Draycote Water Sailing Club Laser Performance supported Open Meeting 8th August 2020

by Richard Mason

Well… the day came when the first open meeting had happened and what a day it was! Sunshine, 25 degrees Celsius with big blue sky and 20 mph of wind. Driving to Draycote water sailing club with the feeling of what will it be like after watching and reading all the videos and procedures. We were met but the normal professionalism and organisation the club has always had. Rigging away and getting ready for 4 races back to back with just under 40 boats.

The race team headed out and set a great inner / outer course with square start lines all day. Racing started on time with the ILCA 7/Standard fleet having no recalls all day and some great racing. The ILCA 6/Radial and ILCA 4/4.7 fleet had to spoil things by having one recall then got sorted and had an excellent days racing.

The ILCA 6/Standard rigs were won by Joe Scurrah from Carsington SC taking overall first, followed by Marcellus Pryor and sailing legend Steve Irish from the home club in second and third. There were quite a few swimming on the run from time to time but cooling of in the water in the heat was fun too.

The ILCA 7/Radials had some much closer racing with Alister Brown from Great Moor SC in first overall, followed by Dan Keeran from Tamworth SC and George Fareday ELSC only being beaten into third on discard. Simon Gadsby came in forth from NCSC. There were a few girls in the ILCA 6/Radial fleet and Iris Singleton from DWSC was first girl in the fleet.

There were two ILCA 4/4.7 rigs on the water; Alice Davis DWSC went on to beat Aimee Bray from Banbury SC. Well done girls great to see you enjoying the racing.

I think I speak for everyone by saying a huge THANK YOU to everyone involved in making this happen. Marcellus Pryor for sorting the event out (thanks loads), the PRO Matt Rowley and his support team Jon Hughes, Andy Abbis, Mike Powell and two juniors Ted and Jess who are starting racing and helped out (soon to be in laser we hope) and of course Dave Rowe. Well done everyone, you were first class!

Full results can be found here

Hope to see you all at another event soon