Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Brothers

RC Laser Winter Series at Fleetwood Model Yacht Club - Week 2

by Tony Wilson 5 Feb 11:32 GMT 29 January 2023
A small rig option for stronger winds on a Radio Controlled Laser model yacht © Tony Wilson

While checking out the forecast at home, if you could choose which sail to take along and if only limited to one of them, my guess would have been the 'C' rig.

Looking to be dry and a wind speed from the West at around 16 - 20 MPH or in whatever that is in Knots which ever would suit best, we were on to a winner at Fleetwood.

Peter Isles thought he was going to be the lonesome sailor for the day, until the draglings eventually turned up and we were now into the numbers seven, all present and correct, Four rigged out in 'B' rigs sailing at the calmer end of the lake, weren't fooling anyone, as we all eventually went for the original sized storm sail from over a decade ago by the start of the proceedings.

An easy peasy course was set. Start across near the clubhouse, beat all the way up to the top two little marks using one of them as a spreader. Then run all the way back to the centralised buoy at this near end and then finishing part way up plumb straight across, all taken to Port. We were going to do some walking.

The racing went as per usual with Shaun at the pointy end and Tony sharp on his heels. Ian Sinclair hadn't been out with the RC Laser for about a year and was treated to using his smaller sails for once along with Peter Guest. Peter was surprised to how much easier it was to sail, than when battling with too big a rig.

John Armstrong wasn't having a good day with his radio letting him down and no suitable backup, but is eager for next weeks return to sailing. Ian S. was having winch trouble early on and Tony's winch also played up just before lunch on a race that he thought was his on the final rounding.

Six races had and it was the one just before lunch that we dropped another dress size, with the appearance of those little white horses on the lake.

During the lunch the chop increased, but we weren't deterred and just tightened up those little rigs to dump as much lift as possible. Shaun was still claiming as many wins as possible, with a few very close calls on the finish line.

We were going to close the day on 12 races, but we pleaded for just one more. Superstitious Trevor wouldn't go for thirteen, so we had a couple more. A quick change of batteries for Tony that saw him good. But Ian S. and Peter G. will learn that lesson maybe for next time as they had to abort race fourteen part way through.

Thanks to race Officers Trevor and Ian Hawtin. Same again next week.Racing on Sunday.

Results:

1 Shaun Holbeche 14 pts
2 Tony Wilson 25 pts
3 Peter Isles 40 pts

Related Articles

RC Laser experience day at Fleetwood
We may have thought to ourselves, this is going to be easy Not to miss out a good opportunity for the Lasers, we had a few recent Newbies at our local club and with some of our Old hands on site, what a good time to help out on this non designated RC Laser league date. Posted on 23 Oct
RC Laser Autumn Series at Fleetwood week 1
Welch Cup contested in radio controlled model boats We were now at the back end of a lousy wet weekend weather forecast and again greeted with an average welcomed Westerly. The BBC weather map had arrows pointing from the South, but our windsock was fluttering from the far right wooden steps corner. Posted on 10 Oct
RC Laser TT at Poole
13 helms face difficult choice of rig, resulting in some rudder waving in the air 13 Laser helms came to this event with 4 being from other than the host club. They were greeted by sunny conditions but a gusty SW to SSW wind. Posted on 15 Aug
RC Laser Summer Series at Fleetwood week 1
Thunderstorms were forecast, so it was vital to get an early start We had five replies to Liz's regular invite to come and sail on Sunday, of which only three of those names turned up. But somehow others must have heard rumours that we were sailing, so we had an eleven boat line up to kick off for the dual event. Posted on 23 Jun
RC Laser and Mustang experience day at Fleetwood
Anyone wishing to just have a go was welcomed Each year the Fleetwood model boat club set aside the odd day or two, for just a bit of RC Mustang / Laser experience. On a relaxed non stressed out day, anyone wishing to just have a go with one of the solo sail yachts. Posted on 4 Apr
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series day 12
Wet and shifty at Barton's Point Coastal Park The forecast was for rain all morning with 10-15knots. With sailors away and other commitments we welcomed 7 sailors to race in the 12th Round in our Winter Series. Our usual triangle/sausage course was set up. Posted on 28 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series day 11
Close competition across the whole fleet Today we welcomed nine sailors to race in the 11th session in our Winter Series. Another wind direction for the RO to set the normal triangle/sausage with the start/finish a third way up the beat. Posted on 22 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series day 10
Big waves for little boats! Always with the wind in a WSW direction and on the puffy side the long fetch of the lake provides some big waves to contend with. Near the café the rebound off the lake edge stimulates even more wave effect. Posted on 15 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series day 9
Light airs again! We arrived to find a NW-N wind and around 10 knots. No shelter from the café today and a standard triangle sausage course set with good length beats. Posted on 8 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series day 8
Dogs off chains The morning began with 18 Knots and some gust up to 20 knots all from the NE. With the chill factor clearly going to affect the sailors, the course was set as a pseudo Sail GP shape with a reaching start and then a triangle sausage. Posted on 3 Mar