Gutted Hedge does it again

Mark Barnes reports from the B14 Nationals in Paignton

The day's racing started with an 18 knot northerly offshore breeze. Race one was a case of hitting both sides and those who went up the middle were hung out to dry. Readycrest (Mark Barnes/Tom Pygall), 758 (Tim Fells/Sean Dwyer) and Ronstan (Jono Pank/Richard Edwards) were the first away heading to the left, however several boats having started badly headed right.

At the windward mark the right had paid and Gutted Hedge (Matt Searle/Andy Ramus) and CSC (Chris Bines/Dave Gibbons) rounded in front followed by 736 (Will Davies/Mike Robbins) 758 and Ronstan. The sail downwind was fast and place changes occurred. The movers coming through were Readycrest and PICA (Jamie Mears/Matt Gill). The first three at the next windward mark were Gutted Hedge, 758 and CSC. The leaders did not change during the next round but the fleet behind had compressed with Readycrest and PICA swapping fourth and fifth, PICA gained the final advantage on the run into the finish.

Race 2 and the breeze had steadied to a ENE force three. The start bias had swung to the right with several boats being shut out. The fleet got away first time with the bulk heading left led by 758 and 757 (Dan Willet/Stuart Phillips) and to the right Boatracer.co.uk and Readycrest. At the windward mark 758 led from Boatracer.co.uk and Gutted Hedge. The downwind legs were paying to go either hard right or left. The first three did not change throughout the race. Behind them, 757, Readycrest, Ronstan, CSC and 770 (Simon Hadley/Pete Nicholson) competed for the latter places. At the finish Readycrest got the better finishing fourth with Ronstan fifth.

So overnight 758 led from Gutted Hedge, Boatracer.co.uk, PICA and then Readycrest.
Day two and the fleet were greeted with a three hour postponement. When race three got underway in a force three, the bias was to the committee boat end of the line resulting in some boats being shut out. On the beat, those going left arrived at the windward mark first with the leaders compressing and the lead changing on the approach. Gutted Hedge rounded the windward mark first, was followed by PICA, Readycrest and Boatracer.co.uk.

On the run Boatracer.co.uk was on the charge and sailed through into the lead. On the next beat they extended their lead followed by Gutted Hedge, Readycrest and PICA. On the next round the first two held position with PICA, Readycrest and Ronstan, competing for third. On the run, Readycrest got inside PICA but at the leeward gate they were overlapped, gybing together on to port for the finish line at the pin end, with Ronstan piling in on starboard. PICA got the nod followed by Readycrest with both just clearing Ronstan in fifth.

Race four and the bias was to the pin, resulting in a pile up at the leeward mark. The fleet split right and left with PICA hitting hard left and rounding the windward mark in first place with Boatracer.co.uk and the pack in hot pursuit. On the run the fleet went right with Boatracer.co.uk reeling in PICA. Those going left lost out.

At the leeward mark PICA was first followed by Boatracer.co.uk, 757, 763 (Don and Kate Forster). On the beat, the left paid with the further left you went the bigger the gain. PICA rounded he windward mark in first place followed by Boatracer.co.uk and the pack in hot pursuit. On the run Boatracer.co.uk took the lead and pulled away from PICA followed by the pack. Again on the beat the fleet went left with few place changes but the fleet compressed. Boatracer.co.uk held the lead from PICA, 757 and 763. On the run the chargers were Gutted Hedge and Readycrest. At the leaward mark, Readycrest and Gutted Hedge rafted up on rounding for fourth position allowing 763 back in to fourth and 748 (Mark Watts/Stig) into fifth. On the next beat and run positions were held with Gutted Hedge making a charge. At the finish it was Boatracer.co.uk from PICA, Gutted Hedge, 757 and 763 in fifth.

Day three and the breeze was up. Race 5 started with the bulk of the fleet going left led by 758, Gutted Hedge, Readycrest and Ronstan with PICA and Boatracer.co.uk heading to the right. At the windward mark, the left had marginally paid with Gutted Hedge leading from 758 and Ronstan. On the run the fleet compressed towards the leeward mark resulting in some place changes. Gutted Hedge rounded first followed by 758, Readycrest and Boatracer.co.uk. On the second beat there was a major wind shift to the right resulting in several of the front runners on the left being passed. Boatracer.co.uk and PICA were the big gainers with Boatracer.co.uk taking the lead.

On the run to the finish Boatracer.co.uk went left and Gutted Hedge went right to take the win followed by 758, PICA, Boatracer.co.uk and 736.

Race 6 with the breeze up to 20 knots, the fleet charged out to the left with Gutted Hedge, 758, Readycrest and Ronstan. At the windward mark it was Gutted Hedge followed by Boatracer.co.uk, 758, Readycrest and PICA. On the run Readycrest wiped out, there race all but over. Gutted Hedge led at the leeward mark and built a comfortable lead to the finish followed by PICA, Boatracer.co.uk, 758 and 736.

Race 7 and the breeze was now blowing 25 knots. The leaders split left and right. At the windward mark it was Gutted Hedge followed by PICA, Ronstan, Boatracer.co.uk and 758. On the run Boatracer.co.uk took a ‘time out’ on there upturned hull. Gutted Hedge led at the leeward mark from PICA, Ronstan, 758 and Readycrest. On the beat, the front three compressed with little between them at the windward mark. Gutted Hedge held off the protagonists till the finish followed by PICA, Ronstan, 758 and Readycrest. With many retirements and many skiffs (B14 and Musto) ending up in the tide, the race officer sent both fleets ashore.

Day four and Race 8 started in 8 knots of wind with Boatracer.co.uk leading to the left followed by Rogate (Karen Wiseman/Trish Dixon) and 758 to the right. At the windward mark it was Boatracer.co.uk followed by Rogate, Ronstan, 758 and Readycrest. At the leeward mark, Boatracer.co.uk led from 758 and Readycrest. During the race the leaders worked the right side of the beat and Boatracer.co.uk the left side of the run. On the final run 758 led and Readycrest moved into second but 748 sailed round the fleet on a flyer to the left corner and got a bullet from 758.

Race 9 and the championships was down to Gutted Hedge and Boatracer.co.uk. The breeze had veered to the right. Boatracer.co.uk and Readycrest led to the left and 748 and Gutted Hedge to the right. At the windward mark Gutted Hedge led from Readycrest and Boatracer.co.uk. These three left the fleet behind and places did not change till the finish with Gutted Hedge winning from Readycrest and Boatracer.co.uk taking third.

Race 10 and the places in the top ten were tight, Gutted Hedge appeared to have secured the win, but with one point separating the next three it was going to be a tense last race. 736 led to the right and Boatracer.co.uk to the left. At the windward mark 736 led from Rogate, Readycrest and Boatracer.co.uk. On the run Rogate slipped and the other three pulled away. On the next two rounds the front three compressed with Readycrest taking second. At the last windward mark, Boatracer.co.uk having sailed middle right took the lead from 736 and Readycrest.

On the last run Boatracer.co.uk went right and the other two left with Readycrest passing 736. Half way down the run a large wind shift and and 10 knot breeze brought the middle of the fleet down the right with the boats on the left losing out. At the leeward gate Boatracer.co.uk led to the finish, but the next six passed through the gate together. 757 was the benefactor in getting second. Rogate and Readycrest gybed into the finish from opposing gybes being declared a dead heat in third with 736 in fifth.

Gutted Hedge, the European Champions, were now also declared the new National champions, having fought a tight championship.

More photos on the following pages...

Results

1. Gutted Hedge (Matt Searle/Andy Ramus) HISC - 1, 3, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 9, 1, 10 = 22 points
2. Boatracer.co.uk (Nils Jolliffe/Jonathon Branch) WYC - 7, 2, 1, 1, 4, 3, 11, 4, 3, 1 = 26 points
3. 758 (Tim Fells/Sean Dwyer) GWSC - 2, 1, 6, 9, 2, 4, 4, 2, 4, 7 = 32 points
4. PICA. (Jamie Mears/Matt Gill) RCYC - 4, 6, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 5, 8, 13 = 35 points
5. Readycrest (Mark Barnes/Tom Pygall) WYC - 5, 4, 4, 26, 12, 16, 5, 3, 2, 3 = 54 points
6. Ronstan (Jono Pank/Richard Edwards) PSC - 9, 5, 5, 7, 7, 10, 3, 10, 6, 9 = 61 points
7. CSC (Chris Bines/Dave Gibbons) BSC - 3, 9, 13, 8, 6, 7, 7, 8, 7, 16 = 68 points
8. 748 (Mark Watts/Tim Rogers) MSC - 8, 8, 7, 6, 11, 12, 15, 1, 5, 12 = 70 points
9. 757 (Dan Willett/Stuart Phillips) BSC - 6, 25, 14, 4, 8, 8, 10, 11, 14, 2 = 77 points
10. 770 (Simon Hadley/Peter Nicholson) BSC - 12, 7, 10, 12, 13, 6, 14, 19, 10, 6 = 90 points