It was the last of the spring Qualifiers this weekend at Hayling Island. It was a good opportunity to check out the race area that will be used for the World Championships this year in August. Several foreign teams had also thought about this with a strong French team joining in as well as the Canadian Olympian Mike Leigh.
The 60 boats set out for racing against a strong tide. After a general recall the boats got away under a black flag. After a good start at the starboard end I lead around the top mark and slowly pulled away from the battle behind for second eventually won by Felix Pruvot.
In the second race after a poor start it was catch up time. Rob Holmes had some great speed to lead the fleet, I just managed to pass at the second windward mark and hold him off on the run for a second win.
The fleet was sent in in the dieing breeze. With really light winds on Sunday morning and with the time for only one race I left early having secured first place, to make plans and organise getting to France. With the air travel problems I have managed to get a space on a ferry and will be driving down to Hyere.
I am surprisingly looking forward to driving to the South of France, with my boat already gone and a nice Volvo it should be a swift passage to Hyere……

For results seehttp://www.laser.org.uk/docs/uploaded/Haylingstd10nh.html
Laser ladderhttp://www.laser.org.uk/docs/uploaded/stlad3.10nh.html