ILCA Open at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Bough Beech Laser Open © Emmanuel Facquez

A fantastic forecast saw a whopping 30 sailors arrive for a very competitive day of racing at Bough Beech Sailing Club on Saturday 11th September. Sailors came from all over the south east to take in the beautiful scenes of Bough Beech reservoir, and to race of course!

The race officer, Richard Bone, planned 4 races around a windward leeward course with an upwind spreader to prevent too much carnage at the mark rounding with full rigs and radials to start together. Race 1 saw a start line with a small port bias, but with more breeze towards the right of the course, allowed boats to line up along the full length. After a very competitive first beat, it was Bough Beech's own Elliot Marks who brought home the victory in the full rigs, showing the visitors how it's done, with David Binding from Weir Wood SC coming second.

In the Radials, James Curtis from Bosham SC had an outstandingly faultless day gaining 1st place in every race to secure his position at the top of the table. Second place, however, was much more fiercely contested between Crawley's Miles Vidler and Island Barn's Luka Franklin, with Vidler taking the upper hand after race 1.

Race 2 was similar to the first, with most of the fleet opting to keep right up the beat. Pete Young, one of Bough Beech's laser captains, put on a great performance from start to finish to take the win, with Binding gaining another second place. Vidler again beat Franklin to the line in the radials but this time were both beaten by a great third place result from Niall Peelo, Weir Wood SC.

Bough Beech Laser Open - photo © Trevor Chanter

After a great morning racing, the sailors returned to shore for lunch in the newly refurbished clubhouse, open for the very first time this year. Massive thanks go to the club committee, especially Commodore Martyn Smith, for all his hard work, as otherwise this would not have been possible. Pauline, in the galley, did a great job in getting us all fed and ready for the afternoon races.

Back out on the water and during race 3, the wind dropped significantly with just keeping the boat moving being key. Marks used his home advantage to come second with David Giles, Weir Wood SC, close behind. In the radials, it was Franklin who this time got the better of Vidler coming second and third respectively.

The wind filled back in again for race 4, with both sides of the race course paying even. Birthday boy, Elliot Marks, decided a dramatic swim was best on the first downwind leg, which kept everyone entertained, but managed to recover to 5th by the finish and claim the title based on his previous good results. The battle for second in the radials went down to the wire but it was taken by Vidler over Franklin in third and the impressive Curtis in first.

Ashore, Elliot Marks thanked BBSC's laser captains, Peter Young and Tulloch Priest, the race officer, safety boat crews, kitchen team and volunteers during his short acceptance speech. In the end, the day was another excellent and enjoyable Open at Bough Beech SC. Hope to see you all again next year!

Overall Results: