Al Bush wins Uganda Laser Open

Uganda Laser Open

Results

Top three

Al Bush 5 pts

Daniel Francis 8pts

Reint Bakema 15 pts

Senior

Gordon Bell 16 pts

Apprentice

David Carroll 20 pts

Best Youth

Hamisi Muhidini

Handicap

Odoardo Girardi

Best Lady

Annabel Bowerman

1st Friday

Tom Morton

1st Saturday

Stephen Luswata

Seasoned sailor Al Bush basked in adulation after winning this year's edition of the Uganda Laser Open Sunday at the Victoria Nyanza Sailing Club (VNSC).

The 46-year-old from Kenya, shot the works on the three day contest, finishing on 5 points with one discard from five races.

Sailing on a standard boat, he stemmed off competition from top sailors such as Daniel Francis, Reint Bakema, Gordon Bell, and David Caroll among others.

"It is amazing how things turned out for me here. The tides have not been so good but in the end I managed to scoop the overall title" a happy Bush said.

Kenya's presence was further felt as Daniel Francis finished second with 8 points in the event where five races were cancelled siting rains that rendered the lake unfit to sail.

 Beatrice Nassanga competes in the Uganda Laser Open. PHOTOS: Michael Nsubuga

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Hamisi Muhidini was extremely eye-catching seeing all the things he does on a 4.7 - simply amazing!

Muhidini‘s glittering exploits earned him the best youth accolade. The Tanzanian finished on 35 points with one discard.

"I'm happy with my performance here though it was a bit of a surprise finishing this good in a pack of top sailors "he said. It was his first international.

In the ladies category, Uganda's Annabel Bowerman was the main standout finishing on 51 points on a radial. She nonetheless conceded a great improvement in the women's category.

"The competition is getting tighter and I won't be surprised if I fail to defend it in the next edition" Annabel said. She came up big against Beatrice Nassanga, Rosa Rafanomezana, Margret Bell, Harriet Fowler and Jenny Rafanomezana.

Uganda had another podium finish through Odoardo Girardi who won the handicap. Stephen Luswata was the best on Saturday. Kenya's Tom Morton was also recognized for emerging the best on Friday.

Numbers remained a significant characteristic of the tournament that rather crosses boarders-twenty nine sailors from Kenya, Tanzania, UK and hosts Uganda participated.