B14 National Championship at Rock Sailing and Waterski Club - Day 1

Day 1 dawned overcast but thus dampened the excitement in the dinghy park to get out on the water and stuck into some racing. Despite the smaller turnout, the depth in the fleet was sure to make for 4 days of close racing.

Race 1 saw the fleet out on a course with the windwark mark under Pentire point with a NE breeze of 15-18 knots. It was 797 Brightmile (Mark Watts/Martin Johnson) that were fast out of the blocks and into a solid lead at the top mark with 799 Seavolution (Mark Barnes/Charlotte Horlock) leading round the chasing pack. The headland creating a large hole in the race track was to be a feature of the day with those staying hard right making the biggest gains. On the second run Seavolution took a route down the run forgetting the massive headland letting 771 Blue Badge (Mike Bees/Ferrett) in for 2nd.

Race 2 and the wind started to drop. With the tide on the left and clear air it was a split fleet up the first beat with 785 Demelza (Peter knight/Jane Reeves) leading in from the right and 772 Trunky (Kathy Sherratt/Josh Wilce) charging in from the left for second. The rest of the fleet super tight. The run saw the choice of left for worse tide but clearer breeze or head into the bay and run the headland gauntlet. At the end is Demelza holding on from Trunky with Seavolution third.

The final race and despite the forecast for the wind to go more easterly it had swung back more north. The fleet again split but it was Brightmile in more pressure and 30 degree right hand shift that led in from the right from 758 Anthill Mob (Tim Harrison/Johny Ratcliffe) who had hit hard left. The next beat saw the wind shut down at the top Mark and go further east leading to nervy run in the washing machine seascape left over from earlier in the day. The PRO did a great job to spin the course for the last beat. Brightmile consolidated to take the win. Anthill mob were unlucky to lose out in a weird patch of wind and let 774 Porky (Dave Hayes/Pete Nicholson) through into second from the consistent Seavolution in third.

Some tired bodies hit the beach with Brightmile taking the bragging rights for the day. As expected its going to be a close regatta with lighter winds for tomorrow.