Coast Championship South Lakes SC

Jack Littlechild Leads in the 4.7′s on Sunday – Photo by Troy Cortis

80 Lasers competed in the Coast Championship held at South Lakes ASC over the weekend.

On Saturday the AP was aired as there was no wind. The first race was attempted in a 10 knot NW breeze but it died-push out by a building southerly change. That race was abandoned and sequently three races were run in a building southerly.

On Sunday lack of wind was never going to be a problem as the southerly built through the day reaching gust maximums near 35 knots. This kept the sailors on their toes and did result in a few broken masts. In particulat the 21 strong 4.7 fleet handled the conditions really well. Two races were run in the tough conditions.

The 4.7′s were narrowly won by Jack Littlechild who sails at Woollahra SC, Double Bay SC and RSYS. Second just one point behind Jack was Nathan Bryant from RPAYC followed by Boston Cortis. The first woman was Paige Caldecoat.

The radials were dominated by Finn Alexander from Double Bay SC. Finn took time off from HSC exams prep and won all the races he sailed with the bung screwed in his boat and came third in the one race which he sailed bungless. Hungarian Olympic representative Maria Erdi who finished 14th in Rio was second behind Finn followed closely by Masters sailor Shaun Feeney from MHASC.

Chris Caldecoat Laser builder PSA’s CEO took out the Standard rigs winning both of the heavy weather races. Fellow Masters sailor Stuart Holdsworthy from RPAYC was second and Newcastle CYC’s Jamie Woods a close third.

Thanks to South Lakes ASC, their great on water and club based volunteers and our RO Col Chidgey for the faultless effort running this event. South Lakes is a favourite venue for the Lasers and hopefully we will be back soon.

The final results are here.