4000 class UK Series during Langstone Harbour Race Weekend

4000 UK series during Langstone Harbour Race Weekend © Richard Calas

4000 UK series during Langstone Harbour Race Weekend © Richard Calas

Bank holiday weekend saw the 4000s travel to Langstone Harbour Race Weekend for the first time. The windward leeward course was set in the middle of Langstone Harbour with 60 entrants and 17 different varieties of boat travelling not only from local clubs but from all around the UK.

The 1st race started on time Steve and Sarah Cockerill had a good start on port and never looked back although Geoff and Bernice Holden with "local knowledge" we're hard pushed for 2nd place by John Reynolds and Fran Howell who demonstrated that pond sailors can read the tide too. Geoff and John jostled for position throughout the 4 laps. Richard and Jo de Fleury who only just made the start had a great battle for 4th and 5th with Tim and Alex Litt.

Race 2 - Geoff had great start but John and Fran reached the windward mark 1st, closely followed by Steve & Sarah, Richard & Jo, Tim & Alex and lastly with their dodgy local knowledge Geoff and Bernice. The first spinnaker leg saw the fleet split into 2 with Steve sailing into the lead once again, with John a close 2nd.

The leaders were well away but Tim, Richard and Geoff were battling for position for the next 2 laps but by lap 4 Tim had built a significant gap from Geoff and Jo had jumped ship (not the fastest way round the course) so the final positions looked fixed as we hoisted our spinnaker for the last time. But unfortunately John and Fran at full speed, spinnaker set went just a little too close to a sandbank with a falling tide with the consequence of a capsize and dropping the kite knee deep in water. This meant that Tim sneaked a 2nd with Geoff 3rd.

The day was finished with a great barbeque for all competitors at Locks Sailing Club.

We were woken on day 2 with F6/7 winds and lashing rain as a consequence the race officer kept the fleets ashore. The wind eventually reduced to a steady F5 and the racing began an hour late. It was good to see Martin and Tom Burgess join us for the day. The racing was close for the first lap then Steve and Sarah got up and running and started sailing away, leaving the other 4000's to fight for the runner up places.

Due to the late start and a falling tide the 2nd race was abandoned and all sailors took a well-earned early shower. The evening entertainment was supplied by Langstone Sailing Club where we were treated to chilli and topical quiz.

Day 3 started with polar opposite to the previous day, no wind and sunny. These conditions built to a nice F3/4 and the racing started on time. Race 4 brought out 2 extra 4000's, current national champions Jason Kirk and Scott Dawson and a local sailor, Ian and Wendy Cameron, taking part in their first 4000 open meeting. The tide was strong in race 1 and Tim learnt the hard way that in medium winds the tide had more effect and went from a potential race winner to back of the fleet on 1 beat. Jason and Scott showed they haven't lost it and were soon into the lead leaving Steve and Sarah, who could not catch them, to settle for 2nd place.

The final race saw controversy from the start with Geoff being forced up on the start line by Richard. Geoff took his turns and that resulted in the local boat being last around the windward mark, again! The race was being led by Tim who had a magnificent 1st beat but hot on his heels were Jason and Scott and before the end of lap 3 they had taken the lead. With Steve & Sarah and John & Fran closing in fast there was a slight disagreement at the leeward mark that resulted in Steve performing turns.

In the lighter winds and tide just one bad beat resulted in losing a position, much to Steve dismay, on the last beat of the last race John and Fran managed to get to the windward mark 2nd and succeeded in holding on to the end. Steve then had to consider Geoff who had also chosen the best side on the previous beat. Steve and Sarah held on to 3rd place. Jason and Scott had a fabulous day sailing and showed the fleet why they are national champions.

The whole weekend racing was well organised and thoroughly enjoyable and the 4000 fleet made to feel very welcome. Our thanks to the event organisers.

Steve and Sarah received overall 1st place with Geoff and Bernice 2nd and John and Fran 3rd. They received trophies at Tudor Sailing Club along with free tea and cakes after the last race of the day.

Thanks to Richard Calas for the photos more of these can be seen on our Facebook page.

Next up in the UK Series: Calshot on 23rd-25th May

Overall Results: