Laser 2000 Millennium Cup - Loch Venachar

by Tony Okotie on 4 Oct 2000 The penultimate round of the Citizen sponsored Laser 2000 Millennium Cup
took place over the last weekend of September, at Loch Venachar SC in
Stirlingshire Scotland as part of an asymmetric open weekend. The loch is an
impressive setting, with views of Rob Roys homeland, the Trossachs, all
around. The club had hoped its new purpose built clubhouse would be finished
and in use for the weekend, but fitting has taken longer than anticipated, and
so it was not to be. However, it does promise to be an excellent venue for
next season.

Unfortunately, the Scottish weather was less than co-operative for the 6
travellers from South of the border that joined the 5 Scottish boats, 3 from
Loch Venachar SC itself. Saturday provided a lack of any real breeze, and
while 2 races were completed, race 3 was abandoned when the little wind
there was disappeared completely. Sunday was better, with a breeze that did
not get past a force 2, but the day proved to be cold and damp. The 5 races
were held on a windward / leeward course, off a start line from the club, and
race officer Geoff Stirrer did well given the conditions.

In Saturdays first race, it was Tony & Anne Okotie that made the best of the
poor wind, finishing first after starting mid fleet. They were followed home by
Trevor & Caroline Bradley, and local sailors Jim & Margaret Galloway. The
breeze was so poor that most crews furled their jibs downwind, unusual for
the 2000.

Team Okotie thought race 2 was also theirs, after leading from the first
leeward mark to the final leeward mark. However, they, along with a couple of
other crews, chose to go down the centre of the course and through the finish
gate, and could only watch as the rest of the fleet, on the left, picked up a
breath of air and sailed through. Local boat, Robert McCulloch sailing with
Alma Cadzow finished first, followed by the Bradleys and Paul & Lindsay
Williams, with another Venachar boat, Pete & Anne Bramley third. Okotie
finished seventh, after they lost a "photo finish" with Jetho & Eleanor Black.
Race 3 was started, but abandoned and sailed on Sunday morning.

On Sunday, 6 different boats counted top 3 finishes from the 3 races, showing
how close Laser 2000 racing has become. Of the six, it was only Trevor &
Caroline Bradley, counting 2 firsts and 2 seconds overall, who managed to put
a consistent series together, and it was they who took the gold medal
position. Second to sixth places were covered by just six points, and second
overall were Jim & Margaret Galloway, counting a win in the final race to take
the place. Taking the bronze medal were McCulloch & Cadzow, using a
borrowed boat & new to laser 2000 racing.

Uncharacteristically back in fourth place were Antony & Mike Smith, who
were leading the Millennium Cup overall after 3 rounds. However, their lack of
2000 sailing since Bala (they’ve been slumming it in an ISO) dented their
chances, although they did improve through the weekend, taking second in
the final 2 races. In fifth were Pete & Anne Bramley, who showed flashes of
speed throughout the event. Pete is the new class association representative
for Scotland, and can be contacted on (01786) 823189.

All competitors received a prize, with goodies from Citizen and superb
trophies and Pilot pens provided by J & M Stationers in Strirling. For 2001,
Scotland will have it’s own Laser 2000 "mini series", hopefully including
another event at Venachar.

Going into next weekends final millennium cup event at Weir Wood, Ian &
Andrew Frogley cannot now be beaten in the overall standings. However,
second through to sixth is far from settled, and it is possible for Antony &
Mike Smith to leapfrog into the runners up position from their current fifth.
With everything to play for, and Citizen watches up for grabs, it promises to
be a great weekends sailing.

Millennium Cup – Round 7 Results:

1st Trevor & Caroline Bradley Littleton SC 6 points
2nd Jim & Margaret Galloway Loch Venachar SC 12 points
3rd Robert McCulloch & Alma Cadzow Loch Venachar SC 13 points
4th Anthony & Mike Smith South Cerney SC 16 points
5th Pete & Anne Bramley Loch Venachar SC 17 points
6th Tony & Anne Okotie Carsington SC 18 points