Lasers at the Waldringfield Sailing Club Easter Egg

Lasers at the Waldringfield Sailing Club Easter Egg © Alexis Smith

Lasers at the Waldringfield Sailing Club Easter Egg © Alexis Smith

Twenty-six Laser sailors took part in the Easter Egg Friday and Saturday with six races over the two days. Benefiting form high tide, moderate winds and sunshine it was near prefect sailing conditions. We were also pleased to welcome a couple of visitors including Graham Ireland from RHYC, a regular past winner of this event.

Race 1 started with a course starting between downriver of the clubhouse, heading back upriver in front of the club house towards the Tipps area then behind the island to complete a lap. This format of round the island courses worked well to get the best beats available across the weekend with the onshore breezes, that headed left over the two days. Jon Penn grabbed the win ahead of Graham Ireland then John Ogden. Race 2 back to back, Doug Hutton-Squire uncharacteristically got dizzy with all the turns he ended up having to do, Chris Woodward got away for the win chased round by Graham Ireland then Harry Ogden.

After lunch the Race 3 course took in marks at either end of the club course card - form Kirton downriver towards Felixstowe Ferry and Methersgate upriver towards Woodbridge, for a mammoth passage type race, that turned out be great fun and a bit of a change. An unusual down wind, down tide club line start saw Jon Penn got off to a great start and not be caught for the win. Chris Woodard's rather lengthy grounding heading back upriver after rounding Kirton kept everyone entertained and I wonder if Chris's usual calm manner might have been moved to a few choice words? Mike Hanes sailed well for second with Harry Ogden going fast in third.

Sunday morning and Race 4 - again full use of the river again saw Jon Penn take the win ahead of Cameron Harris then Bob Whitehouse after some good sailing.

After lunch Races 5 and 6 sailed back-to-back with more high water round the island courses. Race 6 had a general recall either because of the sailing barge coming through the line, those OCS or perhaps Martin Hawke's capsize getting his mast stuck under the committee boat! So a black flag start it was for the last race of the weekend. Doug Hatton-Squire found his mo-jo to win race 5 followed by Cameron Harris then Graham Ireland. Race 6 was won by Toby Tracey followed by a very consistent Graham Ireland then Jon Penn.

Overall, it was the erstwhile Jon Penn who came out overall winner with an impressive three wins from six starts ahead of Graham Ireland in second. Mike Hanes sailed well for third followed by Cameron Harris in fourth, Chris Woodward fifth, very consistent sailing from John Ogden for sixth overall and with an unfortunate discard counting Harry Ogden out of what would probably have been a top five score.

Overall Results: