2008 Laser Vago National Championships at Penzance Sailing Club

Hosted by Penzance Sailing Club the Vago Nationals ran from Sunday 10 to Friday 15 September.

A much smaller fleet than desired registered for the event but with a wide spectrum of sailors with a range of experience, some used to the sea and some used only to lakes.

Day 1: Race 1 saw fear and trepidation from the entire fleet as they set sail alongside the considerable Laser 2000 fleet for the start of the two parallel courses set by Race Officer Sam Kent. With the wind blowing at 30 Knots from the South West the windward mark was set west towards Newlyn allowing grandstand views of the racing from Penzance Promenade for those able to remain standing in the wind. The Vago course was set further to sea and brought more than its fair share of capsizes and dramatic sailing. Of the six boats that made the start line just two were able to complete the three lap race with Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton taking line honours followed by Paul and Katherine Welch.

The second race saw the wind increasing with sustained gusts in excess of 32 Knots. After the sustained beating taken during Race 1 just three boats made the start line and it was only Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton that made the finish.

Day 2: The wind had dropped a fraction to 20 - 25 Knots and had backed southerly allowing a course to be set straight out into the English Channel. Short heavy swell made exciting sailing conditions. The entire fleet had licked its wounds and was ready to do battle. Race 3 saw the completion of an entire Race by the 2008 Vago Virgins (never competed in a major event before) Stuart McTavish and Katie Hill. Their grins were as wide as Mount's Bay itself afterwards! The Race 1 finish positions were the reverse of Race 1 with Paul and Katherine Welch taking the honours with Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton in second and the 2008 Vago Inland Champions Martin and Emma Keen taking third place. Father and son team of Chris and Ed Thompson took fourth place with Andy Regan and Richard (son of Martin and Emma) Keen taking fifth place.

Race 4 saw the recognition of all crews that they had made significant progress and built up their confidence and were up to the challenge of the weather and sea conditions. Positions remained much the same as Race 4 but with Martin and Alex taking line honours from Paul and Katherine, whilst Stuart McTavish and Katie Hill crept up to take fifth place.

Day 3 started with sunshine but an increasing wind. Racing was cancelled for the day with a promise that the lost races would be made up on Thursday and Friday.

Day 4 had been set aside for a lay day and the Force 9 winds ensured that it stayed that way!

Day 5: The wind had eased to a comfortable Force 3 ready for the three back to back races.

Race 5 was a more comfortable affair with some close sailing between the fleet for the first time in the event. There were several changes at the front of the fleet as different tactics and courses were taken to get a good finish. A close and debated arrival by the first two boats at the final leeward mark saw Paul and Katherine Welch slide through on the inside and after a dramatic off-wind thrash to the finish line saw them take the honours from Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton. Chris and Ed Thompson took third, Martin and Emma Keen fourth with Stuart McTavish and Katie Hill taking fifth place.

Race 6 started well enough for the Vago fleet but some challenging behaviour by the Laser 2000 fleet saw them recalled twice and were still sitting at the start/finish line as the Vago fleet was approaching the end of their third race. The finish line was shortened to the leeward mark at the end of the last lap. Line honours were taken by Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton who by now had set themselves a target to take the Championships although Paul and Katherine Welch in second place were still very much contenders for the title. Chris and Ed Thompson were third, Martin and Emma Keen fourth whilst Andy Regan and Richard Keen took fifth.

Race 7 was completed without incident but with an increasing proficiency of the fleet members was demonstrated by some spectacularly close sailing across the entire fleet. In first place were Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton. The spectacle of the second place boat of Paul and Katherine Welch, third place boat of Andrew Ward and Heather Lockyer, followed by Chris and Ed Thompson in very close succession with kites flying on an off-wind dash and making their presence felt as they hammered down to the finish line was the most impressive sequence of the week and podium position for the first time for Andrew and Heather.

Day 6, the final day with three races back to back. The wind appeared to have settled at a Force 3 but was scheduled to pick up later and it did just that!

Race 8 was a straightforward affair with courses straight out towards the south. Close competitive sailing was preceded by different starts by the crews. Paul and Katherine Welch and Martin and Emma Keen tried Port hand flier starts which took them across the diagonal swell and gave them a good head toward the first spreader mark ahead of the rest of the fleet. However by the finish Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton had taken the lead and Chris and Ed Thompson had split the two leaders at the start and taken third position. Paul and Katherine Welch took second; Martin and Emma Keen took fourth with Andrew Ward and Heather Lockyer taking fifth. Unfortunately Katherine Welch had suffered a knee injury during the previous day and was in increasing pain and difficulty as the day progressed.

The start of Race 9 had seen the wind picking up quite well and was now blowing a good force 4/5 with an increasingly heavy sea state. The wind had shifted some 15 degrees and the marks were repositioned. It looked as if the port hand fliers would have a great advantage but the pin was also re-positioned also which squared off the course very well. A heavy diagonal slog across the now quite brutal swell; and the Laser 2000 fleet, made some interesting sailing as boats made their way to the spreader and windward marks. Downwind sailing was awesome and painfully fast as many boats found out to their discomfort. Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton now established their unassailable event lead and took line honours followed by Paul and Katherine Welch, Chris and Ed Thompson, Martin and Emma Keen and, in fifth place Andrew Ward and Heather Lockyer.

Race 10: The Race Officer had one surprise up his sleeve for the final race of the event. The wind had picked up to a good 6 with powerful and sustained gusts. The sea had picked up to a tremendous degree with big waves breaking. The Race Officer, for the only time in the series increased the number of laps to five which would extend the race dramatically. Unfortunately Katherine Welch's knee injured precluded them from starting the final race, leaving just six starters most of whom were also wishing themselves well out of it also! The race got off to a cracking start with most of the fleet close together for the first few minutes. Thereafter the wind and sea took its toll, resulting in several capsizes and the abandonment of the race by one crew. Mid race a severe and sustained squall came down resulting in the dramatic loss of visibility, huge wind pressure and traumatic scenes. The downwind leg resulted in fewer kites being flown on the penultimate lap but with awesome speeds being sustained by the crews. The leading boat of Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton lapped the tail enders from the penultimate lap and went on to take the race and the Championship. Chris and Ed Thompson had their best result and took second place, Andy Regan and Richard Keen took third, Martin and Emma Keen fourth and Stuart McTavish and Katie Hill (The Vago Virgins) took fifth place.

At the prize-giving at Penzance SC Clubhouse in the evening Association Chairman Paul Welch gave praise and thanks to Race Officer Sam Kent and Commodore Terry Marks and the entire team of forty or so people from Penzance SC who had made the event happen, along with thanks to the Laser 2000 Association who had been so helpful and encouraging to the Vago Association in getting our Nationals organised.

The National Champions Trophy and prize was awarded by Paul Welch to Martin Rawling and Alex Accleton.

After receiving the Trophy Martin Rawling echoed his gratitude to Penzance SC but also thanked Paul Welch, Association Chairman and Emma Keen, Association Secretary for their efforts in promoting and organising the National Championship. Martin also added his thanks to the event sponsors, Noble Marine and Crewsaver, without whose support the championship, for such a fledgling class would have been so much poorer.

Trophies and prizes were also awarded to the runners up Paul and Katherine Welch and third place to Chris and Edward Thompson.

Final Positions: