Laser Thames Valley Series Open at Datchet Water Sailing Club
by Pete Edel 6 Oct 20:53 BST
21 September 2019
Thames Valley Laser Open at Datchet © DWSC
A reasonable turnout of 18 Standards and 7 Radials made the event at Datchet. It was a gorgeous sunny day, made better by the light to medium winds forecast.
Standard Lasers
Race 1: Mark Lyttle was in 6th position to begin with, but worked his way through the fleet, into the lead at the last windward mark, and won the race. Joza Cic from Wembley finished 2nd, and Chris Nash from Datchet, third.
Race 2: Mark Lyttle reached the 1st windward mark in first position, and was never troubled. Mervyn Hughes from Datchet came second, and, and Peter Dann from Wembley was third.
Race 3: Mark Lyttle repeated race 2, 1st at the windward mark, and held on to win again. He didn't need to take part in race 4, because he had already won the event. Mark Greenstreet, also from Wembley was second, and Peter Dann, third. Mervyn Hughes consolidated his overall position, coming fourth.
Race 4: In the last race there were different faces at the front of the fleet, with Paul Robinson climbing through the fleet from 10th position initially, and Mervyn Hughes being hot on his heels. On the last lap Paul hung on to take honours by a short boat length from Mervyn Hughes. Again Peter Dann was third.
This meant Mark Lyttle won the event with a race to spare, with Mervyn Hughes second, and Peter Dann third.
Radial Lasers
The four races were dominated by Alastair Brown from Great Moor SC, and Julien Shawyer, from Datchet SC. Alastair won all 4 races, with Julien coming second overall with two seconds and two thirds. Jack Ward from Oxford S C finishing third overall.
Once again, I wish to thank our sponsors Sailing Chandlery.
The last event is at Burghfield on the 12th October, with tight competition in the Radial fleet for the overall series prize.