Laser 5000 Open at Grafham Water Sailing Club
by Paul Burns 1 Jun 2012 14:34 BST
26-27 May 2012
Laser 5000s during the Laser multi-class at Grafham © Richard Janulewicz /
www.fotoboat.com
What a fantastic weekend for the Grafham Water, Laser Multi Class Event, both days in the upper 20’s, brilliant sunshine and winds of F$ and the odd F5 gust on Saturday, and slightly less on the Sunday.
The course was brilliant for us with good long legs and durations of circa 1 Hr each In addition to the 5K fleet, there were 2K’s, 3K’s, 4K’s, Vago & Vortex. The 5K’s sharing the 4th start with the Vortex fleet, and with the good wind strength there was the normal start line jostling, however all six starts were clean for the 5K’s.
Mark & Nicky Rushton 5249, led the day with 2 bullets and a 2nd, well done guys. The rest of the fleet had mixed results, Richard Owens (Taff) and Stu Southan 5233, had 3 capsizes throughout a pretty challenging day, well done Stu, for sticking with it. Paul Burns & Mark Fittes 5269, had a great day, but missed the first race due to a kicker failure at the start, a quick run ashore to Jonti’s for a new saddle and a bit of vice work , had them back on the water for the 2nd start. Ade Beaven-Smith & Andy Charles 5248, did extremely well, until an unfortunate capsize saw them completely inverted with the kite up , struggling to right it for some 20 minutes.
After the 3 long races of day 1 the 5K fleet are all feeling a little lethargic, but all at the start for the second day's events.
Race 1, Paul & Mark had a poor start as trapped by a Vortex, Mark & Nicky off in the lead from the start. Having decided to leave the pack and tack off, Paul & Mark had caught Mark & Nicky by the 4th lap, and took 1st place by the end, only just making it through the narrow finish line overpowered by a gust, missing the committee boat by inches.
Race 2 saw Taff & Stu capsized near the top mark and eventually calling it a day. In the 4th lap there was a big fight for position seeing Ade & Andy, neck and neck at the bottom mark with 5269 just edging past, when Marks quick release hook released and he went for a swim, ending the second race for them.
The last race of the day saw a continual fight for position between Ade & Andy 5248, and Paul & Mark 5269, with the position changing every lap, with a pretty close finish with 5269 taking the 1st place, what fantastic racing.
Overall Results:
1st 5249 Mark & Nicky (GWSC) 6pts
2nd 5269 Paul & Mark (GWSC) 12pts
3rd 5248 Ade & Andy (Cargreen Yacht Club) 13pts
4th 5233 Taff & Stu (Army Sailing Association) 17pts
All in all a fantastic event laid on by GWSC and numerous quick pit stops at Jonti’s keeping the fleet on the water.