Scottish Grand Prix Series

Radial Rig Lasers at Loch Earn SC 2004

(Report by Cheryl Stobbart)

Results

The first event of the Scottish Laser GP series was held in the beautiful surroundings of Loch Earn on the 24/25 April. Turnout was good for early in the season with 14 boats present. Racing started promptly at 1.30pm in a light westerly breeze.

Conditions were very varied, the wind generally came from the southwest, F1-2. The first race started with some wind which soon died, the fleet was quite spread out by the windward mark, however it bunched on the downwind leg with the Radial fleet catching the tail end of the Standard fleet. By the third mark, Robin Paris and Scott Hyslop had quite a lead on the rest of the fleet as we all slowly drifted to the mark. Graham Farrar managed to get inside of one of the cruisers at the mark just in front of Laura Sandison who had to sail around the cruiser. Over the final beat the first 5 boats remained in the same order.

Between race 1 and 2 the wind picked up from the west. Racing got underway quickly after the last boat crossed the line, the first beat was quick with a reasonable breeze. Chic Medley was first round with Cheryl Stobbart just behind, the majority of the fleet went to the north side of the loch on the way down to the leeward mark. Cheryl managed to take the lead from Chic on the downwind leg. The order changed quite dramatically up the next beat with Robin Paris taking the lead, the wind then died and varied hugely in direction for the rest of the race, but Robin was able to hold on to his lead to win.

With no wind at 11.30 the following day the Race Officer showed compassion and let competitor get away early to catch the Sunday racing at their home clubs. Robin won the event, his first win in the Scottish Radial fleet and only his second Scottish event in the Laser Radial.

Full Results

Sailed: 2  Discards: 0  Ratings: None