It was a very testing weekend at Largo Bay for the Scottish Laser Radial Championships 2011. With the wind refusing to settle into anthing like the forecast strength or direction Saturday comprised just one race which was started after a lengthy postponement in a light breeze which lasted just long enough for the competitors to reach the windward mark then fell away to little more than a challenging drift to the finish. At this point the OOD wisely called it a day and the fleet returned to the shore to enjoy Largo Bay's legendary hospitality and a great barbecue. Sunday was a little more promising but alas race 2 was almost a re-run of race one with patience the main talent on display.
Fortunately the wind finally arrived for races 3 and 4 which were sailed in a reasonable 8-11 knots allowing even the larger competitors to stretch their legs a little on the upwind and enjoy a couple of sparkling reaches in the afternoon Sunshine.
With three races from four to count, despite a slow start Andrew MacGowan managed two emphatic race wins once the breeze finally arrived to secure the men's title from Ian Fitgerald in second and Ian Calder in third.
Amongst the ladies the competition was equally close and the pattern similar with Samantha Foster, having struggled in the ultra light races pushing through to post much improved scores in races 3 and 4 to secure the Ladies title from Rosalind Dunlop in second and Kellie Carmichael in third.
Full Results are here.
Thank you Largo Bay for a great event despite the challenging meterology.
G.
Sunday 26 June 2011
Thursday 9 June 2011
Another Brutal Day on Windy Weymouth Bay
With Sammi forced to sit the day out with mild concussion and neck injury after connecting with a wildly gybing boom in 30 knots on the final run of race 6 yesterday it was left to Charlotte Dobson to represent Scottish Radials today.
On Sail for Gold Radio immediately after todays racing Charlotte described the Radial races so far as "brutal". "I was quite pleased I saved my discard through the qualifyuing series" says Charlotte, "the wind started at a good 15 knots for race one with a lot of big waves making things quite difficult and then built up to really quite fruity, favouring the larger girls again but I think I just about got away with it".
And get away with it she did, as Charlotte holds onto 5th place overall and is top GBR girl despite a dissapointing discard 20 and a 15 today in the first two Gold Fleet races. There is all to play for in the last two fleet races tomorrow so much to plan as she heads off to "an iced bath followed by a bubble bath". Lets hope all goes to plan and we see Charlotte in the Medal Race at 11AM on Saturtday. Check out all the action on www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk or listen in on SailforGold radio viad the "media" link on the event website.
Elsewhere our Radial and Topper girls heartthrob Luke Patience is also leading GBR 470 heading into the final day of fleet racing.
G.
On Sail for Gold Radio immediately after todays racing Charlotte described the Radial races so far as "brutal". "I was quite pleased I saved my discard through the qualifyuing series" says Charlotte, "the wind started at a good 15 knots for race one with a lot of big waves making things quite difficult and then built up to really quite fruity, favouring the larger girls again but I think I just about got away with it".
And get away with it she did, as Charlotte holds onto 5th place overall and is top GBR girl despite a dissapointing discard 20 and a 15 today in the first two Gold Fleet races. There is all to play for in the last two fleet races tomorrow so much to plan as she heads off to "an iced bath followed by a bubble bath". Lets hope all goes to plan and we see Charlotte in the Medal Race at 11AM on Saturtday. Check out all the action on www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk or listen in on SailforGold radio viad the "media" link on the event website.
Elsewhere our Radial and Topper girls heartthrob Luke Patience is also leading GBR 470 heading into the final day of fleet racing.
G.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Sail for Gold News - The Princess and the Pauper?
Very much a mixed picture at Sail for Gold 2011 for Scotland's only two Radial competitors. At the top of the tree Charlotte Dobson is top brit and lying fourth after a tough day with three long races in 18-23 knots out on Weymouth Bay. Go Charlotte!
At the other end of the fleet Samantha Foster is finding just how tough it is to survive at a World Cup event without a RIB and coach support. Despite being first on the water yesterday she only just made it out on time for race one as virtually the only Radial who was not towed to the start and was then last home hitting the beach at 8.25 pm again with no outside help whatsoever. Today was much the same story but with the Westerly wind rising to a solid 25 knots after the finish (even the full rigs said it was "very windy" with the world champion capsizing downwind)it was over a two hour beat back after the finish just to get to the gateway to the inner harbour! Soul destroying when it felt like virtually everyone else was relaxing in a coach RIB enjoying a speedy tow home.
It sure aint easy this sailing lark!
G.
At the other end of the fleet Samantha Foster is finding just how tough it is to survive at a World Cup event without a RIB and coach support. Despite being first on the water yesterday she only just made it out on time for race one as virtually the only Radial who was not towed to the start and was then last home hitting the beach at 8.25 pm again with no outside help whatsoever. Today was much the same story but with the Westerly wind rising to a solid 25 knots after the finish (even the full rigs said it was "very windy" with the world champion capsizing downwind)it was over a two hour beat back after the finish just to get to the gateway to the inner harbour! Soul destroying when it felt like virtually everyone else was relaxing in a coach RIB enjoying a speedy tow home.
It sure aint easy this sailing lark!
G.
Thursday 2 June 2011
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