West Country Boat Repairs 2000 Millennium Series Round 1 at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Paul Cullen & Lynne Ratcliffe win West Country Boat Repairs 2000 Millennium Series Round 1 at Bough Beech © Vince White, Bough Beech SC safety boat

Matt and Ollie Larkin, first family junior in the West Country Boat Repairs 2000 Millennium Series Round 1 at Bough Beech © Vince White, Bough Beech SC safety boat

Round 1 of the West Country Boat Repairs 2000 Millennium Series at Bough Beech SC on April 11th attracted an excellent turnout of 24 boats and proved to be a most lively entertaining day of racing.

The programme was to aim for 6 races of approx 30 minutes length with a lunch break. The first race started exactly on time in 10-14 knots of wind from the west. Birthday boy Paul " I might look 60 but I'm only 50" Cullen with new super crew Lynne "deserves a medal" Ratcliffe streaked into a very handy lead. But Jonathan Ching/Louisa Ching and National Champions Ben Pascoe/Sam Pascoe slowly reeled them in. The Pascoes sneaked by late on to win with half century boy/deserves a medal 2nd and the Ching's 3rd.

Race 2 and the wind had slightly crept up. This time half century boy and deserves a medal made no mistake to win; behind in a tight final leeward gate the Pascoes claimed 2nd with Pete Vincent/Sophie Bentley 3rd and the Ching's 4th. Race 3 and the wind was more around 16 knots and getting gusty. Vincent/Bentley led at mark one with half century/medal and the Pascoes in very close company. The 3 boats now swapped places on every leg until only 50/medal Lynne settled things with another win with Pascoe's again 2nd and Vincent/Bentley again 3rd.

Lunch, the sun was out, it was snuggly warm in the club house and we had a very nice curry thanks to Bough Beech splendid catering team. When we did launch again it felt like the breeze had slightly eased having shifted to the SE but it was just lulling us into a false sense of security. As soon as the 5 minute flag went up so did the wind and a very lumpy 17-24 knots now tested us. Now I am not saying it helped to have a bit of ballast on board but Matt Sargent /Matt Wood up wind were unique in having a total vertical mast as they powered their way into the lead. So comfortable were they that the navigation error of taking the science route to the first leeward gate via the finish mark really did not cost them as they won race 4. You may have to sign up Matt for an RNSA navigation course. Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bailey also revelled in the wind to claim a great second whilst Matt and Ollie Larkin bucked the ballast trend with under 15 Ollie getting Dad to a very impressive third.

Now race 5 will live long in the memory of those who swam in it and occasionally tried to race. These were just not big lumpy gusts hitting, up wind these were knock boats flat smackers without any warning as the Pascoes found whilst on port trying to cross the fleet causing a degree of mayhem. And it kept on building so for the second half of the race the jib being in up wind was a rarity and there were no lulls to gybe in. There were always more boats capsized than actually racing. Through the carnage Bough Beech's Lawrence Cavill-Grant and Rory Moppett were a ball of spray down wind and stormed to a race win making up for having to retire from race 1 as the rudder stock pintle's sheared. The Ching's stayed up right for the final 2 laps to claim 2nd with the Matt's 3rd. Only 6 boats finished. Many thanks to the safety boat crews who did a sterling job.

Paul Cullen's and Lynne Ratcliffe's 4th and 6th after lunch was more than enough to give them a comfortable overall victory with the Pascoe's 2nd overall and the Ching's 3rd. Matt and Ollie Larkin were first family/junior not in the top three overall and Lawrence/Rory's last race heroics gained them first in Silver fleet.

Another tour de force 2000 open at Bough Beech, many thanks to everyone involved in making it such a memorable day.

Round 2 of the West Country Boat Repairs Millennium Series is at Oxford SC on Sunday May 10th following a 2000 coaching day at Oxford SC on the Saturday with Pete Vincent. Please be aware you need to book the coaching day in advance.

Overall Results: