A fleet of Laser 3000 sailors enjoyed coaching by Rob Burridge at Queen Mary on Saturday 3 June.

Winds were light but Burridge gave a comprehensive range of tips for use in all weathers, as well as some well-directed individual advice on the water and in the boat park.

All participants went on to sail in the Phoenix Marine-sponsored one-day open meeting on the Sunday, and each came ashore that day reporting that his sailing had improved, such as in wind-shift spotting, roll tacking or sail trim, thanks to the previous day’s practice. The presence both days of the Vandercraft demonstrator with its new North sails added lots of interest and subject matter for discussion.

Conditions for racing on the Sunday for were mostly Force 2, with occasional spells of Force 1 and 3. The first race was closely contested by Tony Hunt and Suzanne Hall sailing Graham Blake’s Laser 3000, and Gavin and Stephanie MacAulay in Flirty. For much of the race it looks like things were going Flirty’s way, but Hunt and Hall snatched a win on the finish line.

Hunt and Hall had things pretty much their own way, with Flirty a consistent second in the remaining races except for the last in which Graham and Ben Blake, having got the measure of unfamiliar systems on the Vandercraft, made a strong challenge, leading at the first windward and leeward marks before settling for a strong second place. Myles Ripley and Rob Leigh also made some inspired moves fronting both Flirty and the Vandercraft on occasions.

As predicted, the Vandercraft proved beatable in the light, displacement conditions, and interestingly the winning boat was a standard Laser 3000 with none of the recent modifications whatsoever; stronger winds might well reveal a different picture, however. The Phoenix Marine 3000 TT circus moves on to Burghfield for more coaching and another one day open in July.

Overall Results
1st 3085 Tony Hunt and Suzanne Hall 3pts
2nd 3254 Gavin and Stephanie MacAulay 6pts
3rd 3600 Graham and Ben Blake 8pts
4th 3252 Myles Ripley and Rob Leigh 11pts