Laser 5000s return to Queen Mary

Appleton Signs reigns supreme

The weekend of 12/13 October saw the return of the Laser 5000 fleet to Queen
Mary SC for exciting short course racing. Convincing winners were Mark
Emmett and Simon Appleby on Appleton Signs, who claimed the title with a clean set of bullets, to take the last title of the season with a race to spare. The remaining podium places were hard fought between Thomas Sauvel and Virginie Thouvenin on "Ronstan", Martin Wadsworth and Chris Haley on GBR 5197 and Craig Johnson and Toby Linnell on Harken.

Saturday's racing was held in a shift blustery 15-20 knots with most competitors struggling to control the immense speed and power of the 5000, especially on the short downwind legs. Appleton Signs sailed away from the fleet and reveled in the conditions, eventually the only competitors not to capsize during the weekend.

Second place in the first race went to GBR 5197, while Harken recovered from their swim in Race 1 to record second places in the day's remaining races as other competitors suffered from gear failure (otherwise known as the helm's inability to rig the gennaker) and challenging downwind conditions.

Sunday provided 10-12 knots of breeze, although the shifty conditions combined with sharing the same course as the club handicap fleet, provided additional hazards for the fleet. Appleton Signs again powered away to 3 wins, while Ronstan secured their second place overall with some impressive starts. GBR 5197 was unable to match the pace of the leading two boats in the shifty conditions.

The next 5000 event is class training at Grafham in early November. Click here for details.