Medway RC Laser Winter Series event 8 at Barton's Point Country Park, Isle of Sheppey

Medway RC Laser Winter Series event 8 © Fiona Blair

Having lost virtually all of February to gales the return saw again 25 knots. Nine intrepid sailors took to the water with at first C rigs.

With the wind direction from the NE an unusual course was set which included a reaching start. This suited the racing sailors who normally sail on the River Medway but with a triangle and sausage providing a long beat towards the bank where the sailors were standing it offered a novel close up view of the windward mark.

Jon Moon (51) set the day alight with a string of firsts and seconds. Andrew Nicholls (613) also showed great speed and consistency with a string of thirds. All boats donned the D rig after race 2 with the wind increasing over 25 knots. Tony Alexander (04) was quick on the water too but a number of entanglements with DNF scoring his day was spoilt.

One such tangle with Jamie Blair (51) down the run in race 4 came from a nose dive of 51 on the reach to a leeward mark. In the nose dive the transom lifted out of the water allowing the boat to land squarely across 04 and no amount of jiggling freed the two boats. With the breeze blowing away from the sailors rescue was important before they were blown to the far end of the lake.

It came down to the last race and discards to split Jon and Jamie. Jamie won by one point.

We look forward to the next round on Sunday 13th March.

Overall Results: