Seaview showdown

Laser SB3 Touareg Grand Prix pulls up to the Isle of Wight this weekend

The third leg of the Volkswagen Touareg Laser SB3 Grand Prix series finds the fleet heading to the Eastern end of the Isle of Wight for a two day event hosted by the Seaview Yacht Club (SVYC).

Seaview YC has hosted this event for the past two years, providing some of the most memorable racing for the class to date, and it is expect that some 60 boats will make the trip across the Solent this year again.

The past two years – both held in strong breezes – have been won by the class stalwarts, Glenn Bourke in Musto in 2005, and Russell Peters in Selden Seen in 2006. This year will see a repeat of the Hamble Grand Prix event held two weeks ago where the two champions went head to head in mixed conditions with Bourke coming out on top. With the forecast looking light this weekend, however, there are plenty of others who could upset the form book.

Of these, Jerry Hill has found his form of late in 3 Sad Old Blokes, and the ever consistent Geoff Carveth ( Palava) and Dan Geoghegan ( Champagne Blonde) should not be discounted. But with European Champion Craig Burlton flying the Touareg colours this year many in the fleet would be pleased to see him chalk up a domestic win after an enviably consistent start to the season.

International PRO Toney Lovell will be again in charge of the fleet which will no doubt ensure some top quality racing and with the traditional warm welcome that Seaview displays for the competitors it will be an event not to be missed.

Entry forms for those not organised enough can be found on the class website: http://www.lasersb3.com