2000 Laser II National Championship
Porthpean sailing club hosted the Laser 2 national championships from 26th August to 1st September. In winds ranging from force 2 to force 5.
The practice race was sailed in near perfect 18 knots of breeze. Graeme Bristow and Bryan Mobbs put down their marker, leading in from Nick Farrer and Olly Pondsford with Matt McCarthy and Jo Dillon third.
Race 1 was lead by Bristow and Mobbs, who built up a substantial lead by the end of the first triangle but were gradually reeled in by Martin and Sian Joesbury, until at the final leeward mark they were line astern.
Having had a dress rehearsal the Joesburys lead the way in race 2 with Bristow and Mobbs stuck in the pack. Bristow and Mobbs gradually worked their way out, but never managed to get ahead. Nigel Skudder and Keith Hills made a steady start to the regatta with two thirds.
Day 2 saw a lighter on shore breezes, which made for a difficult chop. Bristow and Mobbs put in two more firsts but behind things were much closer with a pack of 5 boats fighting it out for second. Eventually the Joesburys came in second in race three with Matt McCarthy and Jo Dillon in third. The situation reversed in race four.
Day 3 dawned bright with the forecast of 15 knots, but with the bight sun came the sea breeze which killed the gradient breeze to release the fleet for a days sight seeing.
Day four was not so bright with the threat of gales. Two races were sailed in a perfect 18 knot breeze. Again Bristow and Mobbs dominated the day with Terry Palmer and Caroline Cooper putting in two seconds. Giles Bradford and Paul Gliddon worked through the pursuing pack to put in a third in race 5 but failed to cover the Joesburys closely enough on the final beat of race 6 to allow them to recover to third.
The crew’s race was scheduled for later that day but increasing winds made it doubtful. A small fleet took to the water only for the race to be abandoned shortly before the start when a big rainsquall came through obscuring the small course.
Despite not been able to get the committee boat around from Fowey, due to strong winds, race officers Peter Pope and Paul Deacon managed to set a championship course in the 27 knot westerly on day 5. Bradford and Gliddon revealed in the fresher breeze and led around the first triangle, only to capsize part way up the following beat. Bristow and Mobbs ceased the opportunity to take the lead, with Bradford and Gliddon eventually finishing second with Skudder and Hills third.