2000 class Latitude Series at West Riding Sailing Club
by Mark Foley 4 Apr 2023 17:54 BST
1-2 April 2023
West Riding Sailing Club welcomed 5 visiting teams to join 4 home boats for the first round of the Lakes Mortgages 2000 Latitude series over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd April. The competitors were greeted with a cold light to moderate Northerly breeze, allowing the full length of the lake to be used for the windward leeward course. Reports of a dolphin being sighted on the lake owed more to the date than Wintersett reservoir's proximity to the sea.
The rescue crew were forced into action before the first start with first time 2000 crew Stuart Garside abandoning ship on the way to the start line. Despite his protests he was put back on board and made the start line.
Race 1 of the 6 race series got under way at the first attempt. The home team of Matt and Helen Cook took the lead with fellow WRSC sailors Oliver and Elliot Thompson in hot pursuit. The Thompson Twins (almost) overtook on the second beat and pulled ahead taking the win, with Matt and Helen in 2nd, with Trevor Bradley and Ruth Pink from Thornton Steward Sailing Club in 3rd.
In the second race Alistair Rose and Nicola Copley, from Ullswater Yacht Club got away well and led around the windward mark with the Cooks and Trevor and Ruth close behind. The Ullswater pair dropped back over the next 2 legs with Trevor and Ruth taking the lead and the Thompsons moving through the field. The Thompsons took the lead on the final spinnaker hoist but Trevor and Ruth battled back for a narrow win ahead of the Thompsons and the Cooks.
After a quick lunch, break the teams returned to action with Oliver and Elliot taking the third race ahead of Trevor and Ruth and the Cooks. Trevor and Ruth took the win in the fourth race with Matt and Helen getting the better of Oliver and Elliot in a close battle for 2nd and 3rd.
The weather forecast for Sunday was not great and amid concerns that there may not be enough wind to race, it was decided to bring the 5th race forward to bring the discard into play. The Thompson's and Trevor and Ruth enjoyed an extremely close race with the visitors eventually coming out on top. The Cooks took 3rd.
Splash Water Sports donated superb prizes from their excellent range of Water sports clothing to the top 3 teams after the first 3 events with the Thompsons taking 1st place followed by Trevor and Ruth and the Cooks.
Arriving at the club on Sunday morning, the competitors were met with a lighter but sailable breeze from the East. This set up a final decider between the Thompsons and Trevor and Ruth for overall honours.
The 6th race started at the first attempt with Matt and Helen storming into a lead which they extended throughout the lead to finish the regatta with a dominant win and third overall. Trevor and Ruth moved through the fleet to take 2nd place and first place in the event. Oliver and Elliot tried everything to get in front of their rivals but eventually slipped back to take 5th, their worst result of the weekend, but still hung on to 2nd place overall.
To ensure that the competitor got their money's worth a 7th, 'just for fun' race was held. This was notable for the first individual recall of the whole weekend. With the pressure off the Thompsons took a dominant victory. Stephen Wright and his 8 year old son Joshua took an excellent 2nd place.
The competitors gathered for a prize-giving in the sunshine on the WRSC decking. The series sponsors, Lakes Mortgages gave prizes to the top three. Mike McEwing, on behalf of the 2000 Class Association thanked WRSC for their brilliant hospitality and hosting of the event and asked to return in 2024. Big thanks to WRSC, the Thompson Twins, and Darren and Claire Thompson for their warm and exceptional culinary welcome!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Series points (first 6 races) | Full event points |
|---|
| 1 | 2703 | O&E Thompson | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| 2 | 22743 | T Bradley & R Pink | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| 3 | 21203 | M&H Cook | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 15 |
| 4 | 22619 | M Ewing & A Smith | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 25 |
| 5 | 22694 | A Rose & N Copley | 4 | DNF | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 28 |
| 6 | 22196 | S&J Wright | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 30 |
| 7 | 21460 | S Lewis & N Franks | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | DNS | 7 | 7 | 35 | 42 |
| 8 | 22256 | D&T Wiggins | 6 | 8 | 8 | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 40 | 49 |
| 9 | 2798 | N Ricks & S Garside | 9 | 7 | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 43 | 52 |