Wednesday Night Laser Series 29/06/2006

Due to computer problems Ali has asked me to send this out on his behalf....

As promised here are the results for Wednesday evening's efforts.

A healthy southerly force 4/5 helped produce one of the most entertaining evenings sailing this year.   Guy and Ali shared OOD duties and organised a series of short 1 lap races followed by a 2 lap series race.   First place was monopolised by by Guy and Ali in the practice races, but things were different when it mattered in the series race.  After a tight start Nick and Ali were neck and neck up to the windward mark, with Nick just prevailing despite some underhanded and ludicrous attempts at luffing (just how much room do you need Ali? - shouting up-up all the time is pointless when you are at least 3 feet away).

A huge gust struck just in time for the reach down to the  gybe mark.  The satisfaction of leaving the rest of the field for dead wore off pretty rapidly at the sudden realisation that the mark was going to have to be negotiated at full speed ... The inevitab le happened with the capsize king finding himself swimming not for the first nor last time that evening.  It wasn't all bad news however, as Ali arrived seconds later only to perform a similar manoeuvre, and just to add insult to incompetence, get himself tangled up with the mark for good measure.  Always in control, Isla in her Radial took the lead which she was to maintain for the rest of the race despite the best efforts of the rest of the field.  A result that puts her at the top of the leaderbord for the series so far.

Worth a mention is Andy Chadwick, who was actually first across the line, but lost out on handicap.  Clearly a better night for the Dart with Andy obviously finding his arse if not necessarily his elbow.  Also Lorenzo Chiavarini, who sailed an excellent race in the Pico, to take 2nd place on handicap.

Nick 29/06/2006