Crewsaver 2000 Millennium Series at Chichester Yacht Club

Crewsaver 2000 Millennium Series at Chichester © Chris Hatton

The forecast of very light breezes did not bode well for CYC's 2 day Open for the 2000 class, part of the countrywide Millennium Series sponsored by Crewsaver, but 23 boats turned up on Saturday, from as far afield as south Wales and Norfolk, with 8 boats from the home club.

Race Officer Nick Colbourne set a windward-leeward course in Chichester Lake in a north-easterly drifter, but held fire with a postponement. When he did get the 23-strong fleet into the first starting sequence, he was forced to abandon as most of the fleet sailed backwards over the line, carried by the tide. After a further delay, sensing the onset of a sea breeze from the south west, he swung the course round by 180 degrees and squeezed in 3 short races in wobbly little breeze of 8 – 10 knots. The visitors, led by Rob and Sarah Burridge from Weir Wood, took the first 4 places in Races 1 and 2, with John and Pauline Cox of CYC in 5th. Race 3 was won by Ferens Barnham and Abbie Hewitt of Snettisham Beach, with the Burridges dropping back to 5th, but still in the lead overall at the end of the first day.

CYC's social on Saturday evening, with dancing to the band "Miles High", may have tired some of the competitors, but Sunday morning was bright and sunny with a promising sea breeze setting in from the south west. With a fairly consistent 12-14 knots by the first start, there was some close competitive sailing, again on a windward-leeward course. Visitors Rob and Sarah Burridge dominated the fleet, with an unassailable set of bullets for the second series of 3 races taking the top spot overall by a fair margin, and claiming the Idun Trophy again. Ferens Barnham and Abbie Hewitt scored a 2nd and two 3rd places, giving them 2nd overall, with Matt Sargent and Johnny Given of Thorney Island a 3rd and two 2nds to claim 3rd prize. In 4th place were Dave Adams and Jenny Pearson-Farr of Broadstairs, and in 5th Tim and Linda Hulley of Weir Wood. Of the local boats, first CYC team was John and Pauline Cox in 7th, with Chris Hodge and Louise Varley in 12th, Helen and Mark Green 13th, and Abbie and Fiona Page 14th.

The Endeavour Prize, for the last boat to complete all the races, was awarded to CYC's Mike Linney and Giles Dixon, but only because Rick Page and Ian Sellwood were not allowed to win it again, and in the Winthers' boat they missed a start because the crew was late!

Overall Results: