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Laser Radial UK Masters Championship at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

by Ann Keats 13 Jul 2019 11:34 PDT
Laser Masters Championship at Royal Torbay © Guy Noble

In 1904 the GWR created a new train service from London to Penzance called the 'Cornish Riviera Express'; a passenger on that train might well have cast an eye over the 'English Riviera' resort of Torbay where, a hundred and fifteen years later, 37 Laser Radial sailors enjoyed the sort of weather associated with the Cote D'Azure, a rather more well-known 'Riviera'!

Warm, sunny weather with a gradient north-easterly wind might be pleasant for holiday makers but was always going to cause difficulties for competitors and race committee alike. Undaunted by these tricky conditions, Jon Emmett didn't shirk from making life harder by attempting to sail with a short batten inserted into one of the long batten pockets! Sorting that out on the water was one of the event's more interesting moments.

All seven races were sailed in light breezes the constancy of which was about as trustworthy as a politician seeking re-election. This resulted in a high scoring regatta for most entrants. Not so, however, for Master category sailor (in more ways than one) Ian Jones, who won the Radials overall with a total of 14 points with a worst result of fourth place!

In a subsequent interview with Jon Emmett, when asked the secret of his success in this regatta, he felt that 'keeping eyes out of the boat' was of paramount importance. For a while his attention must have been drawn towards Ann Keates (a Grand Master from Parkstone Yacht Club), who won the first two races. Having to count a 13th place rather scuppered her chances, although she did manage to hold onto second place overall nudging into third place two-race winner Jon Emmett (Apprentice Master). That's his last mention, I promise!

Second lady and fourth overall was another Parkstone sailor, Roberta Hartley. This was a significant result since together with Ann's overall finish and that of Standard Laser sailor, Chris Whalley (seventh overall) Parkstone Yacht Club were able to fend off a very strong entry from Queen Mary YC to take the team trophy back to Dorset.

In finishing seventh overall and counting two second and third place results, Mike Kinnear (GWSC) took the award of First Legend, proving to many much younger than him that age, as in the case of a fine wine, does not diminish quality when kept in good condition!

The final race winner was new to the Masters Circuit: Keith McQuillin (Master Rafsa/Spinnaker SC) was unfortunately unable to sail on Saturday and consequently had to count a DNC which of course had a detrimental effect on his final placing. No doubt we will be seeing Keith at the front of the fleet again in future events.

Although the wind may have caused a degree of anguish amongst the Radial Fleet (which, by the way was very well-behaved compared to their neighbours), the excellent social events were a positive factor in helping sailors to retain their equilibrium, at least for the early part of the evenings.

Finally, everyone in the Radial fleet recognises the fantastic help of the friendly and enthusiastic club volunteers and are very grateful for them.

So, on Sunday evening 37 Radials took their boats home but none of them were on the 'Cornish Riviera' because, as far as I know, GWR won't let you take a Laser on the train!

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCategoryClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1st207787Ian JONESMDovestone SC423131(DNC)14
2nd216399Ann KEATESGMParkstone YC11134‑152223
3rd215064Jon EMMETTAMWeir Wood361‑2118423
4th216398Roberta HARTLEYMParkstone YC9392‑1741744
5th214268Ben ELVINAMStokes Bay SC511211810(DNC)47
6th162576Terry SCUTCHERGMShotley SC(RET)9451016650
7th213093Mike KINNEARLGWSC21518313‑31556
8th204031David CATTOMHunts SC11514‑301251057
9th203275Ian ALDRIDGEAMLancing SC72010106‑281164
10th213643Michael PRIDHAMGGMLyme Regis SC1514‑249218765
11th207357Jeff LOOSEMOREGGMMHA & Georges River SC847161614(DNC)65
12th213707Jimmy CARTERGMLSC1813166‑196968
13th176743Peter WHIPPGGMBassenthwaite SC1019‑2772111371
14th213542Jonathan JONESGGMWOBYC13‑1651214151675
15th196727Keith MCQUILLINMRafsa / Spinnaker622(DNC)DNC73178
16th203323Kevin PEARSONGGMThames SC(RET)2725859882
17th213516Niall PEELOMWwsc / Qmsc2071222‑2371886
18th215230Gareth EDWARDSGMQueen Mary1988261124‑3096
19th214300Max HUNTGMWhitstable(RET)1211314OCS15112
20th206183Ian FITZGERALDAMPort Edgar YC‑25242219201714116
21st215377Richard MAJORGGMGrafham Water SC12172114‑303029123
22nd206891Ben SHARPGMQM162523‑27181924125
23rd198155Steve TAYLORGMChelmarsh24213428912(OCS)128
24th198964John REAYGMRYA(RET)29615282625129
25th141098Vittorio BOCCOLINIAMSeafarers SC21‑332918222022132
26th204678Mark SANCKENGGMQMSC(RET)181733241328133
27th152585Sue RITCHIEGMNewport BoatC22‑362817272120135
28th212199Ninian EADIELQueen Mary14‑342023322327139
29th213579Ian RAWETLGrafham Water SC(RET)282634262213149
30th207984Alison HUTTONGGMBudworth SC26103029‑312926150
31st202204Roger WILLIAMSLStarcross(RET)371925332712153
32nd212396Adrian ELWOODGMQMSC2330‑3324253221155
33rd204124Alison TAYLORGMChelmarsh17‑353220293331162
34th202547David TROUTGGMLancing SC(RET)231513DNCDNCDNC168
35th206502Hilary THOMASGGMLocks SC(RET)263135352523175
36th210360David KILLEYGGMMaidenhead SC(RET)313532343419185
37th203876Robert ALDRIDGEGGMLancing Salingc273836(DNC)DNC3532207
38th195030Mark STITSONMBeer SC(RET)3237DNCDNCDNCDNC225

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