The Laser 5000 fleet produced the largest turnout of the season for the third Laser 5000 Eurocup of 2002 at Lake Garda from 10-13 July.

The event certainly had its moments, going down to a ‘penalty shoot-out’ between ‘Westcountry Watersports / Mylor Rigging’ featuring Jamie Shelton and Graham White and the Richards brothers in ‘Radii’ on the last day. The first day’s racing was dominated by Mark Emmett and Jonny Backhouse in ‘Appleton Signs’, finding that the left side of the course offered a favourable lift around the cliffs which proved to be the order of the day from then on. They went on to win the first and last races but were pursued by a very strong performance from ‘Westcountry Watersports’ in the second race leaving them in second place. Defending champions, the Richards brothers in ‘Radii’, got off to a slower start with a 3,2,3. The first race on Thursday saw the boats going left overstand the first mark to allow David ‘Spanky’ Evans and Dancin’ Ben Deacon into the top spot, although they were quickly overhauled by the Richards brothers who went on to win, closely followed by Westcountry Watersports.

Friday brought with it some fresher breeze in the later races after a shifty start to the day. You wouldn’t expect gear failure to be a plausible excuse for a boat sponsored by a chandler and two sailmakers. However, Westcountry Watersports excelled themselves by recovering from a ‘dislodged boom’ to win the second race. Having learnt from their mistake, it was clearly the trapeze wire’s fault when it decided to break, causing them to retire from the final race. Laurence and Pip Hildesley in ‘Harken’ climbed the results sheet coming in fourth in both the first two races. There was also a notable performance in the second race from Jim Baldwin and Carl Gibbon who ventured out right on the beat in the second race to secure a third place and again performing in the last to take second. All in all, the event was a great success and it was good to see boats from all corners of the sailing fraternity including a growing student contingent.

1st Andy and Dave Richards

2nd Jamie and Graham White

3rd Mark and Jonny Backhouse

4th Jim and Carl Gibbon

5th Anthony Esse and Peter Tait

6th Ed Browne and Mark Tait

7th Laurence and Pip Hildesley