Strong start for Grace and Bancroft

Breeze fills in at the B14 Europeans in Carnac

With Day 1 resembling flat lemonade conditions, Day 2 was full on champagne. The B14 flying circus had arrived!

The first race today saw the lightest conditions with 8 to 10 knots. There was an individual recall, but most boats got a clean start. Guy Bancroft and David Grace in Sly Bone (AUS 778) led to the first mark, followed by Tim Harrison and Johnny Radcliffe (GBR 758), and the North Sails boat (GBR 785) of Dave Hayes and Richie Bell.

Tim and Johnny took the lead in the second lap and held it to the end, with North Sails moving into second and Bangers dropping to third. Richie Reynolds and Lissa McMillan in the Nude (AUS 780) moved from sixth to take fourth place.

Having finally got a race in, the fleet got a bit excitable, and there was a general recall in Race Two. As promised the Race Officer brought out the black flag. Most complied, with only one boat being disqualified. The wind built to 10 to 12 knots. Dave Lorimer and Raf Heale in Toxic (AUS 778) had a blinder, leading from, the restart to the finish. Bancroft and Grace (AUS 778), following a disastrous start, pulled back to second, passing North Sails (GBR 785) on the final run.

Race Three was the breeziest of the day, with up to 15 knots on the course. One again the black flag was brought into service after another general recall. A clean start was had by all. Having a very strong regatta, Guy Bancroft and David Grace in Bonework (AUS 778) led all the way from Ullman Sails, Mark Watts and Chris Bishop (GBR 772) . In third was another sailmaker, DS Sails (GBR 777) Dave Dobrijevic and Phil Eltringham.

Race Four all seemed rather too much after three hard races, but the fleet battled on! The breeze had moderated to 10 knots. Dave Hayes and Richie Bell in North Sails (GBR 785) led off the start line, followed by Tony Blackmore and Charlotte Jones in Flower Power (GBR 764), both boats heading for the lucky left. Only Scotty Cunningham and Jason Walker, Bonework (AUS 7) split the pair at the first windward mark, with Scotty and Jason coming in from the right on subsequent rounds taking the win. Dave Hayes and Richie Bell took second with Dave Lorimer and Raf Heale in Toxic (AUS 778) also coming in from the right to take third.

At the end of the first day of racing, Guy Bancroft and David Grace in Sly Bone (AUS 778) are leading the pack with the North Sails (GBR 785) boys in second. Dave Lorimer and Raf Heale in Toxic are in third with Scotty Cunningham and Jason Walker in Bonework lying fourth. With Australians currently filling three of the top four places, the Brits and French have their work cut out for the worlds next week.