Martin Harvey Laser Open at Ranelagh Sailing Club

12 Lasers on a grey day for the Ranelagh open © Nick Price

12 Ranelagh Lasers started the fourth Martin Harvey Laser Open at Ranelagh on a grey Sunday morning. The wind had shifted 180 degrees from the previous days squally South Westerlies and dropped quite a bit so there was some debate before the start about which course could be laid that would keep the fleet moving against the strong current. Finally loops were set up river where the wind would be more on the beam before a long beat back against the wind and tide to finish at the Club.

The down wind start and tide kept the boats together to the first mark where the fleet arrived to a windless rounding and Nigel Edwards, first to the mark, drifted with the tide as later arrivals rounded and moved ahead as the wind picked up.

Gradually the wind increased and steadied and Sarah Edwards moved ahead of the fleet maintaining a lead over her father Christopher which she held until the last mark was rounded before the long slog home. Places in the pack were changing constantly and there were 9 boats still within striking distance of the lead after an hours sailing.

The 1 mile beat home (effectively twice as long because of the current), saw a lot of place changing as the wind favoured first one then the other, Nigel Edwards (no relation) regaining the lead briefly before Christopher Edwards took it at the critical moment, winning by less than a minute from Nigel with Carl Pittam 3rd from Maury Shenk and Stephen Arbuthnot, Sarah having dropped to 6th by the bell. Just 5 minutes separated 1st and 8th places after 90 minutes racing.

Overall Results: