2000 Noble Marine Millennium Series Round 5 at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Despite the ever changing forecasts over the week before, one thing we were all fairly sure of it was going to rain on Saturday. Sure enough it poured. After a massive wind shift just before race three the weather gods made sure of our misery by blowing the rain that had just blown over straight back at us.

Having a cup of tea with the fleet prior to getting soggy I noticed that there was a lot of familiar faces from the national championships in August. Certainly the event had the feel of a nationals. So it proved to be with three different winners on the first day.

Ali Barker and sister Nicky defended very well through the shifts and holes that are ever present on Grafham to win race one from past national champions Jasper and Laura Barnham. Jasper and Laura then promptly built a lead (mainly by going faster and lower than any one else on the runs) to beat another past champion team Rob and Sarah Burridge. Race three, after an extremely wet wait, race fell to Simon Horsfield and Katie Burridge. Simon and Katie managed to do this by showing us all how to beat quickly in a falling breeze. After which they then took full opportunity of the shifts on a long run home to just squeeze out Rob and Sarah on the line.

The consistency of the Barnhams meant they were the overnight leaders. Unfortunately Jasper and Laura couldn't sail on the Sunday, however, hence leaving it very close at the top for the remaining competitors.

Cometh the Sunday, cometh the sun... and very little wind. The fleet trouped out to a postponement flag. We then drifted about whilst some wind from anywhere tried to assert itself. Finally a extremely shifty and, yes with holes in it the size of Cambrideshire, sort of filled in. In race four Ali and Nicky threw down the gauntlet with another canny win from Simon and Katie. Race five however rolled the dice in an entirely different direction.. All three leaders were OCS and this included the two boats battling for the overall. After reading the naughty boy list it fell to the ever consistent (and it has to be said clever) Chris and Gillian Jordan to the take the win from Helen and Andrew Phillips.

So to the final race. With both overall leaders OCS in the race before a battle royal ensued. To take the win Ali and Nicky needed to be two places in front of Simon and Katie. Sure enough Ali and Nicky went flying through the fleet with Simon and Katie busting a gut to get on their transom. Finally on the last run Ali and Nicky held third at the final mark, with Simon and Katie unable to get an overlap and having to settle for fifth. Tied on points but coming second overall on count back.

In terms of the race itself, well somewhat to his surprise (and most likely the rest of the fleet as well) your scribe ably crewed by Gemma Burridge (yes three Burridge crews in the fleet) snuck in for the win closely followed by current Welsh champions Iain and Sarah Yardley.

On behalf of the 2000 fleet I would like to thank Grafham Water SC for hosting yet another well run event. Special thanks to the race officer and team for getting good races away in extremely trying conditions. Next Noble Marine 2000 MS event is Thorney Island on the 17 & 18 Sept.

Overall Results: