B14s at HISC

Tim Fell reports on the skiff action last weekend

The B14 bandwagon enjoyed the hospitality of HISC over the weekend of 31 May-1 June. 20 boats participated in testing conditions with big wind shifts on both days testing the Race Officers metal. Consistency was a real challenge and the final result was not clarified until the fleet had assembled back in the bar.

Race 1 was sailed in 5 knots with Dave Hayes/Sean Dwyer (Sea Sure) making the running followed by Mark Barnes/Tom Pygall (Readycrest) and Tim Fells/Dave Cunningham. On the second beat the wind shifted with big place changes, Nils Jolliffe/John Branch (Raymarine) took the lead to the finish followed by Seasure and Steve Fisher/Neal Barber.

Race 2 saw a pile up at the committee boat leaving several favourites in irons at the start. Raymarine once again showed their class working the shifts to lead home followed by Carl Silver/Alison Wilson and Simon Nelson/Andy Ramus.

Race 3 started in 8 knots increasing to 15 knots, the heavyweights thrived in the breeze with Fells/Cunningham powering over Readycrest at the top of the first beat followed by Matt Searle/Richard Bell (North Sails) in second and Fisher/Barber in third. With Raymarine black-flagged, the results overnight were very tight and the final result wide open.

Sunday and in very light conditions, race 4 was led from start to finish by Readycrest with Richard Harrison/Chris Coulthard in second and Adrian Williams/Joel McDonalds(SP Systems) in third. Race 5 saw Silver/Wilson take the lead followed by Mark Watts/Tim Rogers and Fisher/Barber. On the third beat North Sails went left while the fleet went right and emerged in second at the windward mark and Fisher/Barber passed Watts/Coulthard to claim third.

Race 6 and the showdown was between Raymarine, Readycrest, Seasure, North Sails and Fisher/Barber. Off the start, Readycrest won the committee boat end of the line with Raymarine and Seasure to leeward with Fisher/Barber and North Sails buried in the pack. Readycrest led for 2 laps followed by Raymarine and Foster/Foster. Readycrest had a problem with the kite at the spacer mark letting Raymarine take the lead. These two pulled out a lead over the rest of the fleet. Silver/Wilson passed Foster/Foster at the leeward mark to go into third with the first three remaining unchanged till the end of the 5 lap race. When the final tally was complete, Readycrest had done enough to take their first B14 meeting after a closely fought contest.

Results:

1. Readycrest , Mark Barnes / Tom Pygall – 18 points
2. Raymarine, Nils Jolliffe / Jon Branch – 21 Points
3. Seasure, Dave Hayes / Sean Dwyer – 22 Points
4. Steve Fisher / Neil Barber – 22 Points
5. North Sails, Matt Searle / Rich Bell – 24 Points
6. Carl Silver / Ali Wilson – 25 points