RC Laser Winter Series at Fleetwood Model Yacht Club - Week 1
by Tony Wilson 3 Feb 08:12 GMT
8 January 2023
RC Laser Winter Series at Fleetwood week 1 © Tony Wilson
We had a forecast with plenty of wind, but this time it would be the rain that would dampen our spirit. On arrival we were greeted with the fire brigade, they were having their yearly training exercise for three new rookie recruits. Asking us whether we minded at all and we certainly did not for a short delay, as it was tipping it down.
We are sometimes a bit slow to start in the RC Laser class and within about half an hour, we had mustered up a grand total of four Skippers to fight the rain.
So by 11:00 we were sailing our figure of eight course again with the wind from the road side. Shaun got caught out early for the first start, but it's not long before he's caught back up again and near the front. We decided on the one lap, to get a few races under the belt. Tony won the first.
With races taking just over 10 minutes it seemed like the right decision. With about 13MPH of wind, there was enough to get you up to the windward mark with just short hesitations, although plenty of tacks. It was a close finish for this next race, but Tony had again the second in the bag.
The two Peters were having their own little battles at times, but Peter Isles then took a win after a couple that Shaun had claimed. The beat across the lake was the stretch that usually made the difference. A good lead was sometimes lost by the rear of the racers catching up with the right shifts and then the final reach to the leeward mark for the last beat to the finishing line could decide the outcome.
By about twelve we were deciding whether we would be just continuing for eight races before lunch and then a call to carry on, or just call it a day. It's days like this when you're testing to see just how waterproof your gear really is and we were pretty damp. Just as we were hosing the boats down it seemed to be easing. Not wanting to take the chance, most had had enough and after all, we had good races
The drive home saw good sunshine and a slight shift of wind to the West. You can't win them all.
Results:
1 Shaun Holbeche 8 pts
2 Tony Wilson 9 pts
3 Peter Isles 16 pts