Laser Vago Training and Open Weekend at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
by Dave Baxter 31 May 2014 09:29 BST
24-26 May 2014
Laser Vago Northern Open and Training © Richard de Fleury
A manic weekend of training and racing
Now in its fourth year, the Vago 'Northerns' yet again started the Bank Holiday weekend with early arrivals on Friday night to pitch tents before relaxing in the bar. Ahead were three days of informal training, coaching and racing with on-site camping, quizzes and the Rural Recipes galley, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The remaining boats rolled in on Saturday morning and after the welcome and briefing meeting, it was onto the water for some practice starts in a stiffening Force 4. After some massive improvements in confidence and the odd capsize, everyone was mixing it up on the line by lunchtime as the wind continued to increase. After lunch, it was downstairs to the training room for a technique briefing with Dave and Richard before the now Force 7 winds dictated a welcome abandonment on the water and a return to the calm of the training room for a tactics talk from Mike Woodhead.
The Saturday evening meal was followed by relaxation in the bar and an early night for some in preparation for the forthcoming race day.
Grey skies met the waking sailors on Sunday morning with a light breeze which looked likely to continue all day, so after a tasty breakfast, it was onto the water for boat handling and close quarters practice before the first racing of the weekend. As usual at this event, racing took the form of short course, single or double lap races, each running for around 10 minutes. Dave, sailing single handed, took an early lead with Ed and Jeanette closely contesting second with newcomers Paul and Victoria who took a couple of bullets themselves. Also single handing was Clive, putting in a consistent set of results along with Hector, trying a Vago for the first time.
Lots of position changes in the middle of the fleet made for some tight races and the day ended with an evening meal followed by some evening two-vs-two single handed team racing and the traditional quiz.
Monday morning finally produced the bright sunshine, blue skies and steady light wind some had been hoping for, so racing got underway straight after breakfast. In the middle of the fleet, racing was still very close until the penultimate race which saw John and Jack take a late win in the 'Schneider' boat with Doug and Sally second as the leaders dropped down the fleet.
With the fleet ashore for lunch and recovery time, a new 100m windward/leeward course was set in front of the clubhouse for the final double points 15 minute medal race, leading to lots of close quarters sailing and a vocal first mark rounding. Spectators gathered to watch and listen to the melee and everyone then headed for the shore for a welcome shower and the boat packing.
Finally, the event concluded with the presentation of the special awards and racing prizes followed by the closing speeches.
Additional thanks go Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club for hosting, Richard de Fleury for three days as Race officer and coach, Josh and Jo as flag monitors, Alan and Karen for catering, Andy and his rescue team, Jo, Steve and Emily for filling in as crews and the cuckoo and oyster catchers that woke some of us up on Sunday morning.
Same again next year.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Club | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | M | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 358 | YDSC | Dave Baxter | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | ‑5 | 1(2) | 13 |
| 2 | 463 | Reditch | Paul Fuller | Victoria Rose | ‑3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ‑5 | 2 | 1 | ‑6 | 2(4) | 18 |
| 3 | 164 | Hunts | Ed Deacon | Jeanette Chin | 2 | 3 | ‑6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | ‑7 | 3 | 3(6) | 33 |
| 4 | 408 | Draycote | Clive Sleath | | 5 | 5 | ‑10 | 4 | ‑8 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | ‑7 | 4 | 7 | 4(8) | 48 |
| 5 | 996 | Bartley | Doug Cooley | Sally Harris | 7 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | ‑10 | 6 | ‑9 | 5 | ‑8 | 2 | 10) | 54 |
| 6 | 742 | YDSC | Lee Carter | Dan Trowsdale | ‑9 | 6 | 3 | ‑10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | ‑8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 14) | 60 |
| 7 | 1067 | West Kirby | John Davies | Jack Davies | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 | ‑10 | ‑8 | 4 | ‑7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20) | 60 |
| 8 | 578 | Carsington | Gerry Fisher | Jo de Fleury | ‑10 | ‑11 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | ‑10 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 18) | 87 |
| 9 | 1187 | Northampton | Frank Hodgson | Emily/Steve | ‑11 | 8 | ‑11 | ‑11 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 16) | 89 |
| 10 | 1551 | Scaling Dam | James Proctor | Neill Warhurst | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 112 |
| 11 | 1349 | YDSC | Hector Simpson | | 4 | 9 | 4 | 5 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNCDNC | | DNC | 113 |
| 12 | 1349 | YDSC | Chris Lightley | | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 7 | DNC | 10 | DNC | DNC | 12) | 120 |
2014 Laser Vago Open Special Awards:
| Cleanest Sails (most notable capsize) | John and Jack |
| Vago Virgin (highest placed newcomers) | Paul and Victoria |
| Demolition Derby (most collisions) | Lee and Dan |
| Format Changer (most variations of boat format) | Frank |
| Team Racer | Paul |
| Most Improved Single Hander | Clive |
| Last Minute Crew | Jo |
| Most Improved Crew | Jeanette |
More information, photos and videos: