Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series - Day 3
by Jamie Blair 23 Dec 2025 01:24 PST
21 December 2025
The third round of the Winter Series saw eight sailors take to the water for an Easterly 8 knot wind. Roger Gibb's boat unfortunately suffered a total failure that couldn't be fixed but stayed to watch most of the 15 races completed.
The course meant the start line was some way away from the shore and one that meant a longer walk than usual up and down in front of the café. With this wind direction a deliberate starboard bias line was set to provide more than one tack to the windward mark. All boats were on A rigs.
The offer of mince pies at the break spurred all for the first start. Some of the subsequent starts saw boats late by 5-6 seconds and some even further back. Jamie Blair (51) won the first race but the consistency of Tony Alexander (04) and Tim Townsend (45) meant they were level pegging at the top after three races. Starts in general were super competitive once initial jitters were settled. This as usual gave the RO some calling to do for OCS.
From race 4 Jamie jumped to the top with his third win. Tim made a comeback in race 5 and 6. After an hour and 7 races Jamie had notched up another win and led the fleet.
Mince pies and cheer for the Christmas break didn't deter the fleet after the break to complete another 8 races.
Jamie was well in his stride taking five of those wins along with Lucian Stone (75) who won two races. Lucian would have had two more wins to his credit but in race 13 was magnetically attached to the windward mark with only the downwind leg and a short beat to the finish to complete and again in race 15 leading at the leeward mark chose to harden up around the mark whilst Jamie tacked off at the mark taking what was a right shift and just pipping Lucian. The remainder of the fleet saw, Jon Moon (84), Lucian and Tim were vying for third overall along with Lucian. Tony maintained his consistency and will celebrate his Christmas with a second overall. Applause too was given to Bob Woolford (76) with a fourth place in race eight. Jon Moon (84) and Mark Penny (03) had one of those days where despite being in the pack fourth and fifth places were the outcome.
Jamie won overall with nine wins.
We will be back after we have celebrated the new year on the 4th of January.