Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series at Barton's Point Coastal Park - Week 2
by Jamie Blair 13 Dec 2023 13:12 PST
10 December 2023
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 2 © Fiona Blair
The prospect for the day suggested a weather window between two areas of low pressure with a predicted 12-18 knots SSW. There was potential for rain at some time during the morning, so like last week, race until we call a halt.
We welcomed eight sailors to race. A broad triangle/sausage course with the start/finish a third way up the beat was set up and the first race off without any OCS. A rigs were in place and even though Tim Towsend (45) was just back from down under, he led from the start.
The wind started to pick up so a change to B rig for race two. This time saw a change of fortune with Jon Moon (84) taking the windward end of the line and leading by the first mark. With the rest of the fleet trying to take advantage of any shifts to catch him but to no avail. Tony Alexander (04) logging in another second place. Jon was leading the pack after Race 2.
Race 3 saw Jamie Blair (51) back at the front but as the previous race the fleet in hot pursuit so no time to relax. Tim second and Jon in third.
The wind started to rise again and out came the C rig for some. Nose diving down the run to give any spectators something to cheer about. Results went through a period where some scored well and others not, apart from Jamie who won Races 4, 5, 6 and regaining the overall lead after Race 4. Jon, Tony and Tim were only a point behind. Spencer Pope (62) made a great start in Race 5 along with Roger allowing them to stay ahead of the pack.
The wind kept at 15-18 knots but started to back to the SW. During the break, the course was rotated to suit. Race 7 saw Tim put his tangle with Andrew Nicholls (613) behind him and take the lead early on, with the consistent performance from Jon to give him second and Mark Penny (03) third.
Race 8 saw the biggest wind of the day with it peaking at 28 knots. Some boats took to the shore unable to tack with C rigs up. Jamie coped best in this ferocious squall along with Jon to add to good results.
Between races most of the fleet changed to D rigs but not Roger Gibb (32) and Jon. The squall passed and they both profited whilst the others found themselves grossly underpowered. Race 9 saw Roger take the win with Jon, consistent as ever, close behind.
All back on C rigs for race 10 and no rain yet. Another race winner with Mark Penny showing the breadth of quality in the fleet. Jon in second. Tim in third recovering from a number of OCS starts.
Races 11 and 12 showed again consistency from Jon with a first and a second. Mark after his bullet counted a second and a third. Jamie had a 5th and a first to count so adding the results together was going to be a close contest between Jon and Jamie.
Jon won the day. Jamie second. Roger Gibb took the final place on the podium with a creditable third place. Consistency from Jon won the day and so many pitstops to change sails provided a degree of scurrying about to keep abreast of the wind and the Race Officer!
Our next set of races will be on Sunday 17th December 2023.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 84 | Jon Moon | 3 | 1 | 3 | ‑6 | ‑4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| 2nd | 51 | Jamie Blair | 4 | ‑7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ‑7 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 23 |
| 3rd | 32 | Roger Gibb | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | ‑7 | 3 | (DNC) | 36 |
| 4th | 4 | Tony Alexander | 2 | 2 | ‑7 | 3 | 5 | ‑6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 39 |
| 5th | 45 | Tim Townsend | 1 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6 | (DNF) | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | (DNC) | DNC | 41 |
| 6th | 3 | Mark Penny | 5 | 5 | (DNF) | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | (DNF) | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 43 |
| 7th | 62 | Spencer Pope | (DNF) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 63 |
| 8th | 613 | Andrew Nicholls | (DNF) | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | (DNF) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 65 |