Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series at Barton's Point Coastal Park - Week 3
by Jamie Blair 20 Dec 2023 22:30 PST
17 December 2023
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 3 © Fiona Blair
Strong wind again!
With wind showing 18 knots SSW, the fleet of nine racers set up their C rigs to go racing.
Race 1 with triangle/sausage course saw the usual boats jockeying for position around the starboard end of the line. Jamie Blair (51) pushed forward ahead of the pack and lead the race from the start.
Race 2 a repeat of a bunch at the starboard end that without contact opened the door for those coming behind the bunch and using the most windward lane, taking this advantage to roll over most of the fleet. Spencer Pope (62) and Mark Penny (03) took this in both hands and led the fleet. With the wind now gusting nearly 20 knots those with the gift of controlling the rampant boat downwind either made up places or lost out. The wind was also shifting 5 -10 degrees so all the elements to keep us on our toes.
Race 3 saw careful use of the wind shifts with a win for Jamie, but the consistency of Mark saw him take the overall lead.
Race 4 saw a new winner with Roger Gibb (32); making the best start pays dividends.
Race 5 saw a big tangle between Tim Townsend (45) and Spencer; 45 with a rooky pilot Quentin Strauss. Mark and Jamie showing good speed in the gusty wind with Jamie taking the win.
Race 6 again Mark and Jamie off the line ahead along with Roger and Andrew Nicholls (613). The latter a fourth place.
Races 7 & 8 played out with Mark the most consistent allowing him to draw level on the overall points with Jamie. Spencer would have scored a third but re-rounding at the finish after hitting the finish mark dropped to eight (so close was the fleet).
After the break Jon Moon (84) was first to show in Race 9 and won by almost a leg. A logjam at the windward mark putting the brakes on most of the fleet.
Race 10 saw Tim Townsend (45) keep clear of the fleet and mastering the gusts (some now over 20 knots). Was this now the time to hoist the D rig. Spencer was the first to change but found in the lulls he was losing out. Cries of “more wind please” were heard. Some gust pleased Spencer and many boats took to the submarine mode.
We thought Tim had found his form taking 3 wins in races 10 – 12 but Jon broke his run in Race 23 and Jamie in Race 14. Tim stamped his supremacy to take the last race. C rigs sill the rig of choice but all the onboard crews must have been wet with water shooting passed the hatch both upwind and downwind. Pirouetting prowess scoring highly.
Race 14 and 15 were deciders for second and third overall with Jon, Tim and Mark only 2 points apart after race 13. Jon recorded two 2nd places and Tim a 3rd and a 1st so no change.
Jamie won the day. Jon second and Tim third.
A break now for Christmas with our next set of races scheduled for Sunday 31st December 2023.
A Merry Christmas from the Fleet at Medway RC Laser.
Week 3 Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 51 | Jamie Blair | 1 | ‑8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | ‑7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 27 |
| 2nd | 84 | Jon Moon | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ‑7 | 5 | ‑6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 34 |
| 3rd | 45 | Tim Townsend | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | (DNF) | 8 | 1 | ‑9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 36 |
| 4th | 3 | Mark Penny | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ‑7 | 4 | 4 | ‑7 | 5 | 43 |
| 5th | 62 | Spencer Pope | 6 | 1 | 4 | (DNF) | (DNF) | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | DNF | 8 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 73 |
| 6th | 32 | Roger Gibb | (DNC) | 7 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | (DNF) | DNF | DNF | 73 |
| 7th | 4 | Tony Alexander | ‑8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | (DNF) | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 73 |
| 8th | 613 | Andrew Nicholls | 7 | 6 | 7 | ‑8 | 6 | 4 | ‑9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 75 |
| 9th | 76 | Bob Woodford | 4 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | (DNF) | 8 | 8 | (DNF) | DNF | 100 |