage-White (known locally as OCS Olly...) who took the overall, supported very ably by teenager Pierce Seward in third. However, the Laserfest teams shield is scored on points total, not round wins, so while it was a round apiece, in fact the difference between the rival teams was just nine points. Either way, it would be winner takes all at Herne Bay.

So, not a good time to arrive without most of your star players. It was kept a secret, but on the Sunday morning at Herne Bay the WYC sailors saw the truth - no Cage-White, no Brothers Thomas (three of), no Tom Goodey - The Broadstairs team appeared severely weakened. The WYC sensed blood. Now teams are selected on the day, so WYC selected regular big-hitters Christian Brewer, Charlie Campion and Kevin Hall for their lead Elite team, while at BSC young Seward became the new captain, aided by Tom Goodey's dad, Lee - back from an extended period shore-based (ie not sailing) - and Paddy Denby, who'd put in a couple of top-threes at the Broadstairs round but had not been seen since...

Conditions looked favourable, sunshine, warm temperatures (air and sea) with a 10-knot wind blowing from the East. But as at Whitstable, the breeze withered and the Herne Bay race officers did well to finish the three-race programme.

Pierce Seward is quite possibly North Kent's hottest new talent - Laserfest Tri-Series Round 3 at Herne Bay - photo © Nicky Whatley

On the water, Seward proved unstoppable, immaculately roll-tacking away from the 31-strong fleet, while surprisingly the unpracticed Goodey fell straight back into light airs mastery so that the pair placed 1-2 in each race. That should have secured the shield, only Denby - not a lover of light airs, and only hours back from an overseas holiday - was struggling, buried in the fleet at each start. Meanwhile WYC's Brewer, Campion and Hall were consistently placing well.

Into the final race of the series, just two points separated the two Elite teams. With barely a zephyr to push the Lasers over the tide, Seward and Goodey made their escape, chased by the WYC trio while Denby again got caught in the tail end. By the second mark it looked like WYC had the points advantage given three solid places, and so possibly the shield, but on the downwind leg Denby found a favourable puff and managed to ease past enough of the fleet to regain a mid-fleet finish. But was it enough?

Which team had won was still unknown for some time as the race officers were wrangling with the results. Their digital results programme had gone offline and it was back to old school manual calculations (calculating the handicaps for the standards, radials and even 4.7s) to sort the finishing orders. Finally, to a restless audience, it was declared a win for the Broadstairs Elite, by just four points on the day - and so 13-points across the series - to retain the Laserfest Elite teams shield.

In the Laserfest Club teams competition, Herne Bay SC took their first teams day win ever in Laserfest history(!), narrowly beating the WYC team; but WYC by this time were way ahead in the series and easily retained the Club shield. Top sailor across the series was Broadstairs SC's Pierce Seward.

Whitstable's superheroes… are we convinced? - Laserfest Tri-Series Round 3 at Herne Bay - photo © Nicky Whatley

Laserfest looks set to grow in 2020 as visiting sailors from Bough Beech SC vowed to return with full team line-ups for the next season, while other visitors from Essex and London all expressed enthusiasm for the LaserFest formula of friendly but competitive rivalry.

Laserfest needs to thanks its sponsors, too. The series was generously supported in 2019 by SailingChandlery.com and Lothbury Investment Management - many thanks to them for the prizes and support.

Laserfest is about fun and inclusivity. Everyone who sails a Laser, of any age (boat or helm), of any description (usual class compliance is waived), of any rig (Std, Radial, 4.7), of any competence, is welcome. It's a three-round series, based on the North Kent Coast - Whitstable, Herne Bay, Broadstairs - held over three dates in July, August and September, you can sail as an individual or why not join with pals as a team (three-four to a team)?

Find all you need to know at www.laser-fest.com

Overall Series Results:

Jon Silk led the Herne Bay SC to a Club teams win - Laserfest Tri-Series Round 3 at Herne Bay - photo © Nicky Whatley