1997 Typhoon UK Laser II National Championship

Ex-World Champion Roger Ford returned to Laser II sailing over the late May Bank Holiday weekend and had not forgotten how to make the boat go very fast! With new crew Ben Dunton they stamped their authority on the Typhoon sponsored regatta at an early stage by winning both races on the first day. These were held inside Carrick Roads in a force 4-5 with some extra big gusts. The P shaped courses proved entertaining but made quite a few boats collect an early discard for missing out up or downwind gates.

On the second day the waves in Falmouth Bay had moderated sufficiently to allow the 61 boat fleet out for a cracking day of sailing. Both races were again won by the same boat but this time it was Nick Sandison and Vicky Taylor. Meanwhile Graeme Bristow and Bryan Mobbs, the pre-regatta favourites who have been dominating the UK open meetings this year, were consistently slotting in top 5 results. Ford was again at the front but collected a DSQ for being over the line.

The Bank Holiday Monday was unusually hot and sunny. As the breeze died during the first of the scheduled races Alaisdair and Jane Hall recorded the victory, to gain the distinction of winning both the lightest and windiest (practice race) races of the week. Behind them in second was another returnee to the fleet, 1993 National Champion David and Fiona Sayce. During the day a sea breeze managed to kill off the existing wind but never established a viable alternative so racing was abandoned for the day.

The final day of racing provided more wind and some enormous waves out in the bay. For some hardened competitors there were three races to sail, starting with the crew's race around the full championship course. This proved to be an exciting spectacle with plenty of thrills and spills as the worried crash boats looked on! In the main races this was the day for Nigel Skudder and Keith Hills to make a late surge taking a first and a second. However, Ford and Dunton did equally well and sealed the championship by superior boat speed in the windy conditions. The question now is whether they will be going to the Worlds in Ireland in August and if so who will be able to stop them.

For St. Mawes Yacht Club, this was the first championship they had run and it was trully excellent both on and off the water. The launching was well organised and the whole village seemed to be involved. With the aid of sponsorship from Typhoon the socials made the event one long party. While the fleet managed to drink 280 gallons of beer the bar never went dry!

Overall Results

1. Roger Ford and Ben Dunton
2. Graeme Bristow and Bryan Mobbs
3. Nigel Skudder and Kieth Hills
4. Nick Sandison and Vicky Taylor
5. Julian Elwood and Rob Mackrell
6. Alisdair and Jane Hall
7. Martin and Sian Joesbury
8. Terrry Palmer and Caroline Cooper
9. Pete Matthews and Steve Lynch
10. Chris Foster and Lou Carter

Crew's Race

1. Matt Smith and Martin Cross

Full Results