B14 National Championships at Paignton Sailing Club - Overall

Socialising during the B14 National Championships at Paignton © B14 Class Association

Racing in the B14 Nationals at Paignton © Steve Cayley / www.lincom.co.uk

Day 1 – Sunshine, breeze and plenty of brain work

Competitors at the 2014 B14 Nationals arrived at the beach to the forecast 15-20 knots blowing from a direction famously described by Jim Saltonstall as 'oribble'.

With some, frankly, excellent work by the Race Committee the shifty conditions produced three great races with the teams who worked out the wind extending some big leads over the fleet.

Race 1

Conditions favoured the convergence zone on the left side of the beat, which caused some to rely on the left corner later in the day with the opposite result! Mark Watts and Chris Bishop (Ullman Sails) led the fleet around lap 1 from current European Champions Ben McGrane and Olivier Vidal (P&B South) and a tight group of boats including Scott Gray and Charlie Cobourn in 'the Grey Boat', Peter Knight and Jane Reeves (Demelza) and Alan Davis and Toby Barsley-Dale (Troublegum).

An early gybe off into a pothole saw Scott and Charlie take the lead downwind but were then overhauled by P&B South on lap 2 who sailed the perfect beat and sailed away to win race 1 with defending champions, Mike Bees and Ferret (Blue Badge)coming back for second from World Champions Tim Harrison and Jonny Ratcliffe (Anthill Mob) third, Ullman Sails relegated to fourth.

In a pattern that was to extend for the rest of the event significant pressure and directions changes across the course made it tough to hook together 3 good laps and those that got close or managed at least one blinder shone.

Race 2

Run in slightly more breeze, but contained as many snakes as ladders. The second beat proved critical with four boats getting the jump on the fleet - P&B South extended their lead to record their second win, followed by Ullman Sails, Troublegum and Chris Lewns and Tom Pygall (Whitstable Marine). The remained of the fleet were led home by Bees and Ferret.

Race 3

With the best of the day's wind P&B South showed they were human with a couple of minor strategic mistakes and a kite problem, but they quickly recovered to take fourth. Bees and Ferret took the win from Ullman Sails with Anthill Mob in close attendance.

To sum up the day and the challenging strategy calls World Champions Anthill Mob collected more points on day one than they had in the whole of the 10 race 2013 Worlds...

Day 2 – Sea breeze that came and then went

With the fleet held ashore in the sunshine awaiting the sea breeze expectation was high of a legendary Torbay sea breeze, but with humidity and heat rising it was going to be anybody's guess in the end what the breeze would do...

Race 4

The first two starts saw the fleet a little over keen and all fighting for the bias and desire to hit the cooler, sunnier, windier right side of the course. The black flag was eventually brought out to play and the fleet got away cleanly. There was a split of the fleet as some boats sought the right for pressure but in the end it was a beat for those that hit left earlier, those on the right did well coming back to the top mark and anyone in the middle well.. let's just say less than ideal!

The lightwind specialists of Anthill Mob and Demelza showed the fleet the way around lap 2 with P&B South proving that the heavier teams could still hang in there for third over the shortened 2 lap race.

Race 5

With the breeze starting to look a little patchy it was close between P&B South and Anthill Mob at the top mark from the pack. Ullman Sails threaded the pressure lanes on the second beat to join the fight and round on the heels of P&B South, Anthill Mob third. Top 3 held a healthy lead but as they progressed down the run the breeze shut down to a driftathon. All 3 led at some point in a who got the tiny puff first game. Almost totally becalmed near the bottom marks all 3 could only watch in horror as the fleet came down in pressure. Boats literally 50 yards behind in constant breeze as they floundered.

In the slow motion chaos that ensued at the bottom mark Anthill Mob scraped first from Blue Badge who came back from the pack, wizard hats firmly strapped on to snatch second from P&B South. Ullman Sails lucky to pip Demelza on the line and avoid further frustration.

With the temperature now going through the roof and the wind sub 5 knots the fleet swam, and drifted their way back to shore for an evening of pirate themed antics in the sunshine. Special mention should go to Kate Wardle who managed to sprain her ankle (badly) on the golf course whilst looking for her ball and go on to race all the remaining races! And to Leaky who in a cross between Adam Ant and Jack Sparrow kept the locals entertained and bemused in equal measure..

Day 3 – You thought days 1 and 2 were shifty!

Race 6

Well.. it's a tricky one.. bit far back to see what was really going on and head a bit blurry from the mixture of spirits that went down in the spinning wheel the night before.. There were definitely some big holes on the run and a LOT of place changing!

P&B South took the win from Demelza. Anthill Mob third, surprisingly no one from the bar at the end of the night featured!

Race 7

Again a tricky one as we spent most of the pre-start with Bish replacing the foredeck trench after some emergency pole surgery and arriving 2 minutes to go with screwdriver still in hand. Lets just say it gave us a reasonable view from the pack of those that got it right on race 2!

Whitstable Marine aced the first beat ringing the bell on the right and were never seen again. Which means they must have done a great job of laps 2 and 3 as well.. not easy let me tell you! Ben was as usual mostly in the action and took third. Beezer and Ferret also avoiding the worst of the holes and headers to take second.

Special mention to our new all girl team of Kathy Sherratt/Charlotte Jones (Trunky) who took fourth and showed most of the male teams the way around the course having been in the top 5 at the first mark and stayed there.. (Finally proof if proof were needed that all girl teams can compete at the highest level in the B14 fleet.. ultimately 12th overall!)

Race 8

With the breeze increasing slightly the fleet were a little over eager to get away and ultimately two boats fell foul of the black flag (including podium contenders Blue Badge) before the fleet got away. Whitstable Marine were once again at the front, from a pack of boats. Lap 2 and Ullman Sails and P&B South led out left into more pressure and a lift feeling pretty pleased with themselves. Whitstable Marine strong up the middle.

