Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series at Barton's Point Coastal Park - Week 10

The Race Team using the wind direction of SE and 8 knots speed set a narrow course with a wing mark to form the triangle for the triangle sausage format. This effectively gave two downwind legs, a reach along the leeward end of the course and two beats. The wing mark was in front of the control area allowing boat on boat control at optimum. This didn't prevent contacts - it allowed boats being closer than they would normally be and with more possible infringements!

For race 1 Lucian Stone (75) made the best start from the starboard tack end of the line (what would be the committee boat). Close behind were Roger Gibbs (32) and Tony Alexander (04). This left the remainder of the fleet of 9 to mix it for the remaining places.

For race 2 there was a complete shuffle of the fleet with Jamie Blair (51) leading at the start from a mid line position but with a need to claw to windward to allow a tack on to port and cross the fleet. Spencer Pope (62) the single boat on B rig and the others on A rig. Spencer's B rig was at this stage not the right choice but with the forecast increase in wind this became the sail of choice.

With the course configuration and most boats starting on starboard tack the shore came into play quite soon after the start allowing calls of "Room to tack" for the obstruction. A ploy taken as an opportunity to get most of the fleet to tack off and the hailing boat to safely tack on to port. The wind began its shiftiness early in the day with a lift going into the windward mark on the starboard lay line allowing some high-risk slam dunks on boats not fetching the mark on starboard.

With Spencer still sailing with the B rig for race 3 and the wind now up to over 12 knots he was able to capitalise both upwind and downwind and take a well deserved win.

Most changed down to B rig except Jamie and Roger so race 4 proved fruitful for Tony. Race 5 saw Jamie stuck in irons with his A rig, hoping for a drop in the breeze. Lucian fought off the opposition from Tony and Jon but Spencer had taken the lead, bagging another win.

Three on equal points at this stage for overall. Breeze now over 15 knots saw Spencer take control of the starboard tack end of the line and lead by the first mark and take another win in race 6.

Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 10 - photo © Fiona Blair

Race 7 saw Jamie pull forward in the second beat after very close racing with Tony and Mark Penny (03). At the break, the consistent scoring from Tony put him at the top of the leader board with Jamie 3 points adrift.

Race 8 brought Jon into the winners enclosure after a close tussle with Jamie who taking a penalty at the last mark conceding a second place; Tony and Lucian taking advantage to score the second and third places.

Races 9 to 15 in increasing wind brought out the C rig in race 11 for some and all for race 12 onwards. Bullets were swapped between Lucian and Jamie. The fleet racing remained hugely competitive with winners and losers; Tony still in the hunt and overall leader after race 10.

Another week for Jamie to celebrate, Lucian second and Tony third. With the wind in the SE moving right we managed 16 races and three discards put Tony third and Jon fourth.

Our next Sunday racing is scheduled for the 3rd March.

Week 10 Results: