The first Open of the year was held at Bewl Valley over the weekend of 22/23rd March, a slightly disappointing turnout of 18 boats attended. However those present included 3 current and former national champions, current inland champion and a former Laser World Champion.

The weekend was characterised by a patchy and shifty breeze around Force 2, and the added complications of a Flying 15 fleet sharing the same course!

Race 1 saw Nick Beloe and Alan Burrell lead early on with Burrell escaping to a comfortable win, Lawrence Crispin crept through to 2nd on the last beat just catching Beloe, while Phil Argent just held off Simon Childs for the minor places.<

Race 2 swiftly followed and the wind was all over the place. Burrell and Crispin led the fleet away again but it was a day when you were never safe! Hard right generally paid up the beat but the run became a lottery, proved by Childs going from 6th to 2nd and Burrell 1st to 6th on one leg. Crispin however had obviously been to church that morning, and sailed off into the distance to win, Andy Elliott eased into 2nd followed by Childs, Argent, Beloe and Burrell.

Sunday dawned sunny and light. Argent stormed ahead on the second beat spotting some breeze on the left and was followed by Elliott and Beloe. Elliott’s 3rd different Sail of the weekend, impressively made by himself, helped him creep through on the run and he held off Argent to win. Beloe bagged another 3rd, Burrell 4th, Crispin 5th.

Going into Race 4 the event was wide open with 5 possible winners. Childs managed a start for the first time and just led the pack round the windward mark. Burrell and Beloe headed the title contenders. The fleet spread out a little for the first time with Childs covering Burrell’s every move, only to be joined by Beloe coming out of the right corner with a lap to go. Beloe eventually sneaked through approaching the finish and Child just held off Burrell, all 3 finishing within 10 seconds of each other, after a 90 minute race! Crispin followed in 4th which was just enough to take the event on countback

Results.

1 Lawrence Crispin 7pts

2 Nick Beloe 7pts

3 Andy Elliott 8pts

4 Alan Burrell 8pts

5 Simon Childs 10pts

6 Phil Argent 10pts

7 Alan Husk 23pts

8 Paul Beasley 24pts

9 R Thorpe 26pts

10 John Torrance 26pts

11 Trevor Harris 34pts

12 Glenn Ratcliffe 37pts

13 Roger Brown 37pts

14 Robert Barris 39pts

15 Andrew Mills 41pts

16 Nick Crook 42pts

17 Clive Mattson 44pts

18 Robin Hobson 57pts