Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable Yacht Club

Laserfest, Whitstable Yacht Club's celebration of Laser/ILCA racing took place last weekend with a strong entry of 40 boats. Laserfest was conceived as an event to increase participation of Whitstable's Laser sailors but it also attracted entries from as far as Yorkshire together with a range of more local clubs.

Saturday saw a decent F3 rising to F4/5 easterly breeze and clear skies which gave the race team under PRO Tom Bruton opportunity to run five 20-30 minute sprint races back to back with the fleet returning in time to watch the Wimbledon lady's final.

Race 1 saw a tight start, particularly at the committee boat end with Finlay Cochrane from Yorkshire Dales leading at the first mark and to the finish. With a short course there was much place-changing behind the leader with George Massingham in his Radial taking second on the line followed by Mark Holweger and William Marsh in a Radial.

Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Race 2 saw a similar pattern with Finlay leading round all marks, Mark Holweger and William Marsh improved to second and third as George recovered to seventh after a swim on the run.

Race 3 saw Finlay lead the way round again followed by Kevin Hall who was enjoying the stronger breeze, George third and William fourth.

The start of race 4 saw Hythe sailor Sebastian Robb in a Radial cross the fleet on port leaving many to wonder why he was the only boat brave enough to try it. Finlay managed to regain the lead by the first mark and lead throughout, but Sebastian finished a strong second followed by Daniel Hebditch from Chipstead in third.

Port flyer - Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable - photo © Ayhan Betez

The final race of the day felt like a war of attrition with the 19 finishers battling the strongest wind of the day and a full two lap course for everybody - no whiskey finishers for the last race! Once again Finlay led all the way followed by an unusually motivated Kevin Hall who had a fine day and George Massingham in his Radial.

Behind Finlay, who had a perfect 'picket fence' having led round every buoy, there was a three way tie on 20 points between Kevin, George and Mark Holweger with their final race position determining their order. So, it was all to play for on Sunday!

The Laserfest logo features 'Racing, music and beer' with the Saturday night an opportunity for sailors to let their hair down with paella, a plentiful supply of beer and club band 'The Dead Pelicans' performing on the club deck. A good time was had!

Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Sunday morning saw a few sore heads, a light breeze and a muggy cloudy feel. The plan was another five races back-to-back - one was needed to trigger a first discard and three to trigger a second.

The race team were ready with minimal delay; however, the racers found the light wind and strong tide a challenge to reach the start on time. Tom the PRO allowed a tactical postponement to marshal the fleet, with a weather eye on the shifting and faltering breeze.

The sixth race started in the best of the breeze with Dave Kelly from Whitefriars leading round the first mark. The first five/six boats made it round before the wind started to shut down and the tide took over with those round breaking away from the remainder struggling to approach the first mark. It was time for a strong decision from PRO Tom and the race was abandoned (with apologies to Dave).

As things were not going to get better in the near future the fleet towed home as any sea breeze that developed would be too late.

Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Fortunately, the fabulous day's racing on Saturday compensated in part for Sunday's abandonment and the results stood with no discard giving a reward for consistency. Most consistent was Finlay Cochrane leading round all marks of every (completed) race - an amazing result for a young sailor with a big future.

Kevin Hall was second to show that weight and tenacity can compensate for age and fitness, George Massingham sailed superbly to third overall and first Radial (there were no handicaps used). Mark Howleger was fourth benefiting from his intensive training at Severn Sailing Association Annapolis, and young visitors Daniel Hebditch from Chipstead and Sebastian Robb followed.

Sadly, William Marsh capsized in race 4 and retired spoiling his otherwise impressive string of results.

Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

A prize was awarded to first lady Ruth Oliver who runs WYC's training operation and also to Dominic Wade, best placed graduate of this year's 'Transition to Racing' course coached by Ruth and her team.

Finally, there was an amazing raffle sponsored by local Laser legend Charles Campion's 'Sail and Sport' business with many winning Laser goodies. The top prizes of a Laser sail and a Radial sail went to local sailors Matthew Crockett and Dominic Wade - thanks Charlie!

Laserfest continues to be a great way to get WYC's Lasers off the beach to experience some great racing - it only happens due to the efforts of many volunteers, so thanks to you all, especially Tom Bruton our PRO who managed a potentially stressful weekend with style.

Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Overall Results:

Laserfest 2025 at Whitstable - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk