Yet another half weekend

The B14 fleet got some good racing on Saturday at their Inland Championship

The B14 Circus arrived at Grafham Water to a five to seven knot breeze and partly cloudy skies. Racing was to be held on the western course, following the Musto Skiffs, 49ers and International 14s. With starts at three minute intervals, it was going to be a case of racing in clear air and still trying to go the right way.

Race one and with the bias swinging further to the pin, 758 (Tim Harrison and Jonny Radcliffe) rolled the dice and just cleared the fleet on port tack to hit middle right and take control of the first beat. At the windward mark, they led from Ronstan (Mike Bees and Ferret), Ince&Co (Mark Watts and Drew Malcolm), 654 (Dan Cowin and Rachel Bennett), CSC (Chris Bines and Dave Gibbons) and Blue Marine (Allan Stuart and George Morris).

Down the run the fleet compressed with Seavolution/Blue Marine (Mark Barnes and Pete Nicholson) being the guys finding the snakes and getting their teeth into the back of the front pack. Up the beat 758 and Ronstan pulled away from the others with little to separate the next ten boats. Rounding the windward mark Ronstan and 758 were neck and neck, with little to chose all the way to the finish with 758 getting the gun. Behind them, Seavolution/Blue Marine had got past Ince&Co to chase down CSC. At the gybe for the lay-line to the finish, Seavolution/Blue Marine, got inside CSC to claim third with CSC two boat-lengths astern followed by a similar margin to Ince&Co.

Race two saw more of the same but no port flier to chase down. At the windward end, CSC got the best start followed by 770 (Simon Hadley and Tristan Hutt) at the pin end. Up the beat it was a case of go into lighter airs and wind bend to the left or right and stronger breeze but greater distance. By the windward there was little between the two groups, with Ronstan, 770, CSC, 758, Ovington Boats (Dave Hall and Phil Eltringham), Seavolution/Blue Marine and Hyde Sails (Alan Davis and Kathy Sherratt) rounding in the first tight group.

Down the run with the fleet splitting left and right with the middle empty, the right hand side juggernaut looked to be favoured. At the leeward mark it was Ronstan from 758 followed by 770, CSC, Ovington Boats and Seavolution/Blue Marine. Up the next beat the front two covered the fleet. At the windward mark Ronstan led from 758 and CSC. Down the run Seavolution/Blue Marine got the jump on Ovington Boats and CSC with CSC splitting out left down the middle. At the leeward mark, Ronstan, followed by 758 erroneously rounded for another beat. Next CSC on starboard converged with Seavolution/Blue Marine on port, getting ahead on the gybe to head for the finish and taking the win from Seavolution/Blue Marine, 770, Ovington Boats and Hyde Sails. Ronstan recovered to ninth and 758 to eighth.

Race three and with the 49er/International 14 fleet general recalled to the back, the B14s had their first chance at a clean breeze on the first beat. Up the first beat it paid to go up the middle with Ince&Co leading 774 (Piers Lambert and Kathy Sherratt), 776 (Dick Roe and Kate Dulieu) Ovington Boats, 770, CSC and Seavolution/Blue Marine round the windward markup.

On the first run, CSC passed 774 and Seavolution/Blue Marine passed 770 and Ovington Boats. Up the next beat, Ince&Co led the charge to the right followed by Ovington Boats, Seavolution/Blue Marine and Ronstan. To the left went CSC, 774 and 758. At the windward mark the right had paid but it was still very close with only a few boat lengths separating the front runners. On the run to the finish, all were aware that the 49er/International 14 fleets were closing fast. At the finish it was Ince&Co who held on from Seavolution/Blue Marine who in turn, held off CSC by the smallest of margins just beating 774 with Ovington Boats right astern. After this group, with three fleets converging on the leeward gate and little wind, big snakes and ladders took place with Ronstan being the biggest loser.

Race four and the final roll of the dice. Out of the blocks it was Seavolution/Blue Marine with Ovington Boats and Ince&Co drag racing to right of middle Ovington Boats got inside Seavolution/Blue Marine and 776 but were beaten to the windward mark by Ince&Co and 654 from middle left. With CSC in contention and right on Seavolution/Blue Marine’s transom, there was no sure winner.

Down the run Ovington Boats, Ince&Co and Seavolution/Blue Marine headed down the middle with 654, CSC and 758 going left with the bulk of the fleet right. At the leeward gate the front runners had held position other than CSC getting the overlap on Seavolution/Blue Marine at the mark rounding and 776 slipping back one place.

Up the next beat Ovington Boats held the lead closely followed by the next four with nothing to choose between them but Seavolution/Blue Marine managed to climb two boat lengths inside CSC on the drag to the right. Round the windward mark with seven boat lengths separating the front five, it could not be closer.

Ovington Boats led to the right but Ince&Co now had Seavolution/Blue Marine breathing down on them, hotly chased by 654 and CSC. Gybing to the finish lay line, Seavolution/Blue Marine, got the better of Ince&Co and then soaked down to gas Ovington Boats on the run into the finish. At the finish, Seavolution/Blue Marine got the better of Ovington Boats with Ince&Co third and 654 holding off the ever present charge of CSC.

With only one race where the leading boat at the last windward mark won the race, most had a very hard day at the office.

The B14s as ever, partied as they know how to at first the club and then the Wheatsheaf pub with a few stragglers from the Mustos.

Sunday dawned and alas another weekend where only one days sailing was held as the wind did not play ball, but not to be outdone the fleet retired to the clubs café for a hearty breakfast and packing up of tents and boats. The racing on Saturday had been well run and shore team provided good backup.

Seavolution/Blue Marine won a very hard fought Inlands by the skin of their teeth which the results do not reflect. With virtually every race closely fought this year, 2008 can only get better. Next events are the Asymmetric Series at Grafham and Rutland followed by the Winter Pursuit Series.
Results:

1-Seavolution/Blue Marine Mark Barnes and Pete Nicholson, 5.0
2-CSC Chris Bines and Dave Gibbons, 8.0
3-Ince&CoMark Watts and Drew Malcolm Weston, 9.0
4-Ovington Boats David Hall and Phil Eltringham, 11.0
5-Tim Harrison and Jonny Ratcliffe, 15.0
6-Simon Hadley and Tristan Hutt, 17.0
7-Ronstan Mike Bees and Ferrett, 18.0
8-Mess Around Daniel Cowin and Rachel Bennett, 23.0
92 Racks of Port Piers Lambert and Nikki Webster, 24.0
10-Hyde Sails Alan Davis and Kathy Sherratt, 11th