West Country Boat Repairs 2000 class Millennium Series at Castle Cove Sailing Club

Oscar and Andrew Smith - West Country Boat Repairs 2000 class Millennium Series at Castle Cove © Jay Whitehead

Twenty-two 2000s took part in the very entertaining West Country Boat Repairs 2000 Millennium Series event organised with great style by Castle Cove on the Saturday and Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend. Saturday was grey with a very steady 20-23 knots. Sunday brought sunshine and a gusty/patchy 14-20 knots which slowly eased as the racing progressed.

In pretty challenging conditions the stars of the show were the junior sailors. 8 year old Ben Pascoe helmed five of the races with Dad Sam crewing and scored an amazing four top five results. Another 8 year old Oscar Smith in his first 2000 event finished four of the races with dad Andrew on the helm. William and Oliver Larkin took it in turns crewing for dad Matt and again finished four of the races. A joy to see them putting the kites up downwind and going for it.

Making a welcome Return former National Champions Simon and Katie Horsfield also put in star performances eventually winning all six races although it was not as plain sailing as this would suggest. Tim Hulley with son-in-law John Dasey crewing enjoyed the extra righting power on Saturday nailing pin end starts they were an immense force coming in on the port lay line on Saturday to lead races for good periods. They had a rather wet experience in gybe corner in race 3.

Simon and Katie Horsfield, overall winners - West Country Boat Repairs 2000 class Millennium Series at Castle Cove - photo © Jay Whitehead

Matt Sargent and Zak Mitchell also found Saturday conditions very much to their liking leading two races for good periods eventually succumbing to the Horsfields downwind ability. A spinnaker refusing to come down in race 3 even with one of the harbour breakwaters coming up fast was to cost them second overall eventually finishing fourth overall.

They had to capsize and cut the halyard at the head of the kite.

Ben and Sam Pascoe, and Pete Vincent and Kirsten Glen, also led races on Sunday but the Horsfield's knack of spotting the gust early downwind pulled them through. The Vincent & Glen team were on fire on Sunday scoring 3.2.2 to grab second overall by a point from the Pascoes.

Peter Vincent and Kirsten Glen, second overall - West Country Boat Repairs 2000 class Millennium Series at Castle Cove - photo © Jay Whitehead

Jonathan and Louisa Ching were always right in the battle in every race to claim fifth overall. The all lady team of Jo Field and Annabel Larkin had a fine event finishing sixth overall showing they will be a force to reckon with at the Nationals. Local sailors Ben and Mark Richardson had a very consistent series to win the Silver Division in tenth overall.

As always Castle Cove had being mighty fine hosts yet again setting a high bar for top race management and ultra friendly shore side. Huge thanks to the entire Pascoe family for their heroic efforts.

Round 4 of the West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series is at Chichester YC on June 28th.

Ben and Sam/Tristan Pascoe, third overall - West Country Boat Repairs 2000 class Millennium Series at Castle Cove - photo © Jay Whitehead

Overall Results: