The finals of the inaugural Laser Simulator national championship took place at the 48th London Boat Show on 13 January.

The event was launched at Southampton Boat Show in September 2001 and comprised of over 15 qualifying events at Sailing Clubs and Leisure Centres nationwide with a total of 800 competitors taking part. Each competitor sailed a trapezoid course against the clock while being coached and assisted by Olympic coach Mark Littlejohn.

80 of the fastest competitors were invited to compete along side 100 wild card entries at the show and the fastest 12 were put through to Sunday’s finals. Competitors ranged in age from 16 to 47 with sailing experience as diverse as Enterprises, Cadets, RS200s and Lasers.

Lee Whitehead, a former UK Laser Youth Squad member beat Mark Sempers and Phil Robinson in to second and third place respectively, to win the hotly contested final and take home the prize of a holiday for two from Neilson.

Lee commented: “The finals went down to the nail. I missed the gun by 8 seconds which left me with a time of 244 seconds. Mark was looking good to beat me until the last upwind leg.”

Results

1st Lee Whitehead

2nd Mark Sempers

3rd Phil Robinson