RC Laser Winter Series event 1 at Medway Yacht Club

RC Laser Winter Series event 1 at Medway © Jamie Blair

Our 13th Year of racing the RC Laser began with 14 boats all raring to go for the start of an exciting year. Before arriving all had seen light breezes at home but looking at the local weather station it was showing over 30 kts.

The mark layer had a difficult job and nearly had to have a reaching start but a shift to the N from NE and a drop from the 30 kts to just over 20 kts allowed a conventional triangle sausage arrangement.

On the gun for Race 1 the start was clean and saw Ian Foxwell take advantage of the shifting wind up the first beat. The café was playing a blinder creating a sometimes unpredictable wind by the windward mark. Adrian Tomlinson and Pete Freeman were close behind. We welcomed Tim Townsend to the racing the Laser and he registered a 4th place in Race 1. There were a number of boats sporting a B Rig but the breeze was too strong with Adrian making it work but others back down the fleet.

Rule observance is our mantra and it was good to see boats doing their penalty turns in all the races. Keep it up. "Sorry" was also heard on a number of occasions!

Race 2 saw some spectacular nose diving especially by Dick Owens sailing 75 and on inspection the boat was found to have taken n water. A split in the bow meant an early exit from the racing. The first three were the same as Race 1 with Ian leading Adrian and Pete. Adrian and Jamie Blair persisting with the B rig and Jamie taking 5th place.

Most B Rigs were changed to C after race 3 but Adrian persisted with the B rig until race 5 when the wind clearly was too much. Ian led the day up to Race 5 when Pete took over, holding on to first position until race 8 when Adrian took the lead.

Our new member was finding the Laser a bit of handful (used to sailing a more conventional model boat) but an 8th overall was great for a first time out.

Other good results came from the middle of the pack with Andrew Nicholls finishing with some upper third results.

Coffee break and a hot wood burning fire refuelled everyone and in particular Jamie Blair in 51 who took the bullet in the last five races. He and Adrian fighting it out up the beat with Jamie choosing the right side on a number of occasions. Places changed for all those racing and also showed that with 9 months off the finesse of racing the Laser needs more practice.

So on our 13th year and first Sunday the last race of the day, the 13th, saw 13 boats come to the start line. Adrian had a clear lead on points and Pete Freeman was in second with Jamie close behind having to make up 3 points to take second overall for the day. That bullet was crucial - Sorry Pete. Jon Moon and Andrew Nichols were also vying for fifth and sixth with the last race to be the decider - Jon took fifth by one point. This pattern cascaded through the fleet with points close.

Next Race is on Sunday 8th December - racing is every Sunday until end of March.

Overall Results - event 1: