At the season’s second national Laser 4.7 ranking event and second of three qualifiers for the British teams for the World and European Championships this summer, Gul Ladder 5 at Queen Mary’s, the sailors were faced with challenging inland conditions. Not many similarities with what the Little Russel has to offer but the five-strong Guernsey team led by Abigail Tanguy in an excellent 8th overall once again pulled together a strong performance.

“It was very tricky”, says Abigail. “We all struggled to see any patterns, the shifts were very difficult to predict and play and there were patches of wind that just seemed to appear out of nowhere. But this is just the way it is at times and you just have to make the best of it, and then add a little bit of luck! ”

The wind strength over the two days was about 7-8 knots most of the time with fairly strong gusts filling in from time to time but also times when the wind died completely leaving the sailors to drift.

Three races were completed on each day. On day one, the Guernsey team struggled a bit with Abigail holding a 21st overnight followed by Johanna Asplund in 27th and Sam Crosby, Clementine Thompson and Poppy Rickards, the later making her national debut in the Laser, slightly further down the fleet.

On day two the team raised their game and Abigail rounded off with a 4th and a 7th to climb to 8th overall. Johanna had a mixed bag to finish 23rd with Sam in 28th, Clementine in 42nd and Poppy in 43rd.

Overall Robbie Robinson, Plymouth, took top spot followed by James Hazelwood, Budworth and Ollie Sellers, Bowmoor, adding a second third place to his qualifying series.

The final qualifier for the British teams for the World and European Championships will be in Weymouth on 16-17 April and with one event to be discarded it is all wide open, but with good chances for the Guernsey sailors.

“It looks good at the moment”, says Abigail. “Now there is one event to go and we are going to give it all we have. Hopefully that will be enough.”

For current national ranking and standings after the two forst World and European qualifiers, see:

http://www.kbsuk.com/laser/47events/