Close run thing

The UK Laser 4000 National Championships were won by Wilson and Barker

Eleven races, four days, and not one obvious favourite, the Laser 4000 UK Nationals were going to be intense. Perhaps the entire event was summarised by race five. Four laps in a shifty, gusty 18–22 knots, an intense battle at the front with places changing every leg and eventually the second, third and fourth boats crossing the finish within a boatlength.

At the halfway point - two days and six races - a look at the results showed we were no nearer finding a winner, the top four were still covered by four points. This was weight equalised one design racing as it was intended when the Laser 4000 was conceived. High speed, high standard, close tactical racing with seven different race winners.

Eventually though there has to be a winner and ex 49er campaigners and former European champions John Wilson and James Barker sailed an excellent series to win the event. With the closeness of the racing all the other teams at some stage tripped up and started to fall away from the lead battle, but Wilson and Barker kept banging in countable scores. On day three when the wind was at it lightest of the week some had thought they might struggle but in fact it was at this point they took a grip on the title. Theirs was an excellent display of confident, intelligent sailing.

'Get your discard in early' may be a dinghy park joke, but starting your series with a 21st and tenth is obviously not ideal if you have designs on the title. However, Chris Webber and James Dickinson overcame that obstacle to finish second overall. After such a shaky start they then went on to win three races and climb steadily up the leader board. A superb second and first on the tough final day allowed them to jump from fifth to second.

Third overall went to Hugh Watson and Dave Lilburn. After being a part of the lead battle for the first two days their campaign started to unravel when they hit a starboard tack boat on the first beat of race seven. The collision broke their forestay (Hugh’s third dismasting in three nationals!) and although they managed to stop the mast falling down completely and replace the jib for the next race they never quite got themselves back into contention.

With a pre planned crew change halfway through, Huw Powell and Kevin Barnard/Kevin Reed sailed a strong series to finish fourth overall after lying second at the midway point. On equal points in fifth overall were the early leaders Mark Heather and Bonnie Moody.

All that intense racing, a range of conditions from 10 – 25 knots, a very hospitable host club who provided a great race officer made this yet another very successful Laser 4000 championship. Off the water it was just as good – the sun came out for at least two hours one afternoon and the fleet enjoyed a range of entertainment from bar games to a team curry and a trip to the local nightclub - featuring an awesome air guitar jamming session and some interesting pole dancing routines from both male and female members of the fleet. If all that sounds like your kind of week then next year's championship at Beer is not to be missed – see you there.

Results:

Pos	Helm	Crew	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	Tot
1	John Wilson	James Barker	1	4	7	2	2	2	6	2	5	1	4	23
2	Chris Webber	James Dickinson	21	10	1	7	6	1	2	4	7	2	1	31
3	Hugh Watson	David Lilburn	4	3	2	1	3	9	29	3	10	5	5	35
4	Huw Powell	Kevin Barnard	3	1	8	3	1	5	3	10	6	8	7	37
5	Mark Heather	Bonnie Moody	2	2	3	29	4	4	9	8	9	3	2	37
6	Mark Cotgrove	Ian Gotts	5	21	4	4	29	3	1	9	3	7	6	42
7	Nathan Batchelor	James Clark	29	7	10	5	5	10	7	5	8	6	3	56
8	John Reynolds	Fran Howell	9	5	5	6	17	13	8	1	2	29	29	66
9	Jon Modral	Susanna Bickford	11	9	13	13	29	12	4	7	4	15	8	81
10	Iain Reynolds	Adam Brushett	6	6	19	9	7	8	10	22	17	9	10	82
11	John Warburton	James Clapham	7	11	18	10	9	11	13	6	12	13	16	92
12	Andrew Blundell	James Moreland	8	13	11	8	12	6	18	21	24	10	11	97
13	Alistair Hodgson	Susan Ogg	10	12	14	16	11	7	15	20	13	4	13	99
14	Richard Mayo	Andy Watkins	16	8	9	11	15	20	19	11	11	18	12	111
15	Martin Boyde	Ed Wilton	29	29	6	14	8	16	20	14	14	14	9	115
16	Geoff Holden	Bernice Holden	13	15	15	12	10	19	12	12	19	12	20	120
17	Peter Scott	Ian Halls	17	20	12	21	29	21	5	15	1	11	22	123
18	Jody Warner	Emma Warner	14	16	16	19	13	18	11	13	16	17	15	131
19	Andrew Wilson	Tom Wilson	15	18	17	15	14	15	14	16	18	29	14	138
20	Neil Heffernan	Charlotte Heffernan	12	19	22	29	18	17	23	17	15	20	18	158
21	James Bradbury	Erica Bradbury	29	17	23	18	16	22	16	18	22	21	17	167
22	Nick Creak	Andy Smith	20	22	21	17	21	14	21	25	20	16	19	169
23	Brian P Allen	Claire N Allen	19	14	20	22	20	23	22	19	23	19	21	176
24	Gus Cameron	Jan Frayne	29	29	29	20	19	25	17	23	21	22	29	205
25	Sam Caslin	Charlotte Powell	29	29	29	23	22	24	24	24	25	29	29	229
26	Adam Ballard	Olly Story	29	29	24	29	29	26	25	26	29	23	23	234
27	Gareth Smith	Richard Warden	18	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	250
28	A Heath	Carolyn Morgan	22	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	254