Chelmarsh Laser Open 2007

Sunday 18th March 2007 was a day of all the four seasons – sun, rain, sleet, hail & snow, with wind gusting between 7 – 9 and blowing a constant force 6, this combined with a course of holes found by the brave but discerning sailors.

13 entered the enduring day, just over half being club sailors but the dominating force of the day was not only the wind, but the perfect sailing skills of Michael Sims of Carsington S.C in 185961.

The 1st race showed a tight tussle to the windward mark, where Sims was closely followed by Club sailors Matt Thursfield in 163113 and Peter Cowell in his Radial rig 180780. Cowell overtook Thursfield to take second place & Thursfield remained in 3rd place until an untimely capsize allowed Steve Harper of Draycote Water in his Radial rig 17646 to snatch 3rd place.

In the second race Sims lead right from the beginning and Cowell was in second place but was overtaken by S Harper right on the finish line to knock him into 3rd & Steve Harper’s son David endured the winds to gain 4th.

The third race saw a slight depletion in boats following the testing conditions and again, Sims dominated the race with S Harper to get second place, home club sailor Richard Coates in 180806 to get 3rd and Junior club sailor Cameron Smith in his Radial rig 185305 to achieve 5th.

The last race showed true sportsmanship from Michael Sims, who although he had clearly won the day, he continued to sail and was watched in awe from the club house. The race had started in sunshine and slightly lighter winds, but finished in hail and it was a relatively steady procession. However the previous conditions had enticed some sailors in this final race to finish early, but full marks to the leading youth lady Hannah Holbourn who gained a gutsy 4th place to finish off the day after capsizing & recovering more times throughout the day than any of us cared to remember.

POSITION SAIL No HELM CLUB Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 TOTAL FINAL POINTS Jun Youth Mast. Lady















1 185961 Michael Sims Carsington 1 1 1 1 4 3



2 17646 Steve Harper Draycote Water 3 2 2 8 15 7

M
3 185305 Cameron Smith Chelmarsh S.C. 5 5 4 2 16 11 J


4 180806 Richard Coates Chelmarsh S.C. 8 6 3 3 20 12

M
5 189133 David Harper Draycote Water 7 4 14 8 33 19
Y

5 180780 Peter Cowell Chelmarsh S.C. 2 3 14 14 33 19



6 152666 Hannah Holbourn Chelmarsh S.C. 9 10 14 4 37 23
Y
L
6 185601 Julian Elwood Royal Windermere 12 10 5 8 35 23



7 163113 Matt Thursfield Chelmarsh S.C. 4 10 14 14 42 28



8 137381 Keith Bond Bartley SC 6 10 14 14 44 30

M
9 138589 John Dickenson Chelmarsh S.C. 12 14 14 14 54 40

M
10 68616 Russell Lewis Barnt Green SC 14 14 14 14 56 42

M
10 189077 Tom Holland Blithfield 14 14 14 14 56 42
Y

Radial Only













1 17646 Steve Harper Draycote Water 3 2 2 8 15 7

M

185305 Cameron Smith Chelmarsh S.C. 5 5 4 2 16 11 J



189133 David Harper Draycote Water 7 4 14 8 33 19
Y


180780 Peter Cowell Chelmarsh S.C. 2 3 14 14 33 19




152666 Hannah Holbourn Chelmarsh S.C. 9 10 14 4 37 23




189077 Tom Holland Blithfield 14 14 14 14 56 42
Y


68616 Russell Lewis Barnt Green SC 14 14 14 14 56 42



Junior Only













1 185305 Cameron Smith Chelmarsh S.C. 5 5 4 2 16 11 J


Youth Only













1 189133 David Harper Draycote Water 7 4 14 8 33 19




152666 Hannah Holbourn Chelmarsh S.C. 9 10 14 4 37 23




189077 Tom Holland Blithfield 14 14 14 14 56 42



Masters Only













1 17646 Steve Harper Shropshire SC 3 2 2 8 15 7

M

180806 Richard Coates Chelmarsh S.C. 8 6 3 3 20 12

M

137381 Keith Bond Bartley SC 6 10 14 14 44 30

M

138589 John Dickenson Chelmarsh S.C. 12 14 14 14 54 40

M

68616 Russell Lewis Barnt Green SC 14 14 14 14 56 42

M
Ladies Only













1 152666 Hannah Holbourn Chelmarsh S.C. 9 10 14 4 37 23


L