Cockerill claims round two

100 Laser Radials took part in the second Spring Qualifier at Highcliffe Sailing Club

Once again there were over 100 Radials for the second Spring Qualifier held at Highcliffe S.C on 28-29 March. The competitors were greeted by 14-18 knots of shifty NNW winds and a cross tide. After one recall the first fleet got away on a port-biased line. James Grant led around the windward mark with many sailors over-standing the port layline due to the tide. Andrea Brewster took the lead, but was passed on the reaches by Duncan Keates with Charlotte Dobson over-hauling Hannah Snellgrove for third. The second fleet got away cleanly first time and the leaders came from the left on the first beat. On the last beat a persistent left shift shuffled the front of the pack. Phil McCoy took the lead with Michael Clark second and Jon Emmett recovering to third.

A second race was started but shortly after a large squall came through with gusts of over 20 knots, once the squall passed the wind all disappeared and the sailors were left drifting on the tide until the race was abandoned. The fleet started to head in as the breeze had shut off, but it eventually returned enabling a further two races to be completed in a 14-18 knot NW.

In the first start Phil McCoy led around the windward mark but was passed by Steve Cockerill on the reaches, these two sailed into less pressure on the next beat letting Ali Young through. The race committee then attempted to shorten the course but still had the full-rig flag flying when the leaders rounded the leeward mark and headed off on another triangle. The full-rig flag was dropped and the rest of the fleet sailed to the finish. The three lead boats sailed out another triangle with Cockerill taking the lead from Young on the beat and McCoy third, these three were later given redress. In the second start David Jessop bounced back from a black flag in the first race of the day to take the win followed home by Emmett and Brewster.

With the sun starting to fall the race committee were quick to get the third race underway. In the first start Annalise Murphy led around the windward mark and sailed the second beat conservatively before being passed by Matthew O'Dowd who got into the pressure on the right. O’Dowd took the win with Elliot Hanson passing Murphy for second. In the second start Michael Clark was the initial leader but was passed by Cockerill on the last downwind with Emmett taking third. After a long day on the water the fleet finally returned to shore at 1830 with the sun setting behind them.

Sunday bought contrasting conditions, with sunshine and milder temperatures but no wind and racing was abandoned for the day at 1200. This left Steve Cockerill as a deserved winner and there is now a break before the next spring qualifier in Lowestoft on 2-3 May.

Overall results:

1st Steve Cockerill
2nd Phil McCoy
3rd Michael Clark
4th Jon Emmett
5th Andrea Brewster