Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine 2019 728x90

Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series at Barton's Point Coastal Park - Week 10

by Jamie Blair 27 Feb 11:07 GMT 25 February 2024

The Race Team using the wind direction of SE and 8 knots speed set a narrow course with a wing mark to form the triangle for the triangle sausage format. This effectively gave two downwind legs, a reach along the leeward end of the course and two beats. The wing mark was in front of the control area allowing boat on boat control at optimum. This didn't prevent contacts - it allowed boats being closer than they would normally be and with more possible infringements!

For race 1 Lucian Stone (75) made the best start from the starboard tack end of the line (what would be the committee boat). Close behind were Roger Gibbs (32) and Tony Alexander (04). This left the remainder of the fleet of 9 to mix it for the remaining places.

For race 2 there was a complete shuffle of the fleet with Jamie Blair (51) leading at the start from a mid line position but with a need to claw to windward to allow a tack on to port and cross the fleet. Spencer Pope (62) the single boat on B rig and the others on A rig. Spencer's B rig was at this stage not the right choice but with the forecast increase in wind this became the sail of choice.

With the course configuration and most boats starting on starboard tack the shore came into play quite soon after the start allowing calls of "Room to tack" for the obstruction. A ploy taken as an opportunity to get most of the fleet to tack off and the hailing boat to safely tack on to port. The wind began its shiftiness early in the day with a lift going into the windward mark on the starboard lay line allowing some high-risk slam dunks on boats not fetching the mark on starboard.

With Spencer still sailing with the B rig for race 3 and the wind now up to over 12 knots he was able to capitalise both upwind and downwind and take a well deserved win.

Most changed down to B rig except Jamie and Roger so race 4 proved fruitful for Tony. Race 5 saw Jamie stuck in irons with his A rig, hoping for a drop in the breeze. Lucian fought off the opposition from Tony and Jon but Spencer had taken the lead, bagging another win.

Three on equal points at this stage for overall. Breeze now over 15 knots saw Spencer take control of the starboard tack end of the line and lead by the first mark and take another win in race 6.

Race 7 saw Jamie pull forward in the second beat after very close racing with Tony and Mark Penny (03). At the break, the consistent scoring from Tony put him at the top of the leader board with Jamie 3 points adrift.

Race 8 brought Jon into the winners enclosure after a close tussle with Jamie who taking a penalty at the last mark conceding a second place; Tony and Lucian taking advantage to score the second and third places.

Races 9 to 15 in increasing wind brought out the C rig in race 11 for some and all for race 12 onwards. Bullets were swapped between Lucian and Jamie. The fleet racing remained hugely competitive with winners and losers; Tony still in the hunt and overall leader after race 10.

Another week for Jamie to celebrate, Lucian second and Tony third. With the wind in the SE moving right we managed 16 races and three discards put Tony third and Jon fourth.

Our next Sunday racing is scheduled for the 3rd March.

Week 10 Results:

PosSail NoHelmR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16Pts
1st51Jamie Blair‑6122‑7‑4141114211324
2nd75Lucian Stone13542‑6‑6342(DNF)1135135
3rd4Tony Alexander324132222345‑65‑6‑738
4th84Jon Moon4‑5334351‑94‑62423240
5th3Mark Penny56‑755‑936‑7723544560
6th62Spencer Pope‑8‑81711‑883858762461
7th32Roger Gibbs2466674565379(DNC)(DNC)(DNC)70
8th72Charles Pegram77‑8885775‑9(DNF)6377683
9th76Bob Woolford99(DNF)9989986(DNF)(DNF)8DNCDNCDNC114

Related Articles

RC Lasers at Fleetwood
With a race within a race for the Johnson family The wind was blowing from the clubhouse direction for the ten RC Laser entries. It looked to be a stock 'B' rig all-dayer, but with the light patch at the entry point, a bit of extra sail cloth helps you get through the lulls. Posted on 6 Oct
RC Laser Summer 2 Series at Fleetwood week 2
Two multiple National RC Laser champions lead the battle With a forecast predicting rain for most of the day, we were pleasantly surprised to arrive at the lakeside and still not a drop of rain. A westerly breeze and the few remaining large sails were put aside after practice. Posted on 8 Jul
RC Laser Summer 2 Series at Fleetwood week 1
With the wind forever increasing in strength a couple of 'D' rigs were brought out The showers had just about died out on arrival, to leave us with a nice Blowy Westerly. No need for the big sails today and it was a decider for the next 2 sail sizes, giving us a mix for the first couple of races. Posted on 18 Jun
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 13
No question on rig size - the smallest D rigs were chosen For today's racing the wind was very much in the upper numbers. The forecast was for it to drop but with 20 - 25 knits and direction NW. No question on rig size - the smallest D rig. Posted on 27 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 12
Wet gear didn't stop the whole fleet racing the 15 races After the break for Mother's Day the turnout for the twelfth race day in the Winter Series was well attended with 11 sailors braving the "Ides of March". Was it to be a bad omen for one or all? Posted on 19 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 11
High winds yesterday but today very light High winds yesterday but today very light. 6-7 knots from the West. The direction was shifting for the course layer through 5 - 10 degrees but ready for the first race at 10.00. Posted on 3 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 9
Rain or Nor Rain Each weather portal in days before this outing showed something different for rain. Decision to race was never changed, even with the rain hammering down on the windows first thing. Posted on 18 Feb
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 8
Zephyrs on the lake As predicted the wind was going to be a challenge for both the course setting and the sailors. The first zephyr provided a NE of about 4 knots. A Sail GP type course was positioned, giving a reaching start. Posted on 12 Feb
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 7
Big winds again! Before racing started the breeze forecast during the week showed over 20 knots predicted by midday. We found the predicted direction of WSW. This gave a start in front of the playground and windward mark some 60m into the lake. Posted on 5 Feb
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 6
12 racers provide congestion at starts and mark roundings Following Storm Isha, which led to a postponement last week, we were greeted with wispy skies and 8 knots of breeze. 12 sailors set up to race in a SE wind. Posted on 30 Jan