The seventh and final open meeting of the 2002 Laser 2000 Millennium Cup took place at Weir Wood Sailing Club over the weekend of 12-13 October. The meeting saw the largest fleet to date for a Laser 2000 open meeting with 22 boats including four local boats.

The three races on Saturday took place in fickle winds. The breeze started to fill in from around 1000 and just allowed the race officer to start the programme on time. The first and third races were sailed on the usual windward/leeward course but the second race was sailed on a figure of eight course.

In the light winds it was the lightweight crews who mainly dominated as the fleet sailed in and out of the holes in the wind. The series regular Skip and Chay Atkins (Stone Sailing Club) quickly made their way to the front and were hotly pursued by Tim and Amy (aged 9) Hulley (Weir Wood), Graham and Mathew (also aged 9) Ponsford (Chichester) and Trevor and Caroline Bradley (Littleton).

The biggest surprise to the fleet was at the beginning of the third race when, after an excellent start and first beat, newcomers Russell Eden and Roy Rodgers led to the first mark and managed to hold off most of the fleet finally finishing fourth. (There were rumours in the bar afterwards that their combined weight is approaching 30 stone). As the gusts turned to violent swirls and became stronger many of the fleet practised capsize drills. However, at the end of Saturday Skip and Chay had a commanding lead with three wins. The fleet then retired to the club house for a hot shower, an excellent meal and the class association’s AGM.

Sunday started with no wind, which gradually developed into light airs with the odd gust but certainly not the Force 9, which had been predicted. The fleet set off in the drizzle and attempted three races in cold damp conditions. Although the wind occasionally threatened to fill in it was never sufficient to alter the placings.

With two discards out of the six races the result was a clear win for Skip and Chay but it left three boats on 10 points contesting the minor places.

Overall Results

1st Skip and Chay Atkins, Stone, 5 Points

2nd Graham and Mathew Ponsford, Chichester, 10 Points

3rd Tim and Amy Hulley, Weir Wood 10 Points

4th Trevor and Caroline Bradley, Littleton, 10 Points

Series

1st Skip and Chay Atkins

2nd Trevor and Caroline Bradley

3rd Helen and Andrew Phillips, Cardiff Bay Sailing Club)

4th Paul and Lindsey Williams, Langstone Sailing Club

5th Andrew and Alice Barraclough, Rickmansworth Sailing Club

6th Ian and Sara Simpson, Queen Mary Sailing Club