Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series - Day 1
by Jamie Blair 30 Nov 09:23 PST
30 November 2025
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series Week 1 © Fiona Blair
Blue sky racing
A very shifty breeze from the WSW and showing 15 knots but with gusts to just over 20 knots the consensus was the C rig.
The direction allowed a course close to the café. A windward start and port rounding course of the triangle/sausage format.
6 racers set off, all but one with C rigs. The D rig proved ineffective so into the pits for a bigger sail.
Usual eagerness at the starts with the RO calling boats OCS in many starts.
In the first four races it was anyone's game with each race different winners.
Races came and went - shifts meant the start line bias changed and crowds at the windward mark gave for some very close racing.
Tim Towsend (45) led then Jon Moon (84), then Mark Penny (03).
By race 6 Tim's consistency started to show and led overall at the break. Jon second and Jamie 3rd. Only 2 points separated these three.
By race 13 Tim had increased his lead to seven points, ahead of Jamie and Jon on equal points. Mark was still in close contention. The bright sun low in the sky caused havoc at the wing and leeward marks.
Jon changed up to the B rig for the last few races and after 17 races (the last race extended for two extra circuits) Tim won overall by a handsome 12 points, Mark was 2nd and Jamie 3rd. Jon's decision to try the bigger sail dropped him to 3rd overall (only one point adrift).
Of the remaining two Roger had to rush off early and Tony suffered power issues in the boat and missed out on seven races.
A good, exciting morning with rusty sailors finding their feet, misjudging crossings and space at marks resulting in penalty turns for a number - especially Jamie.
We will be back next week 7th December.
Day 1 Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 45 | Tim Towsend | 1 | ‑5 | 2 | 2 | ‑4 | 1 | 1 | ‑5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
| 2nd | 3 | Mark Penny | (DNF) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ‑6 | (DNF) | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 34 |
| 3rd | 51 | Jamie Blair | 3 | 1 | ‑5 | ‑4 | ‑5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 37 |
| 4th | 84 | Jon Moon | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ‑4 | ‑5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ‑4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 38 |
| 5th | 32 | Roger Gibbs | 4 | 6 | (DNF) | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 73 |
| 6th | 4 | Tony Alexander | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | (DNS) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 74 |