Stokes Bay Sailing Club was the venue for the final round of the Crewsaver Laser 4000 UK Series on 11-12 August.

Sixty-one boats made the start line for the first race in a gusty Force 3-4 and were led round five laps by Team ControlA Pete Barton and Simon Knatchbull from senior class members Andy and Katie Shorrocks with Luke McEwen and Emma Evans in SP Systems in third.

In an increasing breeze and thankfully fewer laps, Bartonand Knatchbull swept the board with two first places in the following races and their Team Control teammate, Pete and Lisa Nicholas taking a second and third -the other top places being taken by Mark Cotgrove and Ian Gotts and Chris Fox and Bully.

Saturday evening started with a Pimms Party on the balcony where, courtesy of hostesses Helen Lloyd and Claire Logan, any number of tickets bought any quantity of Pimms.

Sunday dawned breezy, especially if you hadn’t pegged out the fly sheet properly and after more sarnies from the galley, competitors braved the wind which was rising into an onshore Force 5.

Andy Shorrock had sacked his wife for breaking her big toe and, with her brother fresh from a stag night, won the first race from the consistent Nicholas family. As conditions freshened and the chop steepened what was to be the last race got underway under the ever present black flag and precious few were to survive without some sort of problems, notably Team ControlA (Barton and Knatchbull) who performed a synchronised capsize on the finish with SP Systems in which the latter came off worse with McEwen and Evans seeing rather more of the underside of the committee boat than was strictly necessary.

Cotgrove and Gotts sailed to victory with teammates Nicholas/Nicholas taking second to just pip Barton and Knatchbull to first overall and Pete Harrison and Chrissy Clampett in third.

Great organisation from Stokes Bay, a little sunshine and a lot of breeze made for a top weekend especially for Team Control who took the first three places, and for Barton and Knatchbull who win the Crewsaver UK Series overall for 2001.

Overall Results

1st Nicholas/Nicholas (Team Control)

2nd Barton/Knatchbull (Team Control)

3rd Cotgrove/Gotts (Team Control)

4th Shorrock/Shorrock

5th Sanderson/Watson

6th Fox/Bully

7th Harrison/Clampett