Crewsaver 2000 Millennium Series Round 6 at Carsington Sailing Club

2000 Millennium Series Round 6 at Carsington © Phil Spray

2000 Millennium Series Round 6 at Carsington © Phil Spray

Thirteen home and five visitors' boats took part in 2000 Class Crewsaver Millennium Series No 6 sailing event at Carsington Water on the weekend of 26th and 27th September. This was a great turnout considering the very light wind forecast for the weekend. The current 2000 Welsh champions, Richard Harvey and Mick Steer were competing against each other in their own boats. Richard Brown, current RS400 National Champion borrowed a boat to race with his seven- year-old son, Oliver, for the first time.

On Saturday, the lack of wind made everyone question whether there would actually be any sailing, and racing was postponed for three hours giving everyone an excuse to munch the delicious homemade cakes made by the club's galley ladies.

Eventually the wind picked up with 15 boats taking to the water. However the variable light winds were proving difficult for the Race Officer to set a true course, with the first race being abandoned following a big wind shift. This was unfortunate for Chris and Gillian Jordan, who had an impressive lead at the time. On the second attempt, Stephen Blake and Lindsay Chesterton sailed a masterly race in the light conditions to win by a good margin followed by Richard Harvey and Kate Franklin in second, with James and Jenny Macgregor in third. A sigh of relief could be heard by the fleet as the Race Officer postponed racing for the day for an evening of Pie 'n' Peas followed by England vs Wales in the Rugby World Cup for dessert.

Sunday brought only slightly stronger winds and race two of the event saw many lead changes between Blake and Chesterton, the Browns, Harvey and Franklin and the Macgregors. The Macgregors went right on the final upwind leg finding better breeze to overtake the pack and secure first position, followed by the Browns in second. Unfortunately for Blake and Chesterton, Harvey and Franklin and the Jordans managed to sneak inside on the windward mark to complete the minor places.

2000 Millennium Series Round 6 at Carsington - photo © Phil Spray

Good upwind speed and a big wind shift on the first beat of race three allowed the Browns to pull clear into first which they maintained to the end of the race. Mick Steer and Harriet Lagnado sneaked through the fleet into second position, but could not hold off the Jordans who managed to overtake them by the end of the race.

The continuing swings in the wind kept the Race Officer on his toes. The final race was postponed for an hour but this did reward the fleet with the best racing conditions for the day once the wind steadied. Harvey and Franklin picked the slightly stronger conditions on the left hand side to reach the windward mark first which they maintained by covering the Browns and the Macgregors who came second and third respectively.

2000 Millennium Series Round 6 at Carsington - photo © Phil Spray

After a good weekend's racing, the overall winners of the 2000 Millennium Series No 6 were Richard and Oliver Brown from Carsington SC with Harvey and Franklin, also from Carsington in second, and the Macgregors from Grafham Water SC in third. A special well done to Oliver for winning his first open event with his Dad!

Overall Results: