Laser 2000s at Weir Wood

Tim Hulley reports on the action

Laser 2000 Millennium Series 7 at Weir Wood SC
By Tim Hulley

13 Visiting Laser 2000s joined 8 club boats for the 4th Millenium series event organised by Weir Wood over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd October. South Westerly winds throughout allowed the Race Officer (Rob Burridge) to set long courses up and down the lake. Whilst the direction was relatively settled, the strength varied from drifting to blasting, and with both rain and shine, the competitors enjoyed challenging and varied racing.

On Saturday the wind gradually increased from force 2 for the first race through to force 5 for the last race. Tim and Linda Hulley in ‘Jumpin’ Jack Splash’ used their ‘local nose’ to sniff out the pressure downwind and hold off Andy and Karen Baldwin in ‘The B’s Needs’ in the first two races. The boats milling about before the start of the third race were treated to a spectacular windward capsize by Guy and Julie Boswell, as they finished their race - the sound of their mast hitting the water could be heard through most of the fleet. Nevertheless the third race started cleanly in strong winds blowing down the lake and sunshine – Weir Wood at its very best. The course included a short reaching leg, which tested those competitors who chose to raise the Gennaker and try and hang on as the wind built across the lake. Jumpin’ Jack Splash led the race from start to finish, but unfortunately the Hulley’s suffered from short term memory loss and rounded the leeward mark in the wrong direction, and were somewhat surprised by the silence as they crossed the finish line! The Baldwins and George Rice and Zoe Thesiger from Royal Hospital School sailed superbly around the correct course for first and second place.

The evening’s social in the clubhouse included a meal, fun quiz and a disco. The quiz required an intimate knowledge of sailing trivia such as how many tins of corned beef and curry powder Robin Knox Johnstone consumed in his sail around the world, and how many loo rolls he used for the ensuing paper work. The disco was enjoyed by good fleets of youths from Weir Wood and the Royal Hospital School who rocked the evening away whilst the more tired senior sailors swayed gently in quiet corners (bless us we did our best!). ‘Grape Gecko’ showed good form, with young William and Sarah Sloper showing the rest of the fleet how to dance the night away. The tired revellers retired early to recuperate ready for the storms and strong winds forecast the next day.

Weir Wood lay calm and serene the following morning, and the first race was a drifter. ‘Wild Kids’ (Andrew and Alice Barraclough) sorted the wind out and won the race with a display of sensitive light wind skills. The race officer wisely sent everyone in for an early lunch, and by the time the fleet re-launched, the wind had settled in. In the second afternoon race one of the Weir Wood youth teams, Joe Pascoe and Amy Hulley started strongly and held a good lead for most of the race. The Baldwins and Hulleys had a good tussle whilst working up to the front. The course included a short reaching leg again, and the choice over flying the Gennaker was again critical. On one lap the Baldwins hoisted, only to be caught by a late gust forcing them in on the mark inside the Hulleys. Sailing fairly throughout, the Baldwin’s completed their penalty turns, and then overhauled the Hulley’s later whilst they were spinning having not seen a boat on Starboard (attributable to deteriorating eyesight). Young Joe and Amy were overtaken just before the line by two boats, though the senior Hulleys were reported to have resorted to threats of reductions in pocket money to secure their 2nd place just behind the Baldwins.

At last Weir Wood’s open has been blessed by good winds throughout. Thanks at the prize giving were given to the Weir Wood team led by Stuart Nicholas (organiser) and Rob Burridge for matching the superb conditions with strong organisation, professionally run racing and super hospitality.

Results

1st Jumpin’ Jack Splash Tim and Linda Hulley (2854)
2nd The B’s Needs Andy and Karen Baldwin (21033)
3rd Wild Kids Andrew and Alice Barraclough (2547)