2000 class West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Oh to be young, light and talented!

Round 2 of the West Country Boat Repairs 2000 Millennium Series at Bough Beech was a real tour de force for the club, race team and class. Once again the racing demonstrated what a fun family boat the 2000 is with results dominated by family boats featuring some very young and talented sailors.

26 boats launched into a fairly variable in direction 5-8 knot breeze. Your correspondent feared for the race team's hair as first start time approached. No sooner had they set a square course and line then the wind shifted 50 degrees. Off the safety boats went with the marks only for the wind to go back to exactly where it had been! It was threatening to be a long day for the race team!

2000 class West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series at Bough Beech - photo © Alex Smith @hachimbolyphotography

But with a lot of common sense the ambitious programme of six short races was fitted in in very good time including a well planned lunch break to grab packed lunches and fluid from the galley. The wind even firmed up after lunch to be a more steady 8-10 knots. Amazingly there was only one general recall and the black flag soon brought discipline to the next starts.

The racing saw a majestic star performance from 8 year old Benjamin Pascoe at the helm with father Sam crewing. The team won five of the races in fine style to record a comprehensive overall victory. The only race they did not win was the first race won by Matt Larkin with 11 year old son Oliver awesome as a crew. The Larkin's had a fine day finishing fourth overall.

2000 class West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series at Bough Beech - photo © Alex Smith @hachimbolyphotography

After a dodgy first race young talented Louisa Ching sorted her dad Jonathan out and the duo scored three seconds, a third and a fourth to beat arch rivals the not so young, light or talented Paul Cullen/Fresh Abernstern by a point.

Further adrift in fifth and sixth overall came the ancient heavyweight mariners Pete Vincent with the young/light Ellie Parle crewing and Matt Sargent/Ross Southwell.

In seventh Bill Dawber/Claire Power had some real bursts of speed and led race 1 for a long period at one stage being half a leg clear before falling into an unfortunate hole.

So ended a sun-drenched day. Huge vote of thanks to everyone at Bough Beech involved with running the event.

Next round of the West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series is at the Pascoe's back yard of Castle Cove on May24th/25th which promises to be a belter of an event.

Benjamin and Sam Pascoe, overall winners - 2000 class West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series at Bough Beech - photo © Alex Smith @hachimbolyphotography

Overall Results:

Benjamin and Sam Pascoe, overall winners - 2000 class West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series at Bough Beech - photo © Alex Smith @hachimbolyphotography