Laser 2000 Open at Chichester Yacht Club
by Peter Harrison 23 Jul 2012 12:48 BST
22 July 2012
As the routine of torrential downpour and gales gave way to balmy Summer, Chichester YC held their annual Laser 2000 Open meeting.
Interviewed before leaving the beach, winners from 2011 Team Harrison commented, "it's going to be tough to make it into the top half of this stellar lineup. There are 4 previous winners among the rock stars. Our goal is to get round in reasonable shape and still be married after 3 races".
With a lightish southerly wind, strong tide, big shifts and significant gusts, good starting was always going to be key and after a bit of skirmishing race 1 provided the barometer for the day's overall results. We could have retired to the bar then. But no!
John & Pauline Cox stand in Race Officers should have been competing at the front of the fleet (their conditions) but did a sterling job setting true lines and quick turnarounds. Even when the tide turned, not a single general recall all day. Blimey! Had the fleet gone to sleep in the sunshine?
After 3 races - fabulous if you got it right but tricky and frustrating when you got it wrong – the fleet returned for the traditional legendary and free CYC race tea. In the final analysis, Mark and Nicola Green (CYC) hired the club owned 2000 and won the all important Endeavour Trophy for "most effort expended". James Ponsord and Father in Law Rick Page (CYC) managed ½ way, a creditable 11th.
A fantastic turnout from Harbour clubs was lead by 10 from CYC with visitors from HISC, Bosham and Dell Quay. In race 2 Anne & Jim Norfolk (DQSC) provided the big breakaway of the day before being chased down for by the peloton after their lap of glory. The rest of the top of the fleet was made up of a stellar array of 2000 fleet rock stars, with CYC fleet Captain Pedro and Mrs Harrison pleased to scrape 6th overall after a private battle all day long with Matt & Clare Sargent (Thorney Island, ASA) in 5th. Dell Quay's Bill Dawber and Lucy Dalton a solid 4th.
Regular visitors to CYC Miles and Anderley Wade were consistent as ever in 3rd, with Rob & Gemma Burridge (Laser 2000 fleet Royalty) 2nd. Never leading off the line, but picking their way to 3 race wins with a fabulous show of consistent shift spotting were the ever cheerful and lovely (well you would be wouldn't you?) Graham Sexton and Christina Harborne. Worthy winners of The Idun Trophy, and yet another great team on the engraving.
Overall Results:
1st Graham Sexton & Christina Harborne (Thorpe Bay)
2nd Rob Burridge & Jemma Burridge (Weir Wood.S.C.)
3rd Mills Wade & Andelly Wade (A.S.A.)
4th Bill Dawber & Lucy Dalton (D.Q.S.C.)
5th Matt Sargent & Clare Sargent (A.S.A.)
6th Pete Harrison & Suzy Harrison (CYC)