Laser 2 Nationals at Pwllheli Sailing Club

The 2008 Laser II Nationals were held at the excellent Pwllheli Sailing Club and Event Centre during a week (28th -31st July) which allowed the small but select group of competitors to show their skills in every range of conditions.

Monday proved very hot and airless and racing was abandoned after several people decided to leave their boats bobbing around while they cooled off in the water. Tuesday was more promising and the race committee managed to squeeze in 3 races. The first race, in consistent wind and a slight chop, was won by Mike Clapp and Mark Bond. The wind was more variable in race 2 and some pressure seeking was required. Iain Carpenter and his daughter Imogen found more breeze and a favourable shift on the left hand side of the run, to overtake the previously leading boats and finish first in both the second and third races.

By now the crews who enjoy putting their Laser IIs through their paces in the extreme conditions were getting a bit restless but by 4am the wind had risen to 24 knots Southerly and this remained through the night, bringing in big swells with persistent white crests. The race committee postponed for an hour and then went out for a closer look while the sailors stood on the dunes muttering and obsessing. The decision to come back at 4 pm proved right as the wind (now 20 knots) and sea calmed down just enough to prevent total carnage and to squeeze in another 3 races. Some interesting reaches and rolling runs with very little of the boats actually touching the water saw Mike and Di Croker in perfect control and making use of the conditions to come in first in the first race. A shredded spinnaker at the end of the first triangle slowed the Crokers down in the second race and Clapp/Bond disappeared into the gloom to finish first. At the climax of the final race, Baird/Fuller overtook the spinnakerless Crokers on the final run to finish first, with Clapp/Bond rapidly closing in third place.

With four points between the first three crews overall, the last race on Thursday was hotly contested in 15 knots and moderate swell. The Crokers pulled away on the second beat on the right hand side of the course while Baird/Fuller and Clapp/Bond did not enjoy such a good race leaving the Crokers the overall winners.

Overall Results: