A Laser 2000 two-day open meeting took place at Bexhill Sailing Club over the weekend (15-16 June) and formed the third event in the Crew Saver-sponsored 2002 Millennium Cup Series. Over the weekend 13 boats competed in winds varying from Force 4-5 down to zero. Saturday saw the best of the wind with a south-westerly Force 4-5. The race briefing took place during half time in the England /Sweden world cup game with the first race starting shortly after the match ended. All five races were over a windward/leeward course with an upwind gate.

In the first race the local boat with Rob and Peter Harrison led series regulars Trevor and Caroline Bradley, Andrew and Nicollette Frogley and Skip and Chap Akins to the windward mark. The first windward leg provided some exciting and demanding sailing with 3-4 ft waves, in perfect planning conditions. Andrew and Nicollete showed their expertise in these testing conditions to hold off the challenge of Skip and Chay. Rob and Peter dropped to fourth place after dropping the geneker in the water during a hoist. The second race was similarly contested but in the slightly lighter winds it was Skip and Chay who finished ahead of Andrew and Nicollette, with Trevor and Caroline narrowly beating Rob and Peter for third. The day ended with some frantic action on the shore as boats were recovered from the surf breaking onto a steep shingle beach.

Sunday morning was damp and hazy with a light Force 3. After a steep descent down the shingle it was a 75m drag across the sand before meeting the water 7.5m below were we had left it the night before. The two races back to back saw even closer racing with the whole fleet crossing the line within seconds of the gun. The third race saw more local boats mixing it at the front, in particular Alistair Hodge and Tom Petty who achieved a second and a fourth. The fourth race saw the fleet split with Trevor and Caroline choosing to go up the left-hand side of the beat but still only managing to get to the windward mark just behind Skip and Chay. The afternoon race saw the wind drop off completely as the tide turned and the sun came out. However Skip and Chay still managed to win but it was Paul and Lindsey Williams who having arrived at the line late still managed to sail through the fleet and take second at the line.

In the end it was another convincing win for Skip and Chay Atkins from Stone Sailing club who won four out of the five races.

Overall Results

1st Skip and Chay Atkins, Stone Sailing Club

2nd Trevor and Caroline Bradley, Littleton Sailing Club

3rd Rob and Peter Harrison, Bexhill Sailing Club

4th Paul and Lindsey Williams, Huddersfield Sailing Club