Tight finish

Coxes win out after first place tie at Laser 2000 coastal championships

The first Laser 2000 Coastal Championships were held at Mounts Bay SC, Marazion near Penzance. The event was held jointly with the Laser 4000 National Championships. Sunday 17 August saw the first race for the Laser 4000 class and a practice race for the Laser 2000 class. However, in very difficult veering wind conditions the race officer fought to lay the perfect windward leeward course and the practice race finally got underway after a three hour wait.

Monday saw much better conditions with the first race starting exactly on time at 11:00.
John Cox from Chichester YC led most of the race but fell foul of a cruel wind shift on the last run to finish fourth with Ian and Robert Payne (also from Chichester YC) winning. The second race saw John and Pauline Cox lead from start to finish. On Monday evening a children's disco was well attended whilst the discussion in the bar was over the number of general recalls enjoyed by the Laser 4000 class.

Tuesday's racing was held in brilliant sunshine in fickle F1/F2 northerly winds. Race 4 again saw John and Pauline Cox lead from start to finish. At the start of the fourth race several of the Laser 2000 competitors were still enjoying a relaxing break and were caught well short of the start line.

It was Andy Baldwin sailing with his young son Mark from Grafham Water SC who led from start to finish with Trevor and Caroline Bradley taking their turn to suffer with a cruel wind shift, which saw them go from second to fifth on the last run. However, the fifth race saw Caroline and Trevor battling it out with John and Pauline Cox with Trevor and Caroline eventually taking the line ahead of Jim and Margaret Galloway from Loch Venacher SC.

So by the half way point the Laser 2000 Class had enjoyed a children's disco, a visit to St Michael's Mount hosts of Lord St Levin and superb weather even if the wind has been a little fickle. With 60% of races to count the Cox's and Bradley were on 5 points, the Galloway's on 6 and the Payne's on 7. Wednesday was a lay day for the Laser 2000 class and allowed the competitors and families to visit local attractions. Meanwhile, the Laser 4000 class waited for the wind to develop and then finally decided to abandon racing for the day.

Thursday saw a change in the weather as a F3 wind with F4 gusts crossed the bay. Three of the Laser 2000 competitors decided to reef and a few fitted buoyancy devices to the head of their masts. However it was the Laser 4000 class who appeared to need them more with one boat managing to cross the finish line inverted. The stronger winds suited Ian and Robert Payne who battled with Trevor and Caroline Bradley. Ian and Robert won the sixth and eighth race whilst Trevor and Caroline won the seventh race.

All competitors then gathered on Thursday evening in Mounts Bay SC for the Laser 4000 Class prize giving and to discuss the permutations for the final day’s racing.
Friday saw a return to light winds with any one of three boats still able to win. All sixteen boats competed in the ninth and tenth races. Again it was John and Pauline Cox who excelled in the lighter conditions, leading from start to finish in both races to become the first Laser 2000 Coastal Champions.

Prizes were donated by Crewsaver and Kodak and were presented by Janet Wilcock the wife of the Vice-President of Mounts Bay sailing Club. All 16 boats received a prize and everyone commented on how much they had enjoyed the venue, the friendly competition and the exchange of helpful advice.

Results:
1. John and Pauline Cox – Chichester YC – 10 Points (4 Firsts)
2. Trevor and Caroline Bradley – Littleton SC – 10 Points (2 Firsts)
3. Ian and Robert Payne – Chichester YC – 11 Points
4. Jim and Margaret Galloway – Loch Venacher SC – 13 Points
5. Andy and Mark/Karen Baldwin – Grafham Water SC – 20 Points
6. Richard and Sue Morley – Hawley Lake SC – 31 Points