14's at HISC

Robert Greenhalgh describes the action at the fleet builds up momentum for Europeans

Thirty seven International 14’s made their way to Hayling Island Sailing Club, over the weekend of the 17th & 18th May, to compete in the clubs annual open meeting the Hayling Hull. The 14 fleet is really bustling with over 30 new boats sold this year already. Younger sailors are entering the class, including Richard Lovering and Geoff Carveth, and we are now seeing some top quality racing at the front of the fleet.

The forecast for the weekend was generally quite windy, forcing PRO Bev Moss to make the call and race the fleet inside Chichester Harbour at the top of the tide, rather than facing Chichester bar on the ebb.

The first race saw a general recall which then lead to the fleet being started under black flag for all subsequent races. Ian Pinnell and Sam Gardner made the best start, with Sam calling all the starting line shots, which gave them a good lead at the 1st mark. Disaster then struck when they saw their sail number on the OCS black board at the windward mark.

This gave the lead to fleet new comers Richard Lovering and Richard Kent. A tight pack followed behind which included Rob Greenhalgh/Dan Johnson, Zeb Elliott/Tim Hancock, Mark Upton-Brown, Paul Vine etc. Rob Greenhalgh & Dan Johnson clawed their way past Lovering & Kent up the 2nd beat to go onto to win the race with Zeb and Tim in 2nd.

The second race started in a force 4 and was lead by Matt & Geoff Larkin in their Bieker 2 for some time. Zeb and Tim eventually clawed through to win. Unfortunately, a 35 degree wind shift at the start meant this race was very processional.

Sunday dawned with more wind and a postponement, waiting for water so that the fleet could again sail in the harbour. As the fleet launched the wind was building with the first race starting in 15 knots. Paul Vine and Dave Dobrijevic made a nice port tack flyer to cross the fleet and lead at the windward mark followed by Greenhalgh and Johnson. By the leeward mark however it was Greenhalgh/Johnson who lead. The fleet remained this way until the final beat where Zeb Elliott and Tim Hancock snuck into the lead showing some very good upwind speed. The finishing positions were Zeb & Tim 1st, Rob & Dan 2nd.

This had essentially decided the overall results for 1st and 2nd overall. The final race, sailed in over 20 knots of breeze, saw many competitors either capsizing or avoiding overturned boats.

The size of the fleet at the Hayling Open is very encouraging for the future and a good indicator of things to come. No doubt HISC will run a superb European & POW Championship later in the year where we expect to see 50-60 boats entered.

1st Zeb Elliott & Tim Hancock Bieker 4
2nd Robert Greenhalgh & Dan Johnson Morrison 11
3rd Ian Pinnell & Sam Gardner Bieker 3
4th Paul Vine & Dave Dobrijevic Bieker 2 (modified)