Laser Northern Grand Prix at Redesmere Sailing Club
by Colin Barrie 31 Mar 2009 23:59 PDT
29 March 2009
It was a chilly but sunny spring morning and 28 competitors gathered for the Redesmere SC Laser Open Meeting.
The first race got under way as the Adrian Sandilands got the best start with Ian Jones and Tom Keegan close behind. By the end of the first lap Jones had managed to take the lead and kept a few boat lengths ahead of Sandilands and Keegan in a close contest for second. These three had opened a clear lead over the rest of the fleet and that was how the three finished the race.
The light and shifty conditions settled long enough to get the second race under way. Ian Jones got away well and led the fleet to the first mark. Ian Lees and Adrian Sandilands were close behind and contested second place throughout the race. Another close contest for 4th and 5th went on between Richard Marsh and Tom Keegan. By the end of the race Sandilands and Marsh won their respective battles to take 2nd and 4th leaving Jones to take another first place.
After lunch the breeze picked up a little and changed direction again but a course was set and the fleet were off again. This time it was Richard Marsh that showed the way round for the first lap. Ian Jones struggled his way through after a slightly disappointing start but got 2nd by the end of the first lap and then into the lead during the second lap. Tom Keegan chased his way up to 2nd place only to lose it on the last lap to Adrian Sandilands who had fought his way through the fleet after a disastrous first lap which had him in 7th place.
Although the winds were light and variable the Race Officer managed to get three races completed in good time. All the competitors got to sail glorious sunshine and a good day was had by all.
Overall Results:
1st Ian Jones (Dovestone)
2nd Adrian Sandilands (Dovestone)
3rd Tom Keegan (Leigh & Lowton)
4th Ian Lees (Dovestone)
5th Richard Marsh (Elton)