Zhik UK 29er National Championship at East Lothian Yacht Club - Overall
by Debbie Darling 15 Aug 2014 18:10 BST
10-15 August 2014
The fleet launched at 7am on the final day of the 2014 Zhik UK 29er Nationals not long after the sun rose over Bass Rock. After just one day of racing over 4 days it was essential to get at least 3 races to ensure the event constituted a championship series.
Gold fleet got away at 8 am prompt in a fairly stable 8 knots of breeze. Mimi El Khazindar & Ben Batten led from start to finish whilst Matt Venables & Curtis Mearns pulled up from 3rd to 2nd as the wind dropped to 6 knots. Crispin Beaumont & Tom Darling climbed through to take 3rd. After issues laying the gate due to the strong tide, the fleet were sent around a leeward mark to port rather than through a gate. This confused the back markers in gold & the front of silver who rounded incorrectly & a few gold boats were scored DNF whilst the silver race was abandoned.
This piled on more pressure to get races in, but fortunately race two for gold started quickly in 6 -9 knots. Crispin & Tom held the lead to the finish with Mimi & Ben overtaking Matt & Curtis to finish 3rd just behind the NED boat Robin Becker & Richard Schuurmans. The silver fleet race 1 win was secured by Dan Venables & Paddy Keech.
The pressure was on for race 3 & it showed as 9 boats in gold fleet were caught black flag. Then 6 boats were caught black flag in silver too. The wind started to soften & those who kept out of the tide gained an advantage. Ed Connellan & Matt Rhodes showed the way whilst Matt & Curtis climbed to 2nd; overnight leaders Gillies Munro & Dan Harris dropped to 4th; Mimi & Ben climbed to 5th plus Crispin & Tom in 6th ensured it stayed tight at the top. Dan & Paddy took the silver win again.
The race team tried for a 4th gold start as the wind started to drop even further. 3 boats were caught black flag but the fleet got away followed by silver fleet. By the windward mark the wind was just 3 knots & the decision was made to abandon. By 1pm racing was off, leaving Matt Venables & Curtis Mearns the National Champions for 2014.
Huge thanks to ELYC for hosting the event; Zhik the headline sponsors plus Noble Marine Insurance, Harken, Ovington Boats, Virtual Rigger, Fernhurst Books, Sailing Solutions, P&B, Sailtek, Rooster Sailing & Magic Marine for supplying prizes for the charity draw. The weather was challenging but the Scottish welcome was warm.
Overall Results: (top six)
1st Matt Venables & Curtis Mearns
2nd Mimi El Khazindar & Ben Batten
3rd Crispin Beaumont & Tom Darling
4th Gillies Munro & Dan Harris
5th Ed Connellan & Matt Rhodes
6th Robin Becker & Richard Schuurmans
1st Girls, Courtney Bilborough & Hatty Ward
1st Junior, Nick Robbins & Sam Grade
1st Silver, Anna Prescott & Eve Townsend
Full results at www.race-face.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/zhik_nationals_2014_gold.htm and www.race-face.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/zhik_nationals_2014_silver.htm