Gill Race Team member Craig Burlton has won the UK Laser SB3 Nationals
Date Posted: 29/06/2009
Gill Race Team member Craig Burlton has won the UK Laser SB3 National Championships in Falmouth, beating some of the country’s best small-boat sailors across a range of wind and wave conditions. Burlton’s Gill Race Team, crewed by Steve White and Adam Heeley, sealed victory in the 68-boat fleet despite their closest rival - Team Zimmer skippered by Mike Budd - winning the penultimate race.
The two protagonists for the title match raced each other at the front of the leading pack, and while Budd’s crew won that race, Burlton’s 2nd place delivered him championship victory with a race to spare. The day after his 40th birthday Burlton had finally won the National title ahead of two of the most eminent sailors in the fleet - Budd and Gill Race Team member Geoff Carveth’s Team Cre8tivity, the reigning World Champions.
Beautifully managed and organised by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, the four day event produced perfect West Country weather for the regatta, starting with some high-wind, tall-wave action on day one. Many boats broached spectacularly on the way out to the start of the first race as they struggled to get used to the thrilling conditions but by the start of the first race the fleet was ready and raring for some action.
With seven different winners in the first seven heats of this 12-race series, this was one of the most hotly contested Laser SB3 championships. Budd was the first to win two heats, and he would go on to win a third during the week. But he came unstuck on the third day in the lighter breezes. After winning the first race, his championship hopes took a serious dent with scores of 26,11. At least there were two discards on offer if the series went the full distance - which it did - but Burlton’s consistency made him all but untouchable.
With a crew weight limit of 270kg, the Laser SB3 appeals either to three large blokes or a crew of four smaller people. Both combinations seem competitive, with the top two in this year’s Nationals being threesomes (Gill Race Team and Team Zimmer), while Gill Race Team member Geoff Carveth prefers to sail four-up as do the 4th placed InvestwithQ.co.uk owned by Mark and Liz Rushall.
Now that Burlton has won his national title in the class, the next major target is the Laser SB3 World Championships in Cascais, Portugal at the end of August. It’s got a reputation for being a high-wind, big sea venue, and it promises to provide a great test for the fleet.
Whatever the outcome in Portugal, Burlton will look back with fond memories on the week that he turned 40. Royal Cornwall Yacht Club ran a perfect regatta out of what could just be the most beautiful sailing location in the country, and Burlton, White and Heeley put together a near-perfect series to beat some of the biggest names in British sailing.
