Event three in the Phoenix Marine TT Laser 3000 Series, held at Burghfield SC on 2 July, saw newcomers Matt and Will Archer (Carsington) notch up their second event win of the season, and they are now pressing Graham and Ben Blake (Queen Mary) for the overall lead in the series.

The two title protagonists slugged it out in the first race, with the Archers beating the Blakes into a close second place, and with club sailor A Goode in third. The second race was snatched on the final beat by Jeff Vander Borght and Kim in their V3000, who demonstrated strong light wind tactics to demote the Blakes to second place, followed by John Bashford in third.

In the third race Aaron Leigh (age 4) succumbed to the heat and deserted father Rob, who, sporting his freshly fitted North Sails, made a flying port tack start to lead by 50m at the first mark, only to become ensnared in weed and be overtaken by the Archers who went on to win convincingly.

The tactical awareness that Thames A-Rater sailors Sally Reed and Sue Williams had shown in the preceding day’s coaching session didn’t carry over into race day on this occasion, but suggested serious potential for the future.

Overall Results
1st 3319 Matt and Will Archer (Carsington) 2 pts

2nd 3085 Graham and Ben Blake (Queen Mary) 4 pts

3rd 3600 Jeff Vander Borght and Kim (Lyme Regis) 5 pts

4th 3302 Rob and Aaron Leigh (Leigh and Lowton) 6 pts

5th John Bashford (Datchet) 9 pts

6th 3279 Sally Reed and Sue Williams (Thames SC)