2000 Crewsaver Millennium Series Round 5 at Grafham Water Sailing Club

2000 Crewsaver Millennium Series at Grafham © James Macgregor

2000 Crewsaver Millennium Series at Grafham © James Macgregor

Grafham delivers for the 2000 fleet

A good fleet of 19 2000s arrived alongside the 3000s, 4000s and Laser Vagos at Grafham Water Sailing Club on Saturday 13th September for Round 5 of the 2014 Crewsaver Millennium Series, to be greeted by a very shifty 8–10 knots of wind.

After a mid-sequence postponement to allow the course to be re-set in the shifting conditions, Race 1 got underway and the fleet soon realised how challenging the racing was to be. Sailing the outer loop, the tight first and last reaches proved a challenge for some of the lighter crews and once onto the loop there was much place changing throughout the fleet. Recently crowned National Champion, Rob Burridge, back sailing with his wife Gemma, made their intentions clear with an early win from Jasper and Laura Barnham with Matt Greenfield and Sarah Burridge in third.

A fast turnaround saw the fleet rapidly into Race 2. A left shift half way up the first beat put Matt/Sarah into a good lead around the first mark followed by Lee and Max Sydenham and Iain and Sarah Yardley. A good downwind leg on lap 2 saw Matt/Sarah extend to a comfortable win. Max (eight years old), sailing in his first event, was learning quickly and already showing some great crewing to ensure they held on to second from the gaining Iain/Sarah. Race 3 again saw a large shift looking very good for those on the left until it switched back to the right over the last 150m and resulting in some significant changes. Another close race saw Jasper/Laura take the win from Rob/Gemma, with Richard and Ian Hudson showing some great crewing and going well in the lighter conditions to take third.

With many taking advantage of the on-site camping, the majority of the fleet were in the clubhouse to get the evening started early, enjoying a great meal from the on-site caterers followed by music from Hadleigh and Sophie Ford.

The campers woke early on Sunday morning to sun and more wind, with gusts to 15 knots rockin' the Burridges' tent. After breakfast in the club, racing started on time at 10:30 which proved a little too early for Amy Hulley and Paul Littman who were still half way up the beat, assessing the course! The increase in wind did nothing to change the battle up front with Jasper/Laura opening a good lead on the first lap from Rob/Gemma, with Matt/Sarah again in third. Rob/Gemma worked hard to close the gap before a good gust on rounding the windward mark ensured Jasper/Laura of the win.

Although the wind was steadier than the first day there were still some large shifts and as the fleet picked up on the general gains to be had on the left whilst sailing the outer loop it was getting harder to make gains across the fleet. Race 5 saw a reversal of Race 4, with Rob/Gemma taking the win from Jasper/Laura with the ever-present Fergus Barnham and Abbie Hewitt finally breaking into the top 3. With Jasper/Laura and Rob/Gemma going into the final race on equal points, it was all to play for. With a number of shifts early on the beat, Jasper/Laura took the advantage to win from Rob/Gemma and Matt/Sarah, with these race results echoed in the overall standings. Amy/Paul recovered from the late start earlier in the day to record a creditable fourth in Race 6.

Overall Grafham Water Sailing Club put on a great event both on-shore through efficient registration, good catering and the bar, and on the water with good courses and fast, efficient turnaround between races. We must also thank Crewsaver again for their ongoing support of the 2000 fleet and sponsorship of the series.

As newcomers to the fleet, and with Max sailing in his first event, we found the 2000s extremely welcoming with great racing on the water and an open, friendly fleet ashore. To any new parent/child partnerships out there, or 2000 club racers looking to make the step up to open meetings, it's definitely to be recommended – we certainly intend to be back for more.

Overall Results: