Scottish Grand Prix Series

Standard Rig Lasers at Loch Earn SC 2004

(Report by David Woakes)

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 13 boats present. Racing started promptly at 1.30pm in a light westerly breeze.

Tricky shifts near the first mark for the Standard rigs meant early leaders lost places before the next leg. The wind dropped which helped David Woakes move up through the fleet on a puff through the middle to lead at the next mark. The two boats following him headed off to the wrong mark on the next leg which let him build a commanding lead which he kept to the end.

In Race two, with the wind having swung to the North West and leaving a very biased line, Steven Forteith made a flying start and reached the windward mark first and lead by a comfortable margin by the end of the first lap. In the second lap the wind dropped and made again for a difficult downwind leg where places changed and leads were won and lost. Leading the charge to the finish line was James McTurk, when a sudden shift and drop in wind speed left the front 3 boats stranded. This let Thomas Hepburn win the race, with James coming in fourth.

With no wind at 11.30 the following day the Race Officer showed compassion and let competitors get away early to catch the Sunday racing at their home clubs. Thomas Hepburn (Largs SC) won the event on tie break from David Woakes (Port Edgar YC). This was Thomas' first Scottish Event win in the Standard rig, and shows him fulfilling the promising form he showed last year.

Full Results