International 14 World Championships after 2 races

by David Keast 27 Jun 2000 07:33 BST

Race 1

The fleet was on the water in good time and the Race Officer kept his word and got race off to a punctual start. For those on shore the launching was a great sight. All but two boats were on the water with 108 starters.

It wasn’t an easy race for anybody with Nor-Westerly gusting 4-5 predictions were difficult. Some say that being able to see those ahead was an advantage – for a while. The course was OK but the wind didn’t please many.

Charles Stanley & Sam Gardner led for a while and Paul Vine & Nick Keast were not far behind only to fail on a beat. There was some damage – L Jenkins broke a mast but Ian Teasdale who came close to collision got away with it.

Zeb Elliott & Dan Johnson read the wind superbly coming through the fleet to win by nigh on five minutes. Not surprising, they were relaxed when they finished and look forward to more of the same conditions.

Colin Goodman & James Storey were way back early in the race – certainly mid-twenties but, as they can, they came through to finish second. There was pressure for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places. Paul Bayliss & Richard Woof squeezed in for third ahead of the first of the American contingent. Chris Bundy & Jamie Hanseler were 4th ahead of Paul Bieker & Mark Newbrook. The first of the Australians Lindsay Irwin & Rob Oshlack in 7th place.

It was long race – coming on for two and a half hours, with the shifty beats it was a snakes and ladders affair – boats up one minute and down the pan the next. But as it was a World Championship a race of this length was right for the occasion.

Race 2

The Race Officer had no choice but to postpone for two hours. The first start at the revised time resulted in a general recall and the fleet of 114 was away at 14.20.

It was marginally a day for the Americans – at least, Chris Bundy & Jamie Hanseler (1127) and Paul Bieker & Mark Newbrook (1142). There were certainly celebrations in the U.S. camp after the race.

Paul had a good start and was first round the windward mark Chris came into the reckoning at the second leeward mark and there took the lead.

For a while there was a reasonable breeze – twin-wiring one minute and but not the next. After less than two hours of sailing the course was shortened because the wind had dropped to next to nothing. For Chris the shortened course signal couldn’t come soon enough.

But of course in this light wind Colin Goodman & James Storey were close to where it matters. In their view another round or so and they would have made up the hundred yards to take the lead.

Believe it or not, Colin reckons that the Americans’ lighter combined rate had something to do with it!

Pete Harper & Andy White were pleased with their ninth yesterday but even more satisfying was their third to-day. Peter didn’t start in the best of places but the boat went well and he moved to second at the first mark. He stayed up for the race to take the third slot.

Robert Storrer & Nick Kincaid from Tynemouth SC were 4th ahead of the second American boat. Paul Bieker & Mark Newbrook lost their early lead but were more than satisfied with their result.

For most it was an afternoon calling for great concentration in such light breezes. Naturally the Race Officer didn’t want to lose a race at this stage of the week – nor was there any reason not to sail.

Results after two races:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	Pts
1	GBR1451	Goodman, Colin	Storey, James	Bexhill	2	2	4
2	USA1127	Bundy, Chris	Hanseler, Jamie	Corinthian YC	4	1	5
3	USA1142	Bieker, Paul	Newbrook, Mark	Corinthian YC	5	5	10
4	GBR1440	Elliott, Zeb	Johnson, Dan	Beer SC	1	11	12
5	GBR1452	Harper, Peter	White, Andrew	Beer SC	9	3	12
6	AUS600	Irwin, Lindsay	Oshlack, Rob	Black Rock YC	7	9	16
7	GBR1406	Stanley, Charles	Gardner, Sam	Beer & Itchenor SC	6	15	21
8	GBR1415	Upton-Brown, Mark	Mitchell, Ian	Hayling Island SC	8	13	21
9	USA1137	Berkowitz, Zach	Baldauf, Karl	StF YC	15	8	23
10	GBR1428	Storrar, Robert	Kincaid, Nick	Tynemouth SC	20	4	24
11	GBR1441	FitzGerald, Andy	Hancock, Tim	Itchenor SC	10	14	24
12	GBR1434	Bayliss, Paul	Woof, Richard	Beer SC	3	24	27
13	GBR1437	Hitchcock, David	Hensley, Paul	Royal Southern	23	6	29
14	GBR1446	Penman, Andrew	Massey, Archie	Itchenor SC	11	20	31
15	GBR1448	Teasdale, Ian	Heusen, Simon	Beer SC	26	7	33
16	GBR1444	Vine, Paul	Keast, Nick	Beer SC	19	16	35
17	GER91	Voss, Oliver	Holscher, Jens	Kiel YC	31	10	41
18	AUS553	Alexander, David	Hart, Don	Adelaide SC	12	32	44
19	GBR1426	Bridge, Roddy	Eplett, Justin	Itchenor SC	18	28	46
20	GBR1450	Brellisford, Victor	Ash, Damian	Essex YC	27	21	48