Laser 4.7 Inlands at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

Very light winds for the Laser 4.7 Inlands at Chew Valley Lake © Eddie Mays

Very light winds for the Laser 4.7 Inlands at Chew Valley Lake © Eddie Mays

Very light winds for the Laser 4.7 Inlands at Chew Valley Lake © Eddie Mays

44 Laser 4.7 sailors arrived at Chew Valley S.C. on Saturday to be greeted by fog and no wind. Not only was this the Inland Championships, but it was the last of 6 Ladder Events for 2006, with most of the top prizes still to be decided. Ralph Singleton, the Race Officer for the weekend was keen to ensure he got 5 races for the fleet and quickly got everyone launched. The conditions did not look promising, but soon a fickle breeze started to fill in. About an hour after the anticipated start, the fleet were sent away with a black flag. In fact black flags were used all weekend to ensure line discipline and get the maximum number of races.

Once the race got away, the right hand side of the course seemed to be the place to be, with a port lift up to the shore. Michael Clark took an early lead followed by Janek Payne, Mark Gregson and Charlie Parker-Mowbray. Although positions changed lower down the fleet, these 4 sailed away from the pack and kept their positions to the finish.

With barely time to draw breath, the 2nd race was under way. This time there were some nasty patches of no wind in the middle but a better breeze on the left. Tom Hewitt, Kyle Grant and Julian Shawyer read the conditions best. After a slow 1st beat, Daniel Wray showed good boat speed to claw his way up to 2nd by the finish, behind Tom Hewitt, with Kyle disappointed to lose his 2nd place.

By now the sun was dipping and the omens did not look promising. But the race officer knew better and got the fleet away cleanly for their 3rd start. The light breeze did hold out, despite the temperature dropping dramatically. Martin Hayes pulled off a spectacular port tack flyer, but sailed into a hole. At the windward mark, George Hand had a convincing lead, followed by Janek Payne, David Harper and Tom Hewitt. Unfortunately George tangled with the leeward mark to let David and Tom past. A great 2nd beat from Tom Hewitt gave him the lead, which he kept to the finish. David Harper started to show his form with 2nd followed by an unfortunate George Hand.

Sunday morning was a repeat of the day before with thick fog and no wind. As the fog lifted, there appeared to be some breeze at the far end of the lake. This was enough for Ralph Singleton to get the fleet onto the start line. A shifty 2-3 began to set in and the 4th race was away. The first beat was patchy, catching out many of the competitors. David Harper, used to lake sailing, made the most of the shifts, followed by Janek Payne and Duncan Keates. David built on the early lead to win by a good margin. Duncan Keates got the better of Janek Payne by the finish.

With one race to go, a number of competitors were in with a chance to win the Championship. The 1st beat was even more shifty and gusty than before. Tom Hewitt, another lake sailor, showed his dominance of this event, by rounding the windward mark in 1st. Jess Derbyshire and Mark Gregson were close on his heels, but were never able to close the gap. This left Tom Hewitt as the overall Inland Champion with Janek Payne in 2nd and David Harper in 3rd.

Overall Results:

1st Tom Hewitt (West Lancs)
2nd Janek Payne (Dabchicks)
3rd David Harper (Draycote Water)
4th Michael Clark (Warsash)
5th Mark Gregson (Burgfield)
6th Julian Shawyer (Datchet)
7th Martin Hayes (Blithfield)

This left the matter of the Ladder Series. David Harper, Kyle Grant and Martin Hayes all went into this event with the chance of winning overall. These results, meant that David Harper won and receives a new boat courtesy of PSE. Martin Hayes was 2nd and 1st Junior and Kyle Grant 3rd. Ist Lady and 1st Junior lady was Sopie McKeemam with Charlie Parker-Mowbray as 2nd lady.