Laser Direct Laser2000 Inlands at Grafham Water Sailing Club
by John Cox 2 Jun 2006 08:19 BST
27-28 May 2006
Forty-seven Laser 2000’s from as far away as Scotland and Wales made their way to Grafham Water over the Bank Holiday weekend for their third Inland Championships competing for the ‘Noble Marine Trophy’.
The racing got underway at midday in the shifty F2/3 south westerly breeze; this first race was won by Mike Hart and Alice Brotchie in a boat borrowed from a class member who unfortunately could not make the event. After a long race one, the fleet were over keen on the line for race two with a general recall which meant the fleet were to go to the back of the starting sequence and would start all remaining races under the ‘black flag’. The black flag kept the fleet behind the line for a clean start followed by three laps of the course and another win for Mike and Alice. Race three was the best of the day in a slightly increased wind with much place changing and the final three sail reach to the finish line giving folks something to grin about on the way back to the club. Mike and Alice won all three races on day one but were challenged by the Weir Wood boats of Rob Burridge and Ant Greenfield and Tim and Linda Hulley.
Talk over the excellent evening meal was still about that three sail reach to the finish and this was continued into the evening with DJ Gareth Edwards and his Skiff sailing footage along with his disco and light show. Tom Bell celebrated his 18th birthday in the evening with the 2000 fleet consuming many ‘legal’ pints.
Sunday dawned with an increased wind now westerly Force 4/5 (with 26 knot gusts) which allowed the PRO Bob Carter to set and give the fleet three superb asymmetric races. Sunday was to be Rob and Ants day but not without challenges from Mike and Alice, the Hulley’s and the Fillmore’s.
Mike and Alice won the Championship and the ‘Noble Marine Trophy’ but only by one point from Rob and Ant in one of what can safely be said to be one of the Laser 2000 fleets best ever weekend of racing.
The crystal glassware and Laser Direct prizes were presented by the Vice Commodore Hilary Talbot with a little Laser Direct help from Tom Rosoman and Duncan Adams. This was followed with another deserved vote of thanks to the club ‘team’ by Class Chairman Trevor Bradley with a presentation to the club of an engraved vase and a Laser 2000 flag for their own fleet.
Prize Winners:
Century Prize (combined age of helm, crew & boat over 100years)
Tim & Elizabeth Fillmore 21724
Junior Helm (under 21)
Tom Bell 21275
Junior Boat (Helm & Crew under 21)
Philip Spicer & Peter Gray 2930
The Bell Boom (for endeavour)
Guy & Julie Boswell 2587
Laser Direct - ‘Out of the Hat’ Prizes
Miles & Anderley Wade, Tim & Elizabeth Fillmore and Mike & Anne De St Paer
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 21800 | Mike Hart | Alice Brotchie | Port Dinorwic SC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 2 | 7 |
| 2nd | 2458 | Rob Burridge | Ant Greenfield | Weir Wood S.C. | -3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 3rd | 2854 | Tim Hulley | Linda Hulley | Weirwood S.C. | 5 | 3 | 2 | -11 | 2 | 5 | 17 |
| 4th | 21724 | Elizabeth Fillmore | Tim Fillmore | Draycote Water SC | 2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | -20 | 10 | 29 |
| 5th | 21790 | Miles Wade | Anderley Wade | Weir Wood S.C./Army Sailing Association | 4 | 5 | -11 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 30 |
| 6th | 21352 | Simon Horsfield | Clive Grant | Army Sailing Association | -12 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 31 |
| 7th | 21462 | Andy Baldwin | Mark Baldwin | GWSC | 7 | -14 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 32 |
| 8th | 2549 | Richard Bland | Tom Bland | Carsington SC | 6 | 4 | 8 | -10 | 8 | 8 | 34 |
| 9th | 21826 | Tom Rososman | Susannah Rosoman | Sandringham YC | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 6 | (OCS) | 41 |
| 10th | 2930 | Philip Spicer | Peter Gray | Downs SC | -17 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 46 |