2000 Class Latitude Series at West Riding Sailing Club
by Oliver Thompson 12 May 22:42 NZST
4-6 May 2024
2000 Class Latitude Series at West Riding © Darren Thompson
West Riding Sailing Club kicked off the 2024 2000 Class Latitude Series (sponsored by Lakes Mortgages) with a Bank Holiday weekend filled with expert coaching and competitive racing.
The weekend began with a dedicated coaching session from 2000 expert Kev O'Brien. Everyone taking part had an opportunity to better their understanding of the 2000, hone their skills and gain valuable insight into rig setup, tuning, and the unique characteristics of the 2000. When the wind finally picked up, competitors put what they had learned into practice on the water.
Kev provided one-to-one on-water coaching on starts, racing tactics, manoeuvres, and overall boat handling, simultaneously recording the on-water action, enabling sailors to review his feedback once they were off the water through real-time playback. Sailors' spirits remained high during Kev's debriefing in the clubhouse, making it the perfect opening to Saturday night's social.
Sunday dawned with light winds, prompting the fleet congregation on the lawn. The downtime allowed sailors to tune their boats, help other 2000 sailors and put Kev's teachings into practice. The morning's on-lawn activities united the 2000 fleet in laughs in the sun as they adjusted masts, and shared electrical tape and one drop ball bearing conditioner. As the afternoon progressed, the wind picked up, allowing the race officer to squeeze in two races.
The first race saw close racing with countless position changes. Oliver and Elliott Thompson came out in third place, Mike McEwing and Alex Wilby in second, and Matt Hartley and Kaitlin Andrews took first.
The second race saw slightly more wind initially, which faded towards the finish. The light winds meant sailors had to use every ounce of sailing knowledge to gain an edge, making competition fierce. Alistair Rose and Julia Martland took third, Matt and Helen Cook grabbed second, and Oliver and Elliott Thompson secured first.
Despite a near-windless Monday morning, the race officer remained determined to keep the sailors active. After a brief delay under the AP flag, a challenging two-lap race got under way after two attempts of starting with one general recall and another AP testing the skippers' ability to time the start perfectly and find the strongest breeze. Leading to Alistair Banks and Sam Lewis securing third place, Stephen and junior crew Hazel Wright coming second, and Oliver and Elliott Thompson claiming their second consecutive victory.
The results over the weekend saw home club sailors Matt and Helen Cook in third place, Matt Hartley and Kaitlin Andrews from Army Sailing Association and Halifax SC claiming second, and WRSCs very own Oliver and Elliott Thompson coming first overall.
Throughout the three-day event, sailors had a great time socialising and meeting friends old and new. The weekend provided a space for sailors of all levels to connect, share knowledge, and have fun. This welcoming and supportive nature is one of the many strengths of the 2000 Class. So, if you want to take part in an event that combines competition with camaraderie and learning opportunities, the 2000 Latitude Series is for you.
Experienced sailors are always happy to share their expertise, making it a perfect environment for seasoned racers and newcomers. Join the excitement at the next event in the series, hosted by Thornton Stewart SC on June 15th and 16th!