B14 Travellers at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

The B14 circus visits the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy © Tom Gruitt / www.fotoboat.com

The B14 circus visits the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy © Tom Gruitt / www.fotoboat.com

The B14 circus, consisting of 18 boats, rolled up to the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy to share the weekend with the Laser 4000s. They were greeted with a building biting 18 - 27 knot breeze from the SW and overcast sky.

As both fleets launched the breeze really kicked in and most had an adrenaline rush ride to the start with some B14s achieving 18.4 knots.

The format was for the B14s to follow the 4000s over the 0.8 n.m. course 5 minutes later. This was to prove very interesting as the leading B14s were into the back 4000s by the windward mark and meet some at the gybing point where several boats in both fleets would have the wheels come off their rides, the slalom course would prove interesting.

Race 1 got away first time with Seavolution/Blue Marine (Mark Barnes/Pete Nicholson) winning the committee boat end and taking control of the first beat. At the windward mark, Seavolution/Blue Marine rounded just ahead of Ince&Co (Mark Watts/Tim Rogers) with the pack just behind them. Down the first run the sail was fairly manic with Ince&Co finding the tide whilst negotiating the capsized 4000s. Over the next round, Seavolution/Blue Marine pulled away from the fleet led by North Sails (UK)/MJF (Dave Hayes/Drew Malcolm) and CSC (Chris Bines/Dave Gibbons). Going into the third run to the finish, Seavolution/Blue Marine had a 50 m. lead but with the wrap from hell, CSC passed them to take the lead. However, having sorted the kite the race was on. Seavolution/Blue Marine gybed inside CSC and regained control but they were neck and neck. CSC dropped their kite to make the finish followed by Seavolution/Blue Marine, winning by 2 boat lengths with North Sails (UK)/MJF third.

Race 2 and in 22 knots, the mid line guys won the charge to the left led by CSC and Ince&Co knocking Velocitek/Performance Rigging (Don Forster/Guy Whitby) and Seavolution/Blue Marine from the front. At the windward mark it was Velocitek/Performance Rigging who had blasted through followed by 758 (Tim Harrison/Johnny Radcliffe), CSC and Ince&Co. With a full on scream downwind in close proximity, there was nothing to separate the first 8 boats. The white knuckle ride was to claim Velocitek/Performance Rigging and 758. At the leeward mark it was CSC, Ince&Co and 764 (Mark Pollard/Richard Hingston). The mover through the fleet was Seavolution/Blue Marine now in 4th. Up the next beat, the B14s cleared the front 4000s and got down to the sharp end business. At the windward mark CSC had a lead with the next 3 closely grouped. With steady 20+ knot breeze, the top 4 successfully completed the slay ride with Seavolution/Blue Marine taking 2nd by the leeward mark. Over the next round they reeled in CSC but they were to hold on to wind by 5 boat lengths. With more than 50% of both fleets finding the tide, there was a delay till the 3rd race.

Race 3 and off the start it was Velocitek/Performance Rigging who showed their credentials to lead the race from CSC, Seavolution/Blue Marine, Ince&Co and 764 into the windward mark. All boats screamed out to the right-hand corner to the 4000 boat park. Seavolution/Blue Marine successfully gybed inside the capsized boats with Ince&Co crossing Seavolution/Blue Marine and capsizing during their gybe. CSC gybed to the right of the group and capsized as did Velocitek/Performance Rigging and several other boats.

The big gainer out of this was Credo (Theo Gayler/Jack Spencer) who moved into second leading the remaining boats followed by 764 and 767 (Paul Bartlett/Mark Phillips). Over the next round Seavolution/Blue Marine pulled away building up a 200 m. lead. Behind them, it was a real dogfight with 5 boats vying for 2nd. Credo had a bad last drop, dropping them back to 4th, releasing 764 into third only for them to capsize on their last gybe on the run to the finish, handing 2nd to 767 with the resurging Ince&Co claiming 3rd from Credo at the finish. Having had a messy capsize CSC, unable to regain a good position had retired ashore to conserve their energy for the big blast on day 2. Three boats CSC, Ince&Co and Seavolution/Blue Marine achieved sustained speeds of 18.9 knots on the first run of race 3, a truly full on ride.

That night the partying was subdued and both fleets concentrated on recuperation, with the sailors enjoying much drink, good food and the band.

The following morning with winds of 27 knots and gusts up to 38 knots racing was abandoned. With the discard coming in after 3 races, CSC took the win from Seavolution/Blue Marine and 767. A special mention must go out to 767 who with their alloy rig showed many a carbon rig the way home. The race team ran an efficient series on Saturday and shore management complimented the on water experience.

Next weekend and with some breeze forecast, the Inlands take place at Grafham with any of the leading 6 boats in with a chance of winning.

Overall Results: