A glorious forecast tempted some last minute entries for this weekends open meetings. The sun shone and the wind blew from the west (give or take the 30 deg swings!). The shifting conditions did create some chances, and misfortunes, throughout the afternoon, but generally the same sailors were at the front.
The Laser open was a one day event consisting of three races. After two races Tim Keighley from West Riding and Dave Lawson each had a 1st and a 2nd, so the overall result would depend the last race, of which Dave took command securing an all important 1st and the open meeting trophy., with Tim 2nd. Joe Roberts improved his results each race finishing 3rd overall while Jim Leach from Hollowell was 4th.
Even Flying 15 world championship winning partnership Steve Goacher and Tim Harper found the conditions challenging. In the first race Dave and Sally McKee from Dovestone were proving difficult to shake off, while in the second race Graham Kirkpatrick with a guest appearance from Alan Smith took an early lead, but were passed by Ian Campbell and Lezliann Pearson, and then missed the start gate so had to return and slipped further down the pack, but it was Simon Longstaff and Jon Denwood that would lead the fleet over the finish line. The final race of the day, Steve led from start to finish to be overnight leader with Simon 2nd. On the last lap, surprisingly six boats rounded the wrong mark, and did not correct their error, giving Alan Jones the chance to record his best result of the day!
On Saturday evening, the F15 fleet celebrated Steve and Tim’s world championship win with a bbq and a few drinks, that for some continued through till dawn! Ah the joys of having onsite camping.
Sunday started overcast and lighter winds that were forecast to increase, which they did a little after racing started, but the shifty conditions continued, together with various holes that swallowed a couple of positions at different times. Steve, having plied his competition with drink the night before, quickly secured an impressive lead, and a guaranteed 1st overall in the open meeting, as Simon was one of those that lost a place to Andy Goddard from Dovestone, finishing 3rd and 2nd respectively.
In the final race of the day Dave and Sally McKee took a lead which Steve couldn’t penetrate despite being on their tail all the time. This boosted their overall position to 3rd behind Simon and Jon.
