Laser Open at Chipstead Sailing Club
by John Masters 1 May 2014 07:59 BST
27 April 2014
On April 27th 9 visitors from clubs as far away as Broadstairs joined 13 home club boats at this year's Chipstead (near Sevenoaks) Laser Open.
Unfortunately the wind did not join in, blowing only force 2 with the occasional gust from a variety of directions. Race Officer Alan Warren and his team rose to the challenge to get in four races.
Race 1 got under way after a postponement to allow a change of start line, and a general recall. Under a black flag start Sergio Messina (Chipstead SC) held a good lead before sailing into a 'hole' allowing Rob Cage (Thames SC) through, followed by David Giles (Weirwood SC) and David Goddard and finished in that order.
In race 2 Messina showed he had learnt his lesson and led virtually throughout, the capsize of a visiting boat effectively blocked the rest of the fleet from giving chase!
After Shirley Sinclair's excellent lunch, the wind continued in same variable directions and race 3 used a slightly modified course. This time Giles broke away to lead throughout, followed home by Goddard and Cage.
With one discard allowed there was much to play for in the last race but Giles suffered an unfortunate capsize, allowing Cage to lead throughout and win, followed home in this race by a creditable performance from Simon Gillow (Chipstead SC) and Nick Forster of United Hospitals SC.
In the end Cage was first overall, with Giles second and Goddard in his brand new boat, third.
Many thanks are due again to Alan Warren and his team for enduring the cold and providing good racing and to Shirley Sinclair for providing a very welcome tea for the sailors.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 198962 | R.Cage | Thames | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 197458 | D.Giles | Weirwood | 2 | 2 | 1 | RTD | 5 |
| 3 | 207090 | D.Goddard | Homeless | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 4 | 197693 | S.Messina | CSC | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 12 |
| 5 | 162806 | N.Forster | Utd.Hospitals | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 13 |
| 6 | 164635 | S.Gillow | CSC | 4 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 14 |
| 7 | 185603 | D.Victor | CSC | 10 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 19 |
| 8 | 185251 | G.Field | CSC | 17 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 25 |
| 9 | 203314 | R.McAdam | Weirwood | 7 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 27 |
| 10 | 178682 | O.CageWhite | Broadstairs | 20 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 27 |
| 11 | 178382 | T.King | Blackwater | 14 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 31 |
| 12 | 201601 | C.SpencerSmith | Weirwood | 6 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 31 |
| 13 | 157573 | P.Gredley | CSC | 21 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 32 |
| 14 | 203319 | C.Fyans | Weirwood | 11 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 33 |
| 15 | 190555 | D.Allinson | CSC | 12 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 37 |
| 16 | 112147 | L.Hagon | CSC | 15 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 38 |
| 17 | 184145 | M.Graham | CSC | 13 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 46 |
| 18 | 179663 | J.Masters | CSC | 19 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 47 |
| 19 | 200663 | R.Levermore | CSC | 18 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 51 |
| 20 | 178078 | A.Johnson | CSC | 22 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 56 |
| 21 | 192500 | R.Daws | CSC | 16 | 19 | RTD | DNS | 57 |