Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series 2025 at Barton's Point Coastal Park - Week 8
by Jamie Blair 16 Mar 19:20 GMT
16 March 2025
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 8 © Fiona Blair
Gusty and shifty with a Sail GP type course
With wind from the N- NE and 14 - 20kts providing a drag race to the first mark before the long run to a leeward mark, a sausage leg and a reach to the finish.
Race 1 saw a split in the fleet with two Jamie (51) and Tim (45) opting for B rigs and the rest on C rigs. The C rigs faired best with Jon Moon (84) scoring the win and Mark Penny (03) second. The B rigs tried again in race 2 but the outcome was the same - Jon with another win.
All on C rigs for race 3 with Tim taking the win and Jamie and Jon close behind. The course was proving a challenge - shifts; close racing at the start and mark rounding. The last leg to the finish brought the most gasps with some of it in the lee of the café. Many lost/won places keeping our RO Fiona on her toes.
Race 4 saw Mark take the win and Tim second. Our 8th racer (Charles Pegram (72) joined in having completed a servo replacement and was immediately in the mix.
Jamie proved consistent in the next 7 races with a flurry of wins. He and Tim were never far apart, along with Jon waiting to pounce.
Jon kept the overall lead until race 8 but with one point separating 1st to 3rd the chase was on. 11 races were completed by the break with Jamie out in front, Jon, Tim and Mark close behind.
Race 15 found only 4 boats finishing, the remainder tied up somewhat after contact!
Four more races before the end of the session saw Jamie, Jon and Tim battle it out. Tim even tried his B rig again, but the gust were just too puffy.
Jamie retained his lead with Tim second, Jon third and Mark fourth.
Let's hope another great day next Sunday 23rd March.
Week 8 Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 | R19 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 51 | Jamie Blair | ‑4 | ‑3 | 2 | ‑7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 27 |
| 2nd | 45 | Tim Towsend | ‑5 | ‑7 | 1 | 2 | ‑5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 32 |
| 3rd | 84 | Jon Moon | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ‑6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | (DNF) | ‑6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 43 |
| 4th | 3 | Mark Penny | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 3 | (DNF) | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 69 |
| 5th | 62 | Spencer Pope | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | ‑7 | ‑8 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 | (DNF) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 79 |
| 6th | 32 | Roger Gibbs | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | ‑8 | 6 | ‑8 | ‑8 | 7.5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 81.5 |
| 7th | 76 | Bob Woolford | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | ‑8 | ‑8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | (DNF) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 95 |
| 8th | 72 | Charles Pegram | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7.5 | 6 | 7 | DNF | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 97.5 |