International 14 Lake Garda Riva Cup Overall

A total of 36 International 14’s from UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia competed in the event which was viewed as effectively a pre worlds. All the top UK teams were present eager to test their speed against each other and the foreign competition ahead of the worlds to be held at Beer at the end of June. Thus creating a real Championship atmosphere to an event that has previously been more about having fun in the traditional strong winds for which Garda is infamous.

Whilst the regatta itself was organised by Riva Del Garda Yacht Club from Thursday to Friday, the majority of competitors took advantage of the Bank holiday and spent the week, practising, boat tuning, and mostly mending/preparing boats prior to the regatta. On the Wednesday everyone participates in the traditional self organised “Aldofo Bastardo”, which is truly a reflection of the idiosyncratic nature of the class. This is an event originated by the Swiss in which the previous years winner is required to set a long distance course and that this may not be announced before midnight the day before, at the local sailors drinking establishment called the Yorka Bar. Colin Goodman of Hyde fame had the dubious privilege this year to be the organiser and set a very aggressive distance of in excess of 30 miles, with the option of a shorten course if the leader had not reached a certain moored Star boat within 3 hours. The race got under way in a light but what was anticipated to be the building Garda Doctor. Chris Lewns and Simon Nearn enjoying the light conditions, as might they may as it was going to be there last opportunity, bounced into an early and impressive lead, followed by the principle race officer Colin Goodman sailing with James Story. It was not long before the fleet had sailed through the breeze and were faced with drifter conditions, the most uncomfortable and in some ways most testing conditions to sail modern 14’s. Nevertheless, the majority of teams battled on crews on foredecks, helms doing the majority of crew work for the first time. At three hours Goodman had overhauled Lewns after Nearn had managed to fall off the foredeck a couple of times resulting in the start of a number of capsizes that turned out to be a persistent theme for them and a number of boats for the rest of the week. Goodman went onto win, Lewns second, with Roddy Bridge and Justin Eplett making a late charge to overhaul Charles Stanley and Sam Gardiner to take third.

The series through out was characterised with strong 20 – 25 knot breezes. Much attention was on whether the teams that had invested in the CST rigs used by the Australians who had showed so much speed with them at the last worlds in Melbourne, were going to make an impression on the current favourite Andrew Fitzgerald. Who had to date been winning the majority of events, using a Willets rig demonstrating considerable speed, under the calming influence of his very experienced crew Tim Hancock.

At the end of day one everything was even with Stanley, Fitzgerald and Goodman all tied on points, sharing the top three spots in each race except for the second where Paul Vine sailing with “action man” Nick Keast of the Royal Marines won narrowly from Fitzgerald in what was a nail biting finish.

The following days racing turned out to be the defining point in the regatta. New comers to the fleet and previous 5o5 world champions Mark Upton-Brown and Ian Mitchell got away to an early lead demonstrating blistering speed, chased by Fitzgerald, Goodman and Stanley, who were now beginning with their CST/Hyde rig combinations to demonstrate equivalent upwind speed to the Willet/Batt combination of Fitzgerald. Upton-Brown relinquished the lead in one of rather too many poor capsizing tacks, apparently living up to his nickname of Mark “upside down” Brown. By the first leward mark Fitzgerald held a lead which Stanley pulled back up the following beat with these two boats battling for the lead in an extremely close tacking duel. Stanley came out in front at the weather mark, only to loose the lead on the final run when Fitzgerld gybed inside and picked up breeze to go onto win, leaving Stanley second and Goodman third. The second race started out with Stanley leading Fitzgerald and Goodman out of the race with gear failure. Stanley ambitiously went into the in famous “wall” in a ever increasing breeze resulting in a capsize on the gybe, allowing Fitzgerald to go onto win, with Jonathon Pudney and John Mckenna taking second and Bridge in third, their best results of the series.

The last day began with Fitzgerald in a commanding position. With a risk all port tack start Fitzgerald jumped into a commanding lead which he never relinquished, although Goodman and Stanley chased hard. At the finish Paul Bayliss and Richard Woof also pulled up to take third place and their best result of the regatta. The final race with the series decided left the battle for second between Stanley and Goodman. With the whole fleet now fighting to start on port, Stanley got away cleanly and went onto win with Goodman second, Fitzgerald relaxing in 5th place.

Overall Results:

1st Fitzgerald  Hancock    8pts
2nd Stanley     Gardiner  12pts
3rd Goodman     Storey    12pts
4th Pudney      McKenna   22pts
5th Bayliss     Woof      29pts
6th Bridge      Eplett    34pts

More Information:

• UK International 14 Website
• YachtsandYachting.com International 14 Page