However as those to the left headed back right they were alarmed to see those in mid fleet that went hard right off the bottom mark had hooked into totally different breeze and sailed round the fleet. Tony Blackmore leading into the top mark with Tim and Johnny coming back from the dead (wearing Blue Badge's wizard hats from yesterday) to ultimately round second.

The next 2 laps saw some order return with Anthill Mob pulling through to take the win, Whitstable Marine doing well to recover to second and P&B South once again keeping it consistent to post a third.

Race 9

With the breeze starting to pipe up to 15 knots and with muttering from some of the fleet that 4 races in this was pure torture the race officer got us away cleanly for what was to be the best breeze of the day.

Ullman Sails picked the pressure lanes middle left to lead round from P&B South. Downwind on lap 2 saw big gains with those gybing earlier hitting better pressure and bringing Anthill Mob right back into the fold along with a pack of boats setting up tight last beat as breeze built to 20 knots. The last beat saw the top 4 contenders trading places as they covered each other and tried to play the shifts.

Amongst all this Alan Davis and Toby Barsley-Dale (Troublegum) sailed the perfect beat to take the lead and ultimately the win. Speculation is that having sat out race 8 with a black flag they had a few more mental beans left than the rest of the fleet, which was confirmed when they were heard to say "It was easy, we just stayed on the lifts", clearly a strategy that no one else had yet thought of!

P&B South once again showed their consistency to come out second. Third through fifth all charging down the left side of the run in a thread of 20+ knot pressure within 5 boat lengths of each for an adrenaline fuelled finish.. luckily the experience of the 3 showed off as they put on an exhibition of how to take a potentially horrendous bottom mark smash and turn it into remarkably orderly hook finish.. Anthill Mob coming out on top to take third.

A slightly disappointed Anthill Mob returned to the beach only to discover that in the days fun and games there was only 1 point separating first and second and solid gap to third. It was all set for the final day show down!

Some teams crawled off to their beds to lick their wounds and rest after a long 4 race day... For the rest it was over to the beach for Leaky's games night. The "Monopod of War" will go down in history as a unique interpretation on tug of war that ultimately ended in the best superman ever seen as the rope broke and sent Crispin flying through the air. How he managed to be fired upwards is still a mystery!

Amazingly despite ferocious shale, cheap cider, and far too much strapping of limbs together there were less injuries than the previous evening. We look forward to a future event where the games we didn't get to can be unveiled!

Racing in the B14 Nationals at Paignton - photo © Steve Cayley / www.lincom.co.uk

Day 4 – At last windy.. well at times anyway

Race 10

With the breeze still offshore but with a solid 10-20 knot gradient from the NW the scene was set for a showdown between the World and European Champions. P&B South going in with strong discards, a 1 point lead as the days favourites but it was far from over!

The fleet got away cleanly and it was Chris Duffin and Harvey Nott (744) that looked to have pulled a blinder on their own out to the right. Ultimately P&B South made the best of the final third of the beat under the cliffs to lead round from a closely bunched pack. Ullman Sails deciding to add some excitement to the day by hooking the tackle on the top mark and proceeding to tow it downwind helping all those behind that had suffered the same final header.

The trick down the run was to hook into one of the monster threads of pressure.. that was mostly easier said than done and there were some big gains and losses as the fleet charged downwind with Anthill Mob the biggest movers to take the fight right back to P&B South. The next lap saw P&B South close covering Anthill Mob with Whitstable Marine threatening in third.

On the final windward leg it was still P&B South from Anthill Mob who had ultimately ended up left on the beat with a small group of boats. A massive shift saw those on the left reaching into the top mark. Down the run Ullman Sails hooked into pressure and joined the battle for second breaking from Anthill Mob who promptly found a pressure lane and took off. P&B South took the win from Anthill Mob. Ullman Sails third.

Race 11

And with Ben now 2 points clear the battle looked to be over but with the breeze still shifty it was not over just yet... well at least not until the end of the first beat where Ullman Sails led in from the left from P&B South with Anthill Mob in the pack. Despite best efforts to split from P&B South and try something different there was no way back for Anthill Mob.

The final run saw a close finish between Ullman Sails and Whitstable Marine as the fleet blasted downwind in the best breeze of the regatta that strengthened and shifted in the second half of the run leading to some very over pressed boats over the layline. Ultimately Ullman Sails took second from Whitstable Marine with sensible approaches from the left. Blue Badge held on to fourth despite needing to drop their kite to make the finish.

Special mention to Mark Barnes for scaring his new crew and committee in just making it across the line with his kite up right on the limits.. balls of steel or a need to visit Specsavers? We can't quite decide!

Back on the beach it was all smiles from Ben and Olivier who were worthy winners of the event with nothing worse than a 4th and the ability to stay in the mix despite the worst the shifts could throw at them. Tim and Johnny had a superb series to take second from the ever consistent Blue Badge rounding out the podium.

A HUGE thanks needs to go to Paignton Sailing Club for their hospitality, just superb. The bar, the catering, the race team (World Class), the beach masters and shore crew and all those that helped make the event special.

A special mention needs to go to Peter Knight who went beyond the call of duty in organising the event on behalf to the B14 class association. Thank you Peter!

What a nationals. The competition on the water has been immense, not just at the front but across the fleet. It was great to see new faces and more of the mid fleet marching towards the front of the fleet! We now move on to the inlands in September and for many the build up to the Worlds in Melbourne over the new year where we will see a strong UK and French contingent heading south for some legendary McCrae hospitality.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the B14 nationals then fill in your Gear Guide information here

Photos of the event available from www.lincom.co.uk thanks to Steve Cayley.