ILCA / Laser Open at Waldringfield Sailing Club

Paul Davies wins the Waldringfield ILCA Open © Martin Hawkes

On a day which may reasonably be described as 'filthy' and many might have wisely chosen to stay at home and watch the London marathon instead, twenty-three :asers assembled at Waldringfield for the annual Laser open.

Welcoming visitors from Norfolk Broads, Orwell and Royal Harwich yacht clubs, three port handed courses were set, up river towards Methersgate with a fourth planned as a committee boat start and club line finish.

Rumours that a local MP was spotted in a canoe scooping unsavoury deposits out of the river with a fishing net remain unconfirmed but in any case, we can only applaud the hard work being put in to maintain the 'bathing status' being awarded to this stretch of the Deben.

Race management was exceptionally smooth but perhaps the rising tide was also responsible for all four starts without a black flag in sight. The wind remained at a steady 16 knots with the odd 24 knot gust like a carelessly thrown bowling ball taking a few casualties in its wake. The Topper event running alongside presented additional obstacles which proved challenging on the high speed downwind legs and there were no shortage of helms willing to test the quality of the river water and not just at the back of the fleet.

There seemed to be a preference for the left side of the course but a few brave souls went right and largely made it work and there were little by way of shifts to work. The final race again split the fleet, sending boats either side of the island but here the southern side gave a slight advantage and since both Videlo brothers opted to go this way, it seemed like the better option.

It finished with a tie for second place between local legend Steve Videlo and Adam Fuller with the top spot secured by visitor Paul Davies. Special mention goes to Hamish Collingridge in a radial who looked very comfortable mixing it with the big boys and finished a very creditable fifth overall.

With this and every event at WSC, especially when the conditions are so miserable, we give thanks to the rescue crews who play such a vital role in keeping everyone safe. We are very lucky to have both them and the galley team but perhaps most of all, to be out sailing on one of the most beautiful stretches of river anywhere in the UK.

Overall Results:

1st Paul Davies (RHYC) ILCA7
2nd Stephen Videlo (WSC) ILCA7
3rd Adam Fuller (WSC) ILCA7
4th Cameron Harris (WSC) ILCA7
5th Hamish Collingridge (WSC) ILCA6
6th Harry Ogden (WSC) ILCA7