B14 Open Meeting at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

With the first round at Rutland having been postponed until August thanks to the very cold spring, and an early Nationals looming, Stokes bay was to be the only TT event to tune up. All the teams were very eager to get racing in the glorious sunshine having missed out when the Rutland event was postponed last month. It was good to see a number of new faces jumping in to the front of some of the boats, hopefully they will be back as there is often people looking for crews.

On Saturday, the forecast was for a decreasing easterly wind with the first race starting in 8 knots of wind and a relatively slack tide which had the fleet guessing what was going to happen next with the tide.

The leaders emerged from the boats that opted for the inshore route with Steve Hollingsworth and new crew Elliott Holman rounding the windward mark first followed by Tim Harrison and Jonny Ratcliffe in the Anthill Mob and Mike Bees and Ferret in Blue Badge. It was one of those races where the rich got richer and Steve and Elliot did a great job extending their lead only to lose much of their gains after overshooting the windward mark. In the end they clung onto the lead and took the win from the Anthill Mob by a boat length.

By the 2nd race it became clear that the tide was flowing to the east giving the fleet fair tide beats. The wind favoured left and the Anthill Mob timed the lay line to perfection to take the lead which they held until the race officer shortened as the wind began to switch off.

With the wind easing and tide building the race officer took the sensible decision to send all the fleets ashore.

An evening of top class entertainment followed, with the always dangerous Mount Gay happy hour and Dan Vincent's quiz (with class themed question rounds and a drag contest) being enjoyed by all. Proceedings were slightly more restrained this year, with everyone successfully finding their B&B, lift home or frozen tent.

On Sunday there was more sunshine and a forecast which suggested that the best wind was not due until the afternoon. The race officer did manage to squeeze a first race in before the wind switched off. In this one Blue Badge led at the windward mark and led the fleet into the tide while Anthill Mob gybe straight inshore. Mark Watts and Cerlidh Higgs in Ullman Sails was first to react and followed inshore and it was these two who took the lead at bottom mark. Later in the race Ullman Sails lost their second place after a clash with a Musto Skiff allowing Steve and Elliott to come through for a 2nd place.

The wind switched off but it was clear that more wind was on its way from the west. Some of the teams took this as an opportunity to go ashore for an ice cream. As per the forecast the wind kicked in with a 12 to 14 knot westerly. A quick turnaround by the race officer got two races away before the 2 pm deadline. Anthill Mob won the first to secure the series, in the 2nd a tight race emerged between Mark Barnes and Jeremy Williamson in Seavolution and Blue Badge. Seavolution had the edge for the majority of the race but lost it on the final kite hoist. Poor Barnsie took one of Jeremy's elbows on the chin, leaving Blue Badge to cruise off for the win. Barnsie's head was still spinning allowing the Anthill Mob to steal 2nd place.

Tim and Jonny won the open with Mike and ferret in 2nd overall. The final podium place went to Steve and Elliott, secured by their race win in race one as they tied on points with Seavolution. This new pairing has showed some great pace over the weekend, no doubt we will be seeing more from this newly formed team.

Next up is the B14 nationals in just over a fortnight. There is no doubt this will be a fantastic event hosted at one of the fleet's favourite venues and an entry of over 30 boats expected.

Overall Results: