Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series Day 2
by Jamie Blair 19 Dec 2022 14:03 GMT
18 December 2022
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series Day 2 © Fiona Blair
No wind, fog and no racing last week was changed to snow, ice and a cold wind. Despite all this seven ventured out for the mornings racing. The SE wind 8 - 12 knots allowed all to stand right by the café making the dash for coffee a short one.
The triangle sausage course and square line made starting, for the majority of races, on starboard at the windward end. There were shifts in the wind as well as changes in strength.
On the gun for Race 1 all were using B Rigs. Jamie Blair (51) started as he left off from two weeks ago with clear air off the start and a covering brief over the rest of the fleet. Lucian Stone (75) who was plagued by range issues last timeout posted a second in race one.
Jon Moon (84) held his own to keep snapping at the leaders along with Spencer Pope (62). Rule observance remained good - great to see penalty turns being taken, including Jamie. The leg to the wing mark was a very broad reach leading to the run to the leeward mark. No influence by the cafe today but wind from behind compressed the fleet in many races just in time for the leeward mark and shouts for "Mark Room".
Races 3, 4 and 5 were in reduced breeze with A rigs being used. Prudence by some for race 5 showed those with A rigs that more power doesn't always pay off.
Five races were completed before the coffee break. Jamie had set a real target for the fleet to catch. Jon and Tony (04) were battling it out together and even the fourth to seventh place only had 7 points between their scores.
After the break B rigs for all and with a slight wind shift there were at times options for the pin end. Stronger breeze on the right side of the beat though always seemed to be best. A number tried the left side but ending up on the port lay line and big trouble at the windward mark
8 more races were started after the break with Jamie and Tony pacing each other closely followed by Jon. Lucian after some high scorers brought home a bullet in Race 9 to loud cheers. Roger Gibb (32), Spencer Pope (62) and Bob Woolford (76) raced each other for most of the morning.
We finished with cold hands and feet and just before the rain and 20 knots of wind.
Merry Christmas to all.
Our next set of races will be on Sunday 8th January 2023.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 51 | Jamie Blair | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 2 | ‑5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| 2nd | 4 | Tony Alexander | ‑5 | ‑6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 23 |
| 3rd | 84 | Jon Moon | 3 | 2 | 3 | ‑5 | 2 | ‑4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 26 |
| 4th | 75 | Lucian Stone | 2 | 5 | ‑6 | (DNC) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 44 |
| 5th | 32 | Roger Gibb | 6 | (DNC) | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | (DNF) | DNF | 5 | 5 | 46 |
| 6th | 62 | Spencer Pope | 4 | 4 | 7 | (DNC) | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 54 |
| 7th | 76 | Bob Woolford | (DNF) | 3 | 4 | 4 | (DNF) | 5 | 7 | 7 | DNF | 5 | DNF | DNC | 59 |