RC Laser Winter Series event 1 at Medway Yacht Club
by Jamie Blair 18 Dec 2021 10:44 GMT
12 December 2021
RC Laser Winter Series event 1 at Medway © Noel Morley
Having missed all of 2020 the start of this Winter Series was eagerly awaited. Our first Sunday of the 17 race series was cancelled due to high winds so the 12th December became the first outing in our 15th year of racing the RC Laser.
Ten boats arrived at the start area to a WSW 10 knots allowing a conventional triangle sausage arrangement outside the café.
On the gun for Race 1 all were using B rigs. The start was clean and saw Jamie Blair take advantage of a pin end bias and the shifting wind up the first beat. Tim Townsend chased hard and finished second. The Wednesday Old Codgers racing team were joined by those not allowed out mid-week to give some close racing in the middle of the pack.
There was some chatter about tactics similar to Formula 1 to get ahead and a dismasting of Brian's boat just after the start in one race confirmed the close encounters. It, however, was good to see rule observance and penalty turns. Keep it up. "Sorry" was also heard on a number of occasions!!
Seven races were completed before the coffee break. Jamie didn't have it all his way with Tony Alexander picking off two bullets, having crossed the fleet at the start with two port end flyers. Tim in his first outing this year was amongst the leaders but being the bridesmaid, saving his best performance for after the break. Towards the end of the first session saw some spectacular nose diving.
Roger Gibb started with his C rig and confirmed how suitable the choice was with a couple of second places. Most B Rigs were changed to C after the break apart from Tim Townsend who persisted with the B and taking two bullets in the four races.
Other good results came from the middle of the pack with Jon Moon, Roger Gibb and Mark Penny. Andrew Nicholls saving his best for the last race.
Numbers were depleted after the break with electronic faults - some homework before the next session on Sunday 19th December - racing is every Sunday until end of March.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 51 | Jamie Blair | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ‑8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | (DNC) | 14 |
| 2nd | 45 | Tim Townsend | 2 | 2 | ‑3 | 2 | ‑4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 18 |
| 3rd | 3 | Mark Penny | ‑6 | 4 | ‑7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 30 |
| 4th | 32 | Roger Gibb | (DNC) | (DNC) | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 43 |
| 5th | 4 | Tony Alexander | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 45 |
| 6th | 613 | Andrew Nicholls | ‑8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | ‑9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 49 |
| 7th | 84 | Jon Moon | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 54 |
| 8th | 958 | Brian Lev'y | 4 | ‑9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | (DNF) | 6 | 4 | 5 | 59 |
| 9th | 76 | Bob Woolford | (DNF) | 8 | 8 | (DNF) | 7 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 6 | DNC | 67 |
| 10th | 62 | Spencer Pope | 7 | 7 | (DNF) | 9 | 10 | 10 | 7 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 83 |