Sarnian duo find out first hand about Laser demands

Thursday 24th June 2010, 2:29PM BST.

Sam van de Velde (pictured) and Nick Parkes competed at the two spring Laser 4.7 qualifiers for the British Summer Squad. (0982303)

THE two spring Laser 4.7 qualifiers for the British Summer Squad offered an extreme variety of conditions.

Over two May weekends in Rutland and Datchet, Guernsey sailors Sam Van de Velde and Nick Parkes along with the other top approximately 50 Laser 4.7 sailors in the country faced anything from 25 knots and temperatures close to zero to tropical heat and no sight of wind.

At the first event, the Eric Twiname Championships at Rutland waters, six races were completed in very rough conditions with freezing winds steadily above 20 knots.

Van de Velde and Parkes sailed consistently and with finishes in the 20s and 30s throughout, Van de Velde finished 32nd overall with Parkes closely behind in 35th.