Sunsail Racing Series - Round 8

Sunsail Racing Series Round 8 © Terry Hunt

Sunsail Racing Series Round 8 © Terry Hunt

This past weekend saw the 8th and final round of the 2014 Sunsail Racing Series in the Sunsail Match First 40's.

This particular weekend brought along 19 teams, including skippers that came 2nd and 3rd in the Sunsail fleet at AAM Cowes Week earlier this year and also the winning team from the 2013 Series final. Oxford and Cambridge Universities were also in attendance.

With 2 days of SW breeze from 13 – 20kts, the fleet couldn't have asked for any better conditions, maybe just some more sunshine and 25 degrees!

The Race Officer, Jon Nabney, managed to get all 7 races in over the 2 days, with some quick turnarounds and some challenge courses providing short sharp racing. In the end one team dominated the proceedings, with Ian Martin winning 5 of the seven races and counting a 3rd as well, allowing him to sit out the final race.

The next three places were a 'race within a race', as the 3 crews all knew each other. With each of the three counting some big scores going into the final race, any of them could have finished runner up, but in the end a 3rd place for Roger Philips was enough, with 3rd going to Richard Patrick and 4th Kelvin Matthews.

A great weekends racing was had by all, with the Sunsail match First 40's once again providing some very close one design racing. Congratulations to the top 4 for qualifying for the final.

So, 2014 has seen 70 different entries with a total of 23 qualifying for the finals on the 15th November, which looks as if it should be a good and close affair. Fingers crossed, the weather gods play their part.

Round 8 Results: