Light weekend

The B14 fleet are let down by the weather at their open meeting in Datchet

Event Number seven of the TT series saw the B14 fleet gather at Datchet, facing sunny light conditions with the reservoir approximately half full. So looking at the sailing area was a bit like looking down from the stands at a football match.

However, our enthusiastic OOD had the fleets rigged and on the water at 1200 hrs. When racing eventually got underway after about a 40 minute delay, it was in a shifty northwesterly force one to two. Will Davies and Mike Robbins led off the start with the rest of the fleet in hot pursuit. During the race the lead changed several times, but Davies and Robbins held on to take the gun from Readycrest (Mark Barnes and Tom Pygall) and Phil Eltringham and Rachel Bennett.

In Race two, Readycrest and Davies and Robbins battled up the first beat with Davies and Robbins taking the lead. However, Readycrest passed Davies and Robbins on the second round, then proceeded to place a tight cover on the fleet. There were some snakes and ladders experienced during the following two laps with Mark Watts and Karen Wiseman being the big gainers coming in second and Alistair Ewing and Alex Gass third.

Race three and the breeze had picked up. Watts and Wiseman led off the start with the lead hotly contested on the beat. Readycrest just rounded in front onto the first reach, holding off several contenders throughout the race to take the win. Second went to the finish with Eltringham and Bennett taking second from Davies and Robbins.

Race four and Readycrest led off the start in a force one to two from Davies and Robbins. At the windward mark, Readycrest led from Davies and Robbins and Ewing and Gass. With the breeze now picking up and stabilising the fleet compressed with all boats overlapped at the leeward mark but Readycrest held on with Watts and Wiseman moving into second. At the finish it was Readycrest from Watts and Wiseman and Davies and Robbins. Overnight Readycrest led but the next three were separated by only two points.

Day two and the breeze was again northwesterly force one to two. At the start, half the fleet started on port providing some interest at the pin. Watts and Wiseman led hotly pursued and eventually overtaken by Ewing and Gass on the left. At the windward mark, Readycrest came in on their own private breeze and rounded first on the dog leg to the outer loop followed by Ewing and Gass and Watts and Wiseman. As the race progressed Readycrest pulled away in first to go and play with the 49er fleet, working their way up to the middle order, but behind a real battle ensued with second overall at stake. Watts and Wiseman held on to second with Davies and Robbins pulling back to third.

Having held the fleet afloat for 40 minutes the OOD abandoned for the day and sent all ashore as the breeze was starting to fade. Davies and Robbins got second on count-back from Watts and Wiseman.

As ever, The OOD did a good job in trying conditions providing some very interesting racing that those who attended enjoyed.

Overall
1 - Readycrest- Mark Barnes and Tom Pygall - 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 = 4
2 - Will Davies and Mike Robbins - 1, 4, 3, 3, 3 = 10
3 - Mark Watts and Karen Wiseman - 4, 2, 4, 2, 2 = 10