Laser 2000 Open at Weir Wood Sailing Club

Action from the Laser Crewsaver Millennium Series Round 7 at Weir Wood © Simon Bell

The weather forecast was for Force 0 on Saturday and Force 4 on Sunday, and it couldn't have been more accurate! During the race briefing Weir Wood SC was presented with the Laser 2000 Class flag (Laser 2000 logo on a white background) to use as the class warning flag. The obligatory "Change to Sailing Instructions" flag was raised to facilitate this change!

The race officer very wisely decided not to start any races on Saturday as there was no consistent wind across the course, allowing competitors to watch the rugby, drink tea, have a gossip and organise barbecues at the club instead.

Mid afternoon saw an impromptu sail setting training session by Rob Burridge, the weekends race officer. A crowd of interested sailors gathered round one of Weir Wood's club boats to be shown how the different controls affect the sails, listening to advice on general sail set. Once finished with the initial 2 sail set (and still no constant wind) Rob moved on to demonstrate basic settings of the asymmetric spinnaker.

During the afternoon a few boats (mainly local boats) went out for a drift nicely demonstrating just why we were not out there trying to race. Shortly after 15:00 racing was abandoned for the day, with Race 1 postponed until 9:45 Sunday morning to allow 5 races instead of the published 4. The evening meal in the club house was a choice of Chicken Curry or Burger and Chips and preceded the class AGM at 19:00.

On Sunday a blustery Force 4 appeared from the East and we started out for an early 09h45 first race. This was the first of five windward-leeward races, three before lunch with two more in the afternoon. Some superb and close racing was seen at the front of the fleet between Skip and Zoe Atkins, and Mike Hart and Zoe Thesiger of Royal Hospital School. Others in contention were the Bradleys, Hulleys, Paynes and Rodwells. Close racing with much position changing was also seen with the traditional battles being fought between the old rivals further down the fleet too. Most overtaking at this end involved passing your rival while he or she was upside down! Some powerful gusts and slam-dunk headers caused several capsizes on the upwind legs, with many a mast being muddied and burgees lost. After the start of the third race, the new class chairman, Ian Simpson, managed to fall off the back of his boat after a violent manoeuvre to avoid a collision, leaving his crew to circle the boat while he caught up again. The race officer lengthened the windward-leeward distance for the 2nd and 3rd races to allow space for some fantastic blast-reaches on gusts which were approaching Force 5. Mark Henley and crew Geoff Thompson capsized in the third race and after clinging to their centreboard for ten minutes stepped down into 12 inches of water!

After a well-earned lunch, the two final races were sailed in a moderating wind, which was less shifty and a little easier to read.

The newly appointed Class Chairman Ian Simpson presented the Crew Saver sponsored prizes along with those generously provided by Weir Wood SC.

Overall Results: