Laser UK National Championships at Largs Sailing Club - Overall
by Steph Videlo & Joe Drake 4 Aug 2019 08:48 BST
27 July - 2 August 2019
Standards Rigs (by Joe Drake)
The final day of the 2019 Laser Nationals saw a mix of weather ranging from 12 knots to 5 at times. The standard fleet had it all to play for with close points amongst the sailors and overall positions could change a lot by the end of the day.
Race 8 saw the fleet starting with a strong pin bias so a big group near the end with a left phase soon after the start making it important for boats to tack of early to tack the lift. From here it was about boats playing the big shifts up the beat and at the first mark Sam Whaley went round in 1st with Andy Bridgeman 2nd and Ben Childerley in 3rd with the main group coming round very close together. Over the rest of the race Joe Drake was able to make the most of the shifts and pressure difference across the course to take the race win with George Graham in second and Sam Whaley in third.
Race 9 again saw a strong bin end bias but with much lighter winds than before so being able to get a good lane off the start was crucial so you weren't stuck in tacking duels with other boats. At the first windward mark Jack Hopkins was able to round with a good lead followed by Chris Jones and Joe Drake. Over the rest of the race Jack was able to extend away from the fleet and a take the race win comfortably followed by Chris Jones in 2nd and Sam Whaley was able to overtake a few boats to take third place in the final race of the regatta.
Overall this meant that Sam Whaley was able to take the win finishing with 17 points, Joe Drake finished in second with 26 points and Lewis Smith finished in third place with 28 points.
Radial and 4.7 Rigs (by Steph Videlo)
On the final day of the Laser Nationals all fleets launched early to catch the northerly thermal that had materialised as hoped.
For the Radials it was their fourth attempt at race 8 (with a two day gap) and they finally got away cleanly under a black flag in 10 knots of breeze. Jon Emmett led at the leeward gate followed by Bauke Rijmpa and Gordon Cogan. With the wind becoming a little patchy, places shuffled. At the finish Jon won from Alice Woodings Hyde and Oliver Sturley.
The 4.7s started in about 6 knots of wind and a pin end bias. By the time they reached the leeward gate Jack Graham- Troll led the fleet around a very "sloppy" race course. Jack continued to take the win from Coco Barrett and Freddie Howarth.
With the wind dropping the race officer quickly got race 9 under way. Both fleets had general recalls & started under black flags.
In the Radials Arthur Farley built a decent lead by the leeward gate with Dan McGaughey second and Jon Emmett third - positions that were held to the finish.
With a couple of 4.7s over on the black flag start it was a tense race. On the water Lizzie Beardsall won from Luke Anstey with Ellen Barbour third. However, Lizzie was black flagged giving Luke the win.
The wind had gone & the fleet began the long pump/paddle/ tow home to prize giving where the following National champions were crowned
Full results may be found here.