B14 Travellers at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

B14s at Weymouth © Tania Samus / www.photoblink.co.uk

B14s at Weymouth © Tania Samus / www.photoblink.co.uk

18 teams from the B14 Flying Circus made there way to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Centre (WPNSA), on a very damp and windy weekend. With the weather improving through the morning to bring bright sunshine all were optimistic of getting on the water. However, Mother Nature wasn’t to play ball, with winds building to 32 knots plus, the fleet resorted to beer and sightseeing.

Sunday dawned with another glorious day. With conditions on shore appearing to be as windy as the day before teams rigged, but in expectation of being held ashore to await the dying breeze. When the flag to release the fleets was flown on time, 7 teams chose to stay on shore. With 10 boats heading out into 25 knots, gust expectation was high and it was to turn out to be a day to remember.

The fleet ripped down to the start with some capitulating on the way to hit the tide. Those that arrived intact, ripped down in 20 plus knots with kites set. Racing was to be a case of full on charging but conservative tactics.

Race 1, and the fleet sped to the left led by Pocket Elephant (Mark Watts/Chris Bishop) and Seavolution (Mark Barnes/Pete Nicholson). Pocket Elephant gained the advantage over the larger headed mains, rounding the top mark with a good lead closely followed by Seavolution and the Anthill Mob (Tim Harrison/Johnny Radcliffe). With the breeze consistently over around 24 - 25 knots, the top 3 hoisted kites for an adrenalin fuelled charge to the corner. Pocket Elephant gybing onto the lay-line, saw this new pairing hit the tide. Seavolution gybing at full pace took up the charge, followed by The Anthill Mob, Acxiom (Mark Emmett/Allan Stuart) and Axcess Solutions (Dave Hayes/Don Forster). Up the next beat at breakneck speed the front runners charged cutting through the 29ers coming downwind without incident. Round the next Seavolution led from The Anthill Mob and Acxiom. Down the run there was little between the front two. Gybing onto the lay-line they flew. Coming into the drop Seavolution dropped followed by The Anthill Mob but they rolled into windward just before the gate releasing Seavolution for a blistering reach to the finish. 2nd was Acxiom followed by Axcess Solutions and Chattanooga Cho-Cho (Dan Cowin/Dan Hollands).

Race 2 and with the breeze still solidly in the mid 20’s Pocket Elephant again led from the start into the left corner, closely followed by Seavolution from Acxiom. With the fleet again mixed on decisions to fly kites, Pocket Elephant just held on down the first run from Seavolution with Axciom and The Anthill Mob not far behind passing Axcess Solutions not flying their kite. With the fleet all choosing the left hand mark the leaders maintained Indian File until Pocket Elephant again dropped it in on the gybe freeing Seavolution to take the lead from Axciom and The Anthill Mob. Over the next round Seavolution held a good lead and the following two fought a close battle with Acxiom getting the better at the finish followed by Pocket Elephant and Chattanooga Cho-Cho.

Race 3 and with the wind dropping to 16 – 18 knots, with larger shifts, the fat head mains came into their own. Seavolution and Axciom led the fleet away, capitalising on some good shifts up the middle of the course Acxiom just in front of Seavolution, Axcess Solutions, The Anthill Mob and Pocket Elephant. Acxiom showing good pace, just held on down the run. With the front two overlapped at the leeward mark, Seavolution eased into the lead up the next beat with Pocket Elephant rolling The Anthill Mob. Round the next mark and the breeze picking up Seavolution led 3 boat lengths from Acxiom but they got inside and took the advantage on the gybe to take the lead. Up the next beat they led by 5 – 10 boat lengths. Down the run the first two blasted away as the breeze picked up. Through the gybe and drop their was little to chose, but Acxiom showed their class and put the throttle to full open on the reach into the finish taking the win from Seavolution, Pocket Elephant and The Anthill Mob to take the bullet.

Into the final race, and 3 laps, the wind gods had been waiting for this. The breeze kicked in as the fleet launched into the race showing 27 knots on the anemometer. Fatigue from the 3 races started to take its toll. Axciom, Seavolution and Pocket Elephant all took up the charge off the line with little to chose. At the turning mark it was Acxiom, Axcess Solutions, Pocket Elephant and Seavolution. Down the run Seavolution gybed inside the others and got onto the tail of Acxiom but had to drop early a wear round rather than risk missing the gate allowing Pocket Elephant to hit second with Axcess Solutions hitting the tide. Over the next beat, Seavolution split middle left. Acxiom had gear failure and headed for home. Seavolution crossed back into the fleet behind Pocket Elephant and these two arrived at the turning mark in close formation. Down the run they flew. Pocket Elephant went past the lay-line and the breeze built and Seavolution gybed inside. Both arrived together at the gate with Seavolution inside. Up the next beat they locked horns. Down the run Pocket Elephant had a 100 m lead but hit the tide gybing, suffering gear failure, pulled out and headed home. Seavolution backed off and dropped their kite, wearing round and headed to the finish followed by The Anthill Mob, Chattanooga Cho-Cho and Axcess Solutions.

A close fought event where the results may be deceiving as the front runners were very close and had little between them. Seavolution won from The Anthill Mob, with Axcess Solutions and Chattanooga Cho-Cho joint third.

Frank Newton and his team race a good series and some tired and battered sailors headed for home. The fleet look forward to slightly less breeze at Grafham for the inlands and season finale in 2 weeks. Thanks to all the new teams that made the effort to attend, just a shame the weather wasn’t willing to oblige.

Overall Results: