Laser 2000 2nd EuroCup Event at Weymouth

The inaugural LaserPerformance World Open © Ian Roman / www.ianroman.com

The inaugural LaserPerformance World Open © Steve Bell / www.fotoboat.com

18 boats competed in warm sunny conditions for the 2nd Eurocup event, sponsored by Purple Marine and a part of the Laser Performance World Regatta. Travellers were welcomed from as far away as Cheshire.

The 2000’s were assigned to the Red Course with the first start in front of the Laser Vago and Bahia fleets, but with the threat of starting behind should a general recall be necessary. Thankfully this did not happen with only a few individual recalls being given over the whole event.

The first race saw a good force 2/3 breeze with a closely fought first beat, line honours taken by John and Pauline Cox closely followed by Elizabeth and Tim Filmore. The Race Officer was excellent and quickly turned racing around using the orange flag as a 10 minute warning for the first start sequence.

Race 2 saw Chris and Kate McDonald leading from an early stage with the Cox’s failing to narrow the gap. Immediately before the start of the third race the wind swung favouring a port start, some of the fleet saw this but not all were able to take advantage. The wind was a little less consistent at this time and it soon became apparent that the cause was a sea mist rolling in over the harbour wall, the large naval vessel moored nearby ‘disappeared’ quickly followed by the committee boat!

Those with a compass fitted quickly went for a reciprocal course, the rest just headed up or downwind as appropriate. On finishing boats were told that’ the shore is that way’! The pink boat of the Cox’s emerged first through the mist to end the racing for the day.

On shore the sun was still shining although the sea mist appeared later in the evening. It did not however detract from the bar-b-que supper laid on by Laser Performance, and the entertainment of a live band and watching those with energy to spare attempting to ride a ‘bucking bronco’.

By Sunday morning the sea mist had disappeared, and hot sunny conditions returned, however, so too had the wind. Racing was postponed until the sea breeze was established.

The fleet again set sail for the red course, and racing was quickly underway. The breeze was not quite as reliable as previously and the right side of the course proved favourable. The local boats showed the rest of the fleet the way as Peter Cowell and Anya de Longh .claimed victory with Nick Griffin and James Everett second. John Smith and Sally Taviner sailed a good race, celebrated with a ‘war dance’ on the finish line for being in front of Mr & Mrs Pink.

By race five the breeze had steadied and the racing at the front of the fleet was between the Cox’s and the Fillmore’s with the Cox’s taking a narrow victory. The final race was quickly underway with close racing again through most of the fleet; pink however seemed to have an advantage over the blue hulls and the Cox’s scored a final 1st with a considerable lead, the McDonalds taking second place in front of the local boat of Peter and Anya.

Thanks to Laser Performance and WPNSA for laying on an excellent event and Purple Marine the Euro Cup sponsors.

Overall Results:

Purple Marine ‘Endeavour Award’ - 21904 Ken Barfoot & Peter Everett
Purple Marine ‘Out of the Hat’ Prize 21681 Richard Hill & Anna Matthews