Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series at Barton's Point Coastal Park - Week 13

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.

Race 1 brought seven boats to the water for a starboard tack start and sailing a standard triangle/sausage course. The course was set up with the windward mark close to a divide in the lake with the consequence of gusts passing over the course, so the shifts fluctuated. At the leeward end close to the concrete path edge waves from the long fetch of the lake made for a choppy exit from the mark to go up the beat and slow boats over the chop and when tacking.

Choosing the best side for the beat also involved looking for flat water. Jamie Blair (51) took this route from the start along with Tony Alexander (04), finishing in that order. Spencer Pope (62) going up the second beat did the same and logged a third.

For race 2 the numbers increased to 8 and set up the one-on-one racing between Jamie and Tim Towsend (45) that lasted all morning. Jamie held off Tim at the finish after his lead being lost when he sailed the left side of the beat and Jamie the right taking advantage of the lift on the starboard lay line into the windward mark. Quentin Strauss (58) did not finish and electrical issues ended his campaign.

Tim took race 3 from Jamie with a tussle that Tim won on the run, claiming the have the overlap at the last mark.

Jamie seemed to manage the shifts and gust for the next three races but not without Tim on his transom. For race 5 Roger Gibbs (32) spotted a swing in the wind and made a port tack start sailing across the rest of the fleet on starboard. He maintained his lead up to the windward mark, but cruelly a miss at the mark (not his last!) let Tim and Jamie through. Tony was always chasing and took third.

Racing with the D rig always feels slower upwind but exciting downwind, hopefully in control. Time slipped by and at the break six races were complete. Jamie with another win and Tim still chasing. Spencer again with a well earned third. The wind remained in the 25 - 28 knots with all managing their tacks in the chop (maybe with heart in mouth at times) and practising getting out of head-to-wind.

Race 7 after the break saw Jamie head to the front of the pack and it looked like a repeat of the first half. This was not to be. Tim took races 8 & 9 with Jamie second. It was touch and go between Roger and Tony for third.

Race 10 - 13 saw Jamie and Tim swap the lead both in the races and at the finish making the gap between them in the overall result never greater than 3 points. Tony's consistency allowed him to log a string of fourth places.

Two discards still kept Jamie and Tim just 3 points part, win Jamie winning the day. Tony was a good third seeing off Roger.

With Easter next weekend and a focus on family's our next Sunday racing is scheduled for the 7th April.

Overall Results:

Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 13 - photo © Fiona Blair