Crewsaver 2000 Millennium Series Event 3 at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club

Crewsaver 2000 Millennium Series at Bristol Corinthian © Mark Adler / www.mendiptimes.co.uk

Crewsaver 2000 Millennium Series at Bristol Corinthian © Mark Adler / www.mendiptimes.co.uk

Crewsaver 2000 Millennium Series at Bristol Corinthian © Mark Adler / www.mendiptimes.co.uk

Last weekend, the 2000 class went to Bristol Corinthian YC for the 3rd event in the Crewsaver Millennium Series. There was the biggest high over the UK. See the results and retirements at the Round The Island race on at the same time (well over 500!).

No wind at 12.00 on Saturday... by 14.00 there was enough. The first race provided helm sitting out conditions for a 4-lap, 45 minute race. The wind was "basically" in the same direction all race, but with 45 degree shifts as it blew down over the Mendip hills. A good clean start. Guy and Julie Boswell decided to keep well clear of the fleet by hitting the right hand side: and almost made it to the top 3 at the first mark. Picking the shifts was paramount - both upwind and down. Rob and Kate Burridge were having a great tussle with Richard and Ian Hudson ("we would have won if the boat hadn't let us down") at the front. Chris and Gill Jordon managed to miss every one of the shifts, until the last run to the finish - when we sailed from about 9th or 10th to 4th at the finish!. Jenny and James Macgregor going frustratingly the other way down the fleet from 3rd to 6th.

Then we all sailed around for a bit. Then we came ashore for tea. Then we almost launched. Then we did launch... so lots of "the wind is here... no, it is not!".

Then at about 4.30 we launched for a second race.

This time both Natalie/Alex and Guy / Julie went hard right: and ended up at the first mark neatly in the lead.

The fleet behind had a great race for third... until Rob/Katie broke away, chased Natalie/Alex and came within a whisker of overtaking them when the wind dropped right away on the last run. But Natalie held her nerve, and the reputation of the Navy, and squeezed back into the lead for the finish.

After that, the wind dropped away to nothing.... until around midnight when it decided to blow 15-19 knots for a couple of hours - just to show us all what it could do if it wanted to!

A really good evening: a very filling meal and a game of skittles!

Sunday brought no wind at all and after a wait we all packed up before lunch and got home early!

Overall Results: