Laser Open 2016 Race Report
Aldenham Laser Open Meeting 12th June 2016
Thames Valley Circuit
Race report
Ignoring the poor weather forecast 14 boats contested this year’s Laser Open. 8 were from Aldenham & we were pleased to welcome 6 visitors from Papercourt, Wembley, Thorpe Bay & Goring Thames. The wind varied between forces 2-3 with drizzle to start with but the rain soon disappeared and the wind held although it started to fade away by the end of the third race.
Race 1 started with a general recall possibly due to the Race Officer admitting at the briefing he did not have a black flag! However, the restart went smoothly and the fleet was well behaved for the rest of the day. Simon Hamment (Papercourt) together with Mason Woodworth & Steve Fischer from the home club were quick out of the blocks and pulled away from the rest of the fleet. The racing was very close with those managing to read the wind shifts up the beats gaining places. Simon stayed in front coming in ahead of Mason and Steve.
Race 2 was held in similar conditions with the same 3 upfront. However, after a close first lap Mason pulled clear to take an easy win followed by Simon then Steve.
After an excellent lunch the fleet returned to the water for race 3 with the wind having shifted south westerly and becoming more patchy but never completely disappearing. With a first and second each it was a shootout between Mason & Simon for the overall win and indeed Simon rounded the windward mark first closely followed by Mason. At the end of the downwind legs Mason forgot that the course had changed and allowed Colin Carver (ASC) to slip bye at the buoy into second place. A good beat by Colin allowed him to take the lead by the windward buoy which he then held for a number of laps. Steve worked his way past Mason & Simon before finally passing Colin at the downwind buoy and going on to take the win. Colin held onto second followed by Mason and Mark Hayzelden (Goring Thames).
So Mason, a new member of the ASC fleet, had done enough to take the title.
Overall:
1st Mason Woodworth Aldenham SC
2nd Simon Hamment Papercourt SC
3rd Steve Fischer Aldenham SC
4th Colin Carver Aldenham SC
5th Mark Hayzelden Going Thames SC
6th Peter Hamment Papercourt SC
