The May bank holiday saw the Laser5000 fleet migrate north to Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club. Although the forecast did not look favourable for the Saturday there was certainly an opportunity to improve light wind sailing techniques and then the chance of more breeze on Sunday. The event found Jonny Backhouse and Jim Baldwin making their way to the first event of the season and they found excellent boat speed, these guys are certainly going to be ones to watch this year. The first race started in 5 knots of breeze and 5229 Baldwin and Backhouse opted for the port tack option. The left side of the course paid and they drew out and extended their lead at every opportunity. The battle was however on for 2nd place between the 5k veterans of infocube.net and the Lewis brothers. These 2 boats were never more than 3 boat lengths away and match raced up hill and down dale. Even with the Lewis's splitting gybes and still rounding together. In the end Johnson found more pressure and pushed on to secure a 5 boat length 2nd place. Race 2 started in slightly more pressure, however again Baldwin was never to be challenged with his mastery of the light conditions and ability to spot both shifts that didn't seem to be there and pressure that was illusive to the rest of the fleet. The battle for 2nd place raged and repeated the previous race with the Lewis brothers putting pressure on infocube.net consistently until it all paid off with the Lewis's managing to take infocube at a bottom mark where crew work let Craig down. Again Jim found pace and even the time between races to nip to shore for a quick bite before the 3rd race got under way. Race 3 started in more pressure still and found all boats twin wiring up hill. Time in the boat was now paying and for the first time Baldwin was finally being challenged, this however didn't last long and infocube and the Lewis's again went to battle leaving Jim out in front. This race left Baldwin/Backhouse with a commanding lead placing 3 1st's. The forecast for the Sunday was of 15-18 knots and sunny blue skies, ideal 5k weather. If only this had happened. The day dawned with fog and rain whilst the rest of the country basked in bright sunshine.. The fleet was release from shore and somehow managed to find the committee boat thought the fog. The fog being so dense that the top mark could not be seen from the start line. The options for tactics was limited to finding the top mark and those boats staying to the middle of the course won overall as to hit a corner was to get lost. After 4 laps sailing in this soup the race officer made the correct decision to abandoned all racing and the fleet was sent home. Congratulations to the Baldwin/Backhouse combination showing excellent pace and boat handling in the first event together and the fleet thanks DRSC for their hospitality. The next event see's the 5k's visit Lymington on the 21/22 May.
Overall Results:
1st 5229 Jim Baldwin & Jonny Backhouse
2nd 5287 Craig Johnson & Mandy Backhouse
3rd 5254 Iain Lewis & Matt Lewis