Aussie champions decided

Barnes/Nicholson takes B14 Nationals

The final day of the B14 National Championships brought the long awaited warm weather and sea-breeze. With light conditions for the first race, race 4, due to increase throughout the day the race officer scheduled 4 races.

Race 4 began in light conditions after a general recall with The Plumbers (Ian/David Cunningham) taking the pin end of the line and leading the fleet out to the favoured left side and extended their lead to take the bullet and claim the leader’s jerseys.

Behind them the racing was close with GBR boats Hyde Sails (Alan Davis/Toby Barsley-Dale) and MJF (Dave Hayes/Sean Dwyer) following the leaders around the windward mark.

At the finish it was The Plumbers from Bangbang (Kieran Livermore/JB) who took second from the lead GBR boat MJF.

Race 5 provided a change in conditions with the right side of the course becoming favoured with a slight increase in wind strength – leading to several of the faster boats being hung out to dry on the left.

Toxic (Dave Lorimer/Raf) continued their up and down series with another win followed by race 1 winner Last Gasp (Chris Bibby/Scott Cunningham) and The Nude (Richie Reynolds/Lissa McMillan). Top GBR boat was Team Gill (Nick Craig/MJ).

Race 6 and the breeze increased a little more. Upwind the course was more even left to right with boats from both sides making the top group at the windward mark. Sly Bone (Guy Bancroft/Nick Darlow) hit the right side of the course and led the fleet from Quinta Raddison (Chris Bines/Dave Gibbons). Bancroft held on to the lead with Last Gasp and Seapollution (Mark Barnes/Pete Nicholson) rounding out the top 3.

There were a few good performances from the mid-fleet boats with Simmons & Simmons (Mark Watts/George Morris) taking their only single digit result of the championships in 8th.

Race 7 and the breeze filled in to 16-17 knots. The start caught out several of the top boats with seven boats black flagged and sent home. Again the right side of the course was favoured with most of the remaining boats tending towards that side of the course. Toxic led around the windward mark followed by a group including Bonework (Rhys Bancroft/Joey Randell) closely followed by dad, Guy, in Sly Bone.

The breeze increased slightly for the last lap with Strait4Devils Budget (Adrian Beswick/Josh Phillips) putting on their best race of the regatta by taking fourth behind Toxic, Bonework and Sly Bone.

Seavolution (Barnes/Nicholson) took the regatta. Sly Bone (Bancroft/Darlow) sailed a consistent series with every result in the top ten to take second place and the 2009 METZ on the Bay B14 Australian Championships. Pigs Arse (Nick Richardson/Alan Nicholas) and Bangbang rounded out the Australian Nationals podium.