Laser UK Nationals at Largs - Runner and Riders in the Radial Fleet

George Povall leading the Radial fleet on day 4 of the UK National and Open Laser Championships at Plymouth © Paul Gibbins / pgc.pixieset.com

Runner and Riders in the Radial Fleet by Arthur Farley

The Lasers are going to be battling it out in sunny Largs this year. Of the 118 entries the 50 strong Radial fleet is a little lighter on numbers this year due to the location and dates clashing with Radial Youth Worlds in Canada, however the standard is still very high as always. Jon Emmett is definitely the man to beat. Having won the Nationals many times, been the runner up last year, an Olympic coach and having won many other titles, there are several youths who will give him a run for his money.

Leading the Charge from the Youths is Arthur Farley aged 15. Arthur won the under 16 category in Plymouth last year and has been recently improving at Europa cups and other internationals this year. Although he struggled at the youths Nationals in April Arthur is hungry to succeed.

Mila Monaghan is someone to watch out for and in the right conditions she will certainly push Jon. She was placed 4th in last years Nationals and first Under 19 lady, recently had a lot of top five results and even race wins at Qualifiers but has yet to put a series together - will she be able to at Largs?

Stephanie Wingeatt will be pushing Mila for First Lady! Last year Wingeatt was placed ninth at the Under21 Europeans in Sweden, showing she has ability and will not go down without a fight! There are also a few foreigners as always at the Nationals, from Ireland and Netherlands. Underdog Dan Mcgaughey (IRL) could also push the top dogs, as he has recently being doing training in Portugal and recently came top fifteen at Kieler Woche! Angus Kemp has also proven his ability at the Europeans finishing 105th in silver fleet - beating a few squad sailors.

Lorcan Knowles is also someone to watch - in the light-medium winds he will for sure be able to push the top competitors, he won the 4.7 nationals last year against some really tough opponents. In the Radial Qualifiers in October 2018 he was placed 2nd overall beating the likes of Jon Emmett and Georgina Povall, showing his class in the light/medium airs.

Scott Forbes, recently transitioned from Laser 4.7 after winning the 4.7 youth national title and has been training in the Radial in Lake Garda and will be ready to make his mark on the Radial fleet! Jeff Loosemore, experienced master sailor will be in Scotland and has been recently been showing his ability in the European scene touring around Sailing Laser Standard and Radial and will be showing the youths how it's done I'm sure!

Last years champion, Georgina Povall will not be in Largs to defend her title. She currently isn't on the entry, as she will have just returned from the Worlds in Japan. I'm sure she will be back next year to regain the title! Now all we need is for Sunny Largs to deliver great sailing conditions and the racing will be tight, enjoyable and exciting see you all in Largs!

Runners and Riders in the 4.7 fleet by Keith Videlo

The 4.7 s are the introduction to a lifetime of Laser sailing. This means that 4.7 sailors are always keen to progress up to the next level as quickly as physically possible. Sometimes this makes it hard to predict the form book as the class is fluid, with many of the 2018/19 fleet entered in the Radial fleet.

This year's Nationals the boys fleet is spearheaded by Drew Gibbons from West Kirby SC, having recently finished second at the Youth Nationals he is the person everybody will be trying to beat.

In the girls fleet there are two clear favourites for the title, Elizabeth Beardsall (Warsash SC) and Coco Barrett (Island Barn SC), between them they have won nearly all the ladder events this season. Both will be representing GBR at the 4.7 Worlds a couple of weeks later in Kingston, Canada so the Nationals will be a perfect warm up event. Should they slip up at any point there are several girls ready to take advantage, led by Alice Snook from Hayling Island SC.

We are in for an exciting week, with plenty planned for on and off the water.

UK National and Open Laser Championships at Plymouth day 3 - photo © Paul Gibbins / pgc.pixieset.com