CSC Laser Open - Day 1 | Changi Sailing Club

After the Chinese New Year Break, with everyone putting on a few kilograms from binge-eating new-year goodies, Changi Sailing Club organized the inaugural CSC Laser Open – inviting Laser sailors from all over Singapore to participate in a series of 7 races held during the prevailing North-East Monsoon.

First introduced in the 1970s, sailors then competed for the Charles Willians Trophy, donated by Joseph Ong. the regatta was traditionally held in December, but was discontinued in the past decade. Now re-introduced, the regatta boasts a modest 54 participants over 3 classes, racing in a 7-race series for the weekend.

Leading the Laser Standard Fleet at the end of Day 1, Elliot Drake will be looking to keep a close eye on Stanley Chan for Day 2, as they approach the remaining 3 races tied on 8 points. Alexey Filiminov leads the rest of the pack, scoring a bullet in race 1 and totalling 11 points. The Laser Standard Sailors struggled with their overpowered rigs and unfit/untrained bodies on the course – battered by the merciless NE breeze and entailing swells.

In the Laser Radial Class, Lee Wonn Kye sweeps the day with 4 bullets, making it look effortless in the day’s conditions. Jonathan Lio trails behind with 10 points, and Riane Lee takes 3rd after Day 1 on 15 points. Wonn Kye’s Coach was all praise of his performance, saying that the boy has improved tremendously in his overseas stints, finding new challenges in this regatta by giving opponents a headstart, and waiting for his team-mates at the windward mark.

The biggest fleet in the regatta looked very competitive, with 36 boats participating and only 2 points separating Darius and Dylan in 1st and 2nd respectively. Darius holds the advantage, having secured 3 bullets out of 4 races going into day 2. A consistent performance of 3rd in all 4 races for Kyle Lim awarded him a well deserved 3rd rounding off the podium positions for Day 1, setting the stage for an exciting Day 2.

Good luck to all participants – have a good rest and come back for more solid racing tomorrow!

Results

Laser Standard Day 1
Laser Radial Day 1
Laser 4.7 Day 1