Sunday May 4th and Monday May 5th

This was the first event of the Laser Direct Millennium Series for 2008 and what a benchmark Bough Beech have set the other host clubs for the rest of the season. Two days of sunshine complete with wind and a fantastic social on Sunday evening.

Sunday's racing was over a sort of windward/leeward figure of eight course set across the lake giving beats and runs despite the wind shifts. A familiar pattern for the weekend started to emerge with Rob Burridge sailing with his daughter Katie, winning all three races although places behind were being seriously contested. The end of Sundays racing saw the 'pond' sailors dominating the top ten places with just a couple of 'salties' getting amongst them In the evening the 35 boat fleet along with their families and Bough Beech club members enjoyed comedy magician Roy Charles followed by a couple of sets from the 'Blues Brothers'. Tables and chairs were cleared seeing all up and on their feet rocking and jiving both inside and out!

The forecast for Monday was for light winds and overcast but not for the 2k Class, sunshine and F2/3.

With a change in the wind direction the RO set a windward/leeward course down the lake with the gun at 1100hrs. Four boats arrived close together at the windward gate with Rob & Katie followed by John & Pauline Cox taking the starboard mark and club shore for the downwind leg and Dave Adams & Julie Wood followed by Tim & Linda Hulley taking the port mark and far shore. Nearing the leeward gate the wind died, hesitated, changed direction and came back during which time Rob decided to gybe off. John & Pauline (like others still unsure as to what was a shift and what was not) held their course for those few moments and with Rob now going the wrong way led Rob to the leeward gate. Dave & Julie along with Tim & Linda although in more pressure failed to read and understand the course instructions going through the gate downwind, having to unwind losing time and many places. John & Pauline held off Rob & Katie for the next windward and leeward legs to win the race grateful for the change in wind direction, the RO shortening the course and Rob for his un-characteristic error.

A change in wind direction meant the RO swung the course for the final two races with Rob & Katie not making any further errors and the rest of the fleet enjoying very close racing. One competitor commented 'we managed to go from 2nd to 15th down one run!'

Deserved winners were Rob & Katie with Amy Hulley & Jamie Blanchard (Youth Boat) sailing consistently well all weekend to finish second. Will Sloper crewed by Dad was the first Youth Helm finishing a very creditable 12th.

If you look at the full results on http://www.laser2000.org.uk you will see that many of the entries share the same surname showing the Laser 2000 is a true family class. Big thanks to Peter & Jane Coulcher along with all the Bough Beech team for a superb event, Laser Direct our sponsor and Noble Marine for subsidising the Youth Entries.

Overall Results: 1st 2458 Wet 'n' Wicked, Rob & Katie Burridge (Weirwood SC) 5pts
2nd 21555 Amygo, Amy Hulley & Jamie Blanchard (Weirwood SC) 15pts
3rd 22086 Miles & Anderley Wade (Army SA/Weirwood SC) 20pts
4th 21785 Dave Adams & Julie Wood (Broadstairs SC 24pts
5th 2854 Jumpin Jack Splash, Tim & Linda Hulley (Weirwood SC) 26pts
6th 21061 Idun, John & Pauline Cox (Chichester YC) 30pts
7th 2372 Firebolt, Martin & Harry Wilson (Datchet SC) 30pts
8th 21462 Buzz B, Andy & Mark Baldwin (Grafham Water SC) 38pts
9th 21963 Chris & Emily/Jessica McDonald (Grafham Water SC) 38pts
10th 22116 Blue-it, Chris & Gill Jordan (Burghfield SC) 45pts