Laser Eastern Counties Circuit at Denver Sailing Club

On Sunday 29th April Denver Sailing Club at Downham Market held their round of the “Eastern Counties” Laser Circuit. 6 visitors joined the Denver members for the event, which was held in clear blue skies and bathed in warm sunshine, along with a NNE breeze of 8-10 knts.

The order of the day was Race One to be a lengthy affair, and then lunch followed by two shorter races around the local cans “back to back”. The Officer of the Day, Dave Pilcher set the course that took everyone up the entire 1-¾ mile strech that is available to DSC.

Martin Evans of Dabchicks was first to round the windward mark followed very closely by Chris Hall and Edward Harrison the rest of the fleet gave chase up the 1 ¾ mile run, during which time the lead only changed once briefly by Chris Hall who was back in a Laser for the first time in four months, however Martin retook control very shortly and started to consolidate his lead, the fleet had now split in two with the front three now joined by Graham Smith, at the gybe leeward mark. Chris Hall was relegated down the fleet due to a muffed gybe. Shortly into the long beat back home, Graham Smith fell foul of the notorious “Farm wind hole” and capsized to leeward taking a good many minutes to rectify!

At the line after just over the hour Martin Evans took the gun followed by Chris Abott of Beccles. Ryan Longston of Beccles and all credits to the Laser Master Graham Smith of Northampton after a fantastic recovery.

After lunch the course was set around the marks all within sight of the clubhouse and supporters each race being a three-lap affair.

Race two got under way with Martin Evans first of the line only to be passed into the windward mark by Edward Harrison of Waldringfield S.C. he held onto his lead up to the windward mark. Martin was pursued down to forth place by Chris Abott and Ryan Longston. However by the end of the second lap Martin was once again in control and continued to the line followed by Ryan Longston and Chris Abbot.

Race three saw a similar pattern develop with much chopping and changing in the early laps but in the final lap Martin Evans took the lead at the windward mark and held on from a fierce onslaught from Ryan Longston and Chris Abbot, all three opening up quite a good lead on the remaining six boats.

Overall Results:

1st Martin Evans, 189362
2nd Ryan Longston, 169986
3rd Chris Abbot, 176708
4th Chris Hall, 180291
5th Graham Smith, 182465
6th Edward Harrison, 160532
7th Matthew Summers, 91433
8th John Young, 167682
9th John Huggett, 161549

All enjoyed a really pleasant day. Prizes were presented to the Top Three and most consistent sailor by Rose Young DSC Commodore.