RC Laser TT at Medway Yacht Club
by Adrian Tomlinson 19 Oct 2016 10:21 BST
Oops - RC Laser TT at Medway © Diane Fowler
Welcome to the Medway RC Laser Club's TT at Barton Point, Isle of Sheppey, with overcast skies and heavy rain, forecast to last all day.
In the end we had rain up to our programmed start then it relented stopping altogether so that racing could commence. It then improved for the afternoon giving way to sunshine.
The wind was from a perfect southerly direction allowing a course to be set alongside the bank for the whole length of the lake. This made for a lot of walking keeping us fit for what I don't know.
Robert Owens was our R.O. with help on the lines by Frances Tomlinson and Diane Fowler. Robert gave a short briefing and by 10:10 we were into our first race.
We were to be on C rigs all day.
Adrian Tomlinson started the first race by port tacking the whole fleet and was leading for the first round, up the second beat all was going smoothly until someone pointed out, "Shouldn't we go through the start/finish on each round?" Oh dear.
This left local boats of Tony Owens to take first place and Jamie Blair 2nd with Brian Collings in 3rd.
Jamie Blair won the next race with current European Champion Dave Fowler in 2nd and Brian again 3rd.
Then Dave put the "pedal to the metal" and won the next seven races before lunch. With Adrian, Jamie and Tony chasing.
After a lunch break where refreshments were consumed from the Lakeside Café racing continued until 3pm by which time a total of 16 races had been sailed thereby finishing the event in good time for the travellers to get away.
Throughout the day there was plenty of breeze keeping all in C rig mode, towards the end of the day it was getting to top end of the rig and many a rudder was seen waving in the fresh air, even Dave's.
John Armstrong had some boat difficulties during the morning but posted a second in race 11, Roger Atkins a third in race 13, John Park was consistent throughout the day in mid fleet.
All that remained was for Frances to present the prizes and for the Robert and his helpers to receive a bottle of wine each to end a very enjoyable day.
Top five results:
1st 840 Dave Fowler 14pts
2nd 30 Adrian Tomlinson 34pts
3rd 75 Tony Owens 44pts (count back 3 1st places)
4th 51 Jamie Blaire 44pts (count back 1 1st places)
5th 013 Brian Collings 45pts