17/11/2000 Race 1
The 2000 505 world championships got underway today with race one sailed in a building easterly breeze which peaked at about 18 knots towards the end of the race.
After the pre-worlds were blown out by a ferocious westerly the fleets the sailors enjoyed a good race in ideal conditions. The 505 race starting about mid-day on the most seaward course.
The 56 boats enjoyed perfect 505 conditions with the wind and waves allowing for perfect surfing conditions. Seven boats retired with various gear failures though from a broken boom and spinnaker pole to less minor problems.

18/11/2000 No Racing
Due to strong winds +30 knots and high seas during Saturday 18 November, race 2 has been rescheduled for Sunday 19 November.

19/11/2000 No Racing
Due to the same conditions on Sunday race 2 has been rescheduled to Monday

20/11/2000 No Racing
Because of the "unusual for this time of year"  weather conditions prevailing - the same as the previous two days - race 2 has been reschduled for Tuesday.
Also two races per day may be sailed for the remaining days of the regatta.

21/11/2000 No Racing
The "unusual"  weather conditions have persisted for yet another day of the regatta, resulting in the further postponment of race 2 until Wednesday 22nd.
Wind speeds were 28 gusting 35 knots with wave heights of 3 to 4 metres, with very little prospect of improvement in conditions, when the bridge boat decided to call racing off for the day.

22/11/2000 Race 2 and 3
Finally after four days of waiting the 505 fleet managed to get onto the water. With the sailing instructions having been amended to allow for two races per day the race officer took full advantage of the conditions to get in two races. The day started with a fresh south easterly breeze of around 15 to 18 knots which died and swung to the east throughout the day. The big swell that was left over from the past four days gale force winds made for some uncomfortable sailing as the breeze died.
Mike Martin and Steve Bourdow Win Both Races and Take the Lead! In sunny light-to-medium (mostly light) conditions, Californians Mike Martin and Steve Bourdow won both of today's races and took the overall lead away from Race One Winners Howard Hamlin and Peter Alarie. With three races completed, and with a maximum of three more possible in the next two days, this sets up a great battle between the 1999 505 World Champion skipper, Howard Hamlin, and the 1999 505 World Champion crew, Mike Martin. Currently in third overall is four time 505 World Champion Krister Bergstrom, racing with Thomas Moss. The top three teams are within one point overall, with fourth place close behind.  The Bergstrom/Moss team have been very consistent with finishes of 2,4,2, while Martin/Bourdow were 7th in Race 1, and may be able to throw that result out when a fourth race is completed.
"We gated early in the first race", said Martin.  "Steve [Bourdow] was all over the shifts and we slowly worked our way into the lead." The Martin/Bourdow team passed silver medalist Ian Barker, sailing with his long time 505 crew Danny Cripps, on the third beat, and stretched a little for comfort over the remaining legs, winning by about 50 yards.
"In the second race, we tacked on them [Martin/Bourdow] on the first beat and sent them left", said Peter Alarie. "They found a shift and came back in ahead of us." Both these teams rounded the first windward mark in the teens, but both used excellent reaching speed to close on the early leaders; Martin/Bourdow rounded the first leeward mark fourth. Martin/Bourdow played shifts to get into second, where they stayed most of the race, and then got a big left hand shift on the last beat to take the lead from the Danish team of Jan Saugmann and Morten Ramsbaek.
"I just drove the boat", said Martin. "And when I looked up Steve had us in the lead."
With a promising forecast for tomorrow -- NE 15-20 knots, going E/NE 15-25, and 3.5 -- 4.5 meter swells - competitors are looking forward to two more good races tomorrow.
With two days still to go there is still a chance of four further races being sailed. Hopefully the weather plays ball!!!

23/11/2000 Race 4 and 5
Krister Bergstrom/Thomas Moss Win Two Windy Races and Take the Lead! Four time 505 world champion, Krister Bergstrom, racing with Thomas Moss led both races from start to finish, winning both, and taking the overall lead in the 2000 World Championship with one race to go. The Bergstrom/Moss team had good gate starts, went the right way, and had very impressive speed.
Wind was in the 18-23 knot range, with large swells and waves; incredible surfing conditions downwind.
Bergstrom won the 1987 and '88 worlds with Olle Wenrup -- who is now racing with Ebbe Rosen -- and the '89 and '91 worlds with P. Anders Hallberg. He is one of two four time 505 world champions, and winning this event would put him ahead of Peter Colclough the only other four time International 505 world champion.
Yesterday's leaders, Mike Martin/Steve Bourdow, had finishes of 4,3 today, while the Hamlin/Alarie team were 5,4 today. 49er Silver medalist Ian Barker was 2,6, while UK and European 505 Champions Ian Pinnell/Nick Powell were 3,2.
It is going to come down to the final race, tomorrow. Martin/Bourdow can catch Bergstrom/Moss, while both Hamlin/Alarie and Barker/Cripps can catch Martin/Bourdow.  "Krister will be all over us" said Steve Bourdow. "But we'll be ready."

23/11/2000 Final Day and No Racing
Krister Bergstrom/Thomas Moss Win 2000 MSC International 505 World Championship! Once again 505 sailors turned up in the morning at the Point Yacht Club ready to race, but the strong offshore breeze was back, and the RC canceled racing for the day, leaving the event a five race series. This makes yesterday's leading team, Krister Bergstrom/Thomas Moss of Sweden the 2000 International 505 World Champions. Bergstrom also won the 505 worlds in 1987, '88 and '89 and again in '91. He has now won more 505 World Championships than anyone else. The Bergstrom/Moss team scored finishes of 2, 4, 2, 1, 1 for 6 points after dropping their 4th. Mike Martin -- the 1999 World Champion crew -- and Steve Bourdow -- two time Flying Dutchman World Champion -- of California were second with 13.7 points. 1999 World Champion driver, Howard Hamlin, sailing with Peter Alarie were 3rd with 21.7 points, just ahead of 49er silver medalist Ian Barker, 4th with 23.4 points.