B14 Open at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club
by Sean Dwyer 6 Jul 2004 10:31 BST
3-4 July 2004
On Saturday over 30 knots of breeze kept the fleet onshore and left Jason Andrews to entertain them, which explains the Sunday morning hangovers and Matt Searle’s sole tactic for the Sunday of keeping his breakfast down.
So four races were scheduled for Sunday, with three to count. In the first race Chris Bines and Dave Gibbons and Dave Hayes and Sean Dwyer in Sea-Sure led out of the blocks and were in a tight battle for the lead when a cruiser tacked right on top of them, making them both tack off. Chris and Dave held on to the lead while Dave and Sean held a short debate with the helm of the cruiser about the size of the English Channel compared to the patch of water that they would rather he had not tacked in. Chris and Dave extended their lead and went on to win ahead of Mark Barnes and Tom Pygall.
Race two saw the breeze picking up significantly and a three way battle for the lead between Jono Pank and Rich Edwards, Dave and Sean and Jason Andrews and Joel McDonald. Jono and Rich looked to have blown it when they went for the finish after two laps instead of three, but awesome upwind speed meant they regained the lead by the windward mark. A less awesome spot of trawling at the hoist let Dave and Sean through again. Chris and Dave got through to third.
Jono and Rich headed for the shore to save their sails for the forthcoming Worlds. Needless to say, the wind promptly dropped to a comfortable force 2.
Race three saw much place changing with different sides of the course paying dramatically on each lap. Mark Watts and Tim Rogers led around the final windward mark, followed by Dave and Sean and Chris and Dave, who both managed to get through on the run.
So with one race left Chris and Dave (counting 1, 3, 2) needed to beat Dave and Sean (4, 1, 1) and finish higher than third to win overall. They achieved the former, but not the latter. Mark and Tom and Jason and Joel romped away to lead the rest of the fleet around the course.
Next stop is Lake Garda for the Worlds, which should be a cracking event with a good entry and at least five or six British crews in with a chance of the title, not to mention the top Aussies.
Overall Results:
1st 767 - Dave Hayes & Sean Dwyer (Sea-Sure) – Southport
2nd 741 – Chris Bines & Dave Gibbons – Brightlingsea
3rd 768 - Mark Barnes & Tom Pygall (Ready Crest) – Whitstable