Over the mid-summer weekend the Laser 2000 fleet travelled to Cardiff Bay for the Crew Saver-sponsored open meeting, the third in this year’s Millennium Cup series. In all 14 boats competed in light winds and brilliant sunshine even so this was more wind than the forecast had predicted. The race officer set the fleet a windward/leeward course with an up wind gate and port mark roundings.

With competitors travelling from the four corners of England and a few local boats the first race had a leisurely start time of 1200. The format for the weekend was set from the very first race with Skip and Zoe Atkins leading the fleet with some very competitive racing taking place behind them. Trevor and Caroline Bradley from Littleton SC had led early in the first race but had spent most of the race chasing Graham and Mattie Ponsford from Chichester YC. Finally passing them on the approach to the final mark only to loose the position as Trevor missed his toe straps and rolled gracefully over the side of the boat. Managing to hold onto the main sheet averted a total disaster but it was enough to allow Helen and Andrew Philips of Cardiff Bay SC to nip through and take third.

In the third race the fleet split and those that chose the right-hand side of the course made considerable gains and led around the first mark forcing Skip and Zoe to fight their way through the fleet.

After an excellent evening enjoying the hospitality of Cardiff Bay SC the fleet returned on Sunday morning to find the wind had swung through 90 degrees providing for even longer courses. In the fourth race it was the turn of Helen and Andrew to suffer indignity as their gennaker sheet came adrift leaving them to fall from second to fourth on the final run. With six races and four to count the final result was clear cut Skip and Zoe had won all six races. Graham and Mattie had finished second in four races. Third to fourth were separated by 1 point and racing was equally tight further down the fleet with sixth to eighth separated by only 3 points.

Overall Results

1st Skip and Zoe Atkins Stone SC 4 Points

2nd Graham and Matti Ponsford Chichester YC 8 Points

3rd Helen and Andrew Philips Cardiff Bay SC 11 Points

4th Trevor and Caroline Bradley Littleton SC 12 Points

5th Andy, Karen and Mark Baldwin Grafham Water SC 15 Points