Davis dominates

The Radials race at the UK Laser Association Club Championship at Weymouth and Portland

Forty one Radials gathered for the UKLA Club Championships held at the Portland and Weymouth Sailing Academy on the 7th and 8th of September.

Conditions on the first day were tough with the wind gusting up to force six. The race officer therefore ran just two races, completing the remaining three races on the Sunday, when the wind eased considerably.

Race one and Ian Morgan showed the best upwind pace, pulling well clear of Duncan Whitrow in second place. Race two and Paul Davis had the lead but he could not stop a determined Morgan who snatched the lead to have a perfect score and the end of the first day.

Day two and Whitrow scored a race win, and with Morgan struggling in 16th place the series was now wide open. Tricia Adams had her best finish in second.

The fourth race was the turning point with David Carter winning from Simon Corper, but the event was being decided further down the fleet. Morgan finished 28th to slip out of the top positions, and consistent performers Davis and Whitrow finished ninth and 11th, which was to prove decisive in the overall positions.

The last race of the series was won by Paul Cox, but Davis and Whitrow had done enough to claim the top and runner up positions despite another disappointing race. Malcolm Lofts was second to claim a top 10 spot.

Results:
1st Paul Davis (Sunderland SC) 18pts
2nd Duncan Whitrow (Chew Valley Lake SC) 19pts
3rd Paul Cox (Torpoint Mosquito SC) 22pts
4th Rick Plummer (Bowmoor SC) 23pts
5th Andrew Burgess (Torpoint Mosquito SC) 24pts
6th Ian Morgan (Weston SC) 26pts
1st Youth Paul Davis, 1st Master Rick Plummer, 1st Lady Lesley Hotchin
(Oxford SC), 1st Junior Will Davies (Castle Cove SC).