Glorious Sunday

Finally the B14 fleet found some good weather to finish off their summer

The B14 Circus arrived to a very early start of 08:30 hrs for the briefing due to tidal restraints for their Thorpe Bay Open. Some stayed at home but others chased down the road in mist and fog with occasional sunshine. With little wind, the R/O postponed racing and all fleets enjoyed the hospitality of Thorpe Bay Yacht Club and the bacon butties.

Racing finally got underway in three to four knoits of south westerly wind. With all the B14s in fighting form it was the Boulder Mobile (Nick Craig and Matt Johnson) that led off the start, hotly chased by the fleet. Up the first beat, the Anthill Mob (Tim Harrison and Johnny Radcliffe), Ronstan (Mike Bees and Tim Bees) and Seavolution/Blue Marine (Mark Barnes and Pete Nicholson) hounded them. Round the first mark there was nothing between, the first four but the Boulder Brothers held on for the lap. Up the next beat the Anthill Mob clawed their way to the left and got the advantage and lifted inside to take the lead and hold on till the finish. Seavolution/Blue Marine had got the better of Ronstan at the leeward mark but was unable to take Boulder Mobile which held on to finish second chased by Seavolution/Blue Marine and Acxiom (Mark Emmett and Allan Stuart).

Race two began and it was a case of where the pressure was to come from. Leaky Pipes (Gerry Brown and Leaky Fermor) took up the gauntlet but were soon overrun by Seavolution/Blue Marine and the Anthill Mob. The wind switched to the right with the Boulder Mobile being the big loser falling from fourth to eighth. With Seavolution in the lead, they stayed between the fleet and the next mark with the course turning into two laps of reaches and so led home followed by the Anthill Mob, CSC (Chris Bines and Dave Gibbons) and Acxiom.

With little breeze the R/O sent the fleet to shore. With free BBQ, band and beer provided by Steve Hopper, a good night was had by all, but we were to pay for it in the morning with thick heads and sunshine with building breeze.

Sunday morning saw Champagne sailing in sun and a force three to four. What more could one ask for after the weather of the near past? Racing got underway after a slight delay and Acxiom took up the torch chased by the pack. At the windward mark they led by 100m followed by Seavolution/Blue Marine, CSC and Simmons&Simmons (Mark Watts and Kathy Sherratt). Down the run Seavolution/Blue Marine split from the fleet and hounded down Acxiom. At the leeward mark they rounded inside Acxiom and took control. From there onwards they led the fleet over the next two laps to win from Acxiom, Simmons&Simmons and CSC.

Race four brought more of the same but with the wind increasing to a force four. Seavolution/Blue Marine picked up where they left off and took the pin to lead the fleet throughout to the finish. During this race they pulled out to a large lead but behind them a battle royale ensued with Acxiom getting the better of CSC and Simmons&Simmons.
Race five was a repeat of race four with Seavolution/Blue Marine breaking out to a lead chased by Acxiom and the pack. With tight racing going on behind, this allowed the leaders to control the situation. However, with Seavolution/Blue Marine leading home, the rest had a real dogfight. Acxiom got the better of the fleet and came home second and second overall holding off CSC and Ronstan.

With the fleet having enjoyed three great races and plum conditions, all retired ashore for more of the Thorpe Bay hospitality. A well run event both ashore and afloat and a big thank you to Steve Hopper for the onshore hospitality given to all fleets on Saturday.

With the Tide Ride on the 4-5 October, and the front runners last outing prior to departing to Hobart, many will be out to prove their worth and gain bragging rights for Australia in January.

Results:

1-Seavolution/Blue Marine - Mark Barnes and Pete Nicholson
2-Acxiom - Mark Emmett and Allan Stuart
3-CSC - Chris Bines and Dave Gibbons
4-Anthill Mob - Tim Harrison and Paul Cameen/Jonny Radcliffe
5-Simmons&Simmons - Mark Watts and George Morris
6-Ronstan - Mike Bees and Tim Bees
7-Leaky Pipes - Gerry Brown and Leaky Fermor
8-Boulder Mobile - Nick Craig and Matt Johnson