Trouble leaving the beach

The UK Laser Radial Autumn Qualifiers were treated to some difficult conditions

To say the first of the UK Laser Radial Autumn Qualifiers was strongly influenced by the tide would be a very big understatement! Competitors launched for race one pretty much on high water at Eastbourne which caused more than a few problems. You have got to feel sorry for Andrea Brewster who is currently top girl on the Laser Ladder, as she snapped her lower mast trying to launch, then after finally getting out to the race course was OCS in the first race.

However, she was in good company. Nearly the whole fleet was over as with wind against tide most made a major misjudgement with many boats over with 30 seconds to go. With the majority of the fleet lining up, the feeling was, if you cannot beat them, then join them. Around 20 boats got caught out, including Ben Paton which was to prove crucial later on.

Race one and a diminished fleet hung well back from the line. There was in fact very little to say other than Steve Cockerill completely dominated the race. Starting on port he was nearly five minutes clear at the end of the race, especially impressive considering the race only lasted around forty minutes. Alison Young started as she meant to carry on with a solid second, well clear of Charlotte Dobson in third.

Race two and Paton and Emmett (who was also OCS) rejoined the race but Cockerill, fresh back from the Masters Worlds was loving the strong wind against strong tide scenario (although he commented that the waves were small compared with Korea.) Cockerill again port tacked the fleet. Paton gave chase but lost out to Emmett up the final beat. Emmett closed the gap on Cockerill but never quite got in front, finally settling for second, with Paton third.

The final race on Saturday and this time Cockerill had a poor start and it was Emmett who led up the first beat, despite some tussles downwind, held first until the finish. A second for Cockerill ended an excellent day for him. Paton scored his second OCS (which he had to count) effectively putting him out of the series.

Day two and the wind was with tide (which meant it was recovering the boats at high water which was even more fun than trying to launch them the previous day) and the wind had moderated slightly. With boats only just able to cross the line on starboard it was Emmett who started by the committee boat and tacked first beating out a commanding lead from the fleet. Iain McKeeman finished second in front of Richard Major.

Going into the last race Emmett was now leading overall, but the event would be decided on who beat whom in the last race. Andrea Brewster sailed a near perfect race to win comfortably, a nice way for her to end her weekend. Rosie Chapman was second for most of the race but got overtaken by Paton going high and Emmett going low on the final leg. With Cockerill finishing seventh, this gave Emmett the event (first open) from Cockerill (first master) with Ali Young finishing top girl (in third) and first youth (in fourth) showing the diversity of the Radial fleet.

Results to follow later.