Monkey Marine International 14 Nationals at Castle Cove SC - Overall

Monkey Marine International 14 Nationals day 1 © Isabella Hartland

Monkey Marine International 14 Nationals day 1 © Isabella Hartland

After 4 days of solid big breeze that Weymouth has built a reputation for in the 14 fleet, after a phenomenally windy worlds in 2011, Sunday was meant to be 12 knots dropping to 8. Instead it turned out to be a perfect 15 knots all day.

Again we raced inside the harbour walls, allowing for cruise-y, high-speed sailing around the 4 laps of the course (or should I call it "2 laps"). Either way, the points were decidedly in Massey/Hillary's favour with a 4 point margin and a 1,1,2,2 to count going into the day. Would Truswell/Pascoe be able to replicate their turn around at the Europeans by overturning a similar points margin. The other major contender McGrane/Hughes had decided enough was enough after a string of unfortunate events ended each of their previous race days (grounding, flying-through-main and forestay-breakage) and decided to join the family for the day.

Behind the lead 2, there were a series of tight battles that needed to be decided over the final 3 races. Pattison/Tait just needed a solid day to jump into 3rd. Bone/Rodway, now sailing as Bone/Holmon, in anticipation of the light winds and due to Rodway succumbing to a his over-worked ankle, were in a tight battle with Fitz/Dobson.

Finally Katie Nurton, sailing with her 4th crew in 4 days, the legend Simon Hiscox, was in a tight battle with Pearson and Morrison. All Katie's crews insisted that they'd had a great day on the water, but "no" they couldn't make tomorrow!

So to battle...

Sunday: Race 5

Massey/Hillary went for the port-tack start, but soon lost confidence and re-joined the bulk of the fleet going left. However, barring a few shifts up the beat, led around the top-mark closely followed by Truswell/Pascoe and Pattison/Tait. This is how is remained for 2 laps, with Massey/Hillary making certain that there were no overtaking lanes to pull out a comfortable lead. However it all went wrong at the gybe mark, when their crew failed to remain hooked on and took a plunge. By the time, the kite was dropped and Harvey picked up, they'd dropped back to fourth from which they never recovered. Truswell/Pascoe took a comfortable victory.

Sunday: Race 6

The wind had increased from 10 knots to 15knots and the race played out with Truswell/Pascoe having a small speed advantage upwind, from which they were able to control the race and pulled away for a 30 yard win. Massey/Hillary second and Pattison/Tait third.

Sunday: Race 7

The lead two were now level on 8 points each and so who-ever won the last race was going to win the week! It couldn't have been closer.

Massey/Hillary immediately engaged in a little friendly tailing, even catching Truswell/Pascoe's port/starboard at one stage, for which they did their penalty. A couple of the other competitors even hung around to watch. Eventually Massey/Hillary led Truswell/Pascoe back to the line and started bang on the committee boat end, tacking over to port, when Truswell/Pascoe tacked off immediately for clean air.

The two of them immediately set about a foot-fest to the starboard layline, with the boat-speed now dead-level, (after some between race tweaking). Eventually Massey/Hillary tacked off shy of the lay-line and Truswell/Pascoe tacked soon after. It was looking like Truswell/Pascoe's was going to pin their competitors under the starboard lay, but tacked out 100 yards before the top mark allowing Massey/Hillary to round in 3rd, behind Pattison/Tait and Bone/Holman. Fitz/Dobson rounded 4th closely followed by Truswell/Pascoe.

On the first run, Massey caught right up behind Bone/Holman, whose foils were screaming out. Meanwhile Truswell had sailed over the luffing Fitz, but was rapidly catching the lead trio whilst taking the high-line. Massey/Hillary gybed out as they were being slowed and were quickly followed by the complete top 4. In clear air, Massey/Hillary were able to extend and came back into the mark level with Pattison/Tait, who after a slow drop, were passed around the outside. Moments later Truswell was able to sail up the inside of them!

Massey/Hillary gently pulled out on the long port tack from the leeward mark, until they overcompensated for the their first beat underlay and overshot the layline. Truswell pounced and was able to lead around the top mark by 2 boat-lengths. Massey/Hillary hoisted first on the tight-reach to the gybe mark and took their transom whilst gybing and shortly roll them down to the leeward mark. Back in control...

...until their kite halyard parted. At this point they were forced to retire. Truswell went on to win by a large margin and with it the Week's title too.

Bring on the Worlds, where we expect McGrane and Hughes to join in the titanic battle (plus an Aussie or two).

Overall Results: