Maidenhead Laser Championship

Maidenhead Laser Championship © Gary Bullock

The wet and windy weather forecast didn't put off 15 Radial sailors for the Maidenhead Laser Championship. We also invited a select few Thames valley sailors to join in with the racing.

The format was to to have the Radials racing in the morning and would be run by the Standard fleet and then the Radial fleet would run the Standards racing after lunch.

It would be a five race sprint series with 4 to count and a double points medal race to end with. The course was a windward, spreader, leeward gate and a downwind finish with races lasting around 15 minutes.

Maidenhead Laser Championship - photo © Gary Bullock

Alistair Brown from Great Moor dominated the series with an impressive 5 straight bullets. Although Alistair had won overall, there was still the title of Maidenhead Laser Champion to be decided. Going into the double points medal race Tom Knight was on 6, Sam Walton 9, Ben Osbourne 16 and Georgia Macadam 16, so all four were in with a chance.

After the first lap Alistair had a clear lead and Sam had established second place. Sailing to the downwind finish in a blustery 15-20 knots, Ben, Georgia and Tom were locked together with no more than a boat length between them. Tom needed a third place to secure the title and, pushing too hard, capsized to windward and finally finished 7th. Ben narrowly beat Georgia to come 4th overall.

Maidenhead Laser Championship - photo © Gary Bullock

In the silver fleet Aaron Mussell finished ahead of John Sweeney in the medal race to take the trophy.

Spare a thought for Paul Wolstencroft who, new to Laser sailing, bravely ventured out to race but had to retire in the first race after having a disagreement with the boom. Our rescue teams were quick to react and had Paul ashore receiving first aid. Paul was taken to hospital which resulted in a nine stitch repair to the middle of his forehead.

The competitors agreed that short, sharp races were a success and, although the jury is still out on the double points non-discardable medal race I think this depended where you finished in the medal race.

Maidenhead Laser Championship - photo © Gary Bullock

We had some sailors gaining some good individual race results, notably Charles Gillam gaining a 3rd place in race one and Ollie Payne beating his older brother Johnny in race 3.

After the Standards took to the stage in the afternoon we held a small Covid secure prize-giving outside.

Overall Results: