Classic Prince of Wales International 14 Open at Blakeney Sailing Club
by Edward Allen 27 Sep 2021 07:33 BST
11-12 September 2021
Again Blakeney did not disappoint hosting the Classic 14 weekend. Stunning tide, superb weather and seven classics, the best most beautiful of all dinghies.
With entries from Trent Valley, Rickmansworth, Wroxham and Blakeney, the Race Officer set the long course up the harbour which pleased the competitors, 2 miles to beat and then run back in idyllic settings.
Race 1 - Edward Allen crewed by Patsy Seymour in Distress, K943, wanted to emulate Distress's win of the Prince of Wales Cup 50 years ago and he got off to a start with a stunning port tack flyer to lead the fleet to the first mark. Try as they could, the other competitors could not overtake even with spinnakers as Distress couldnt hoist hers. So a win for Edward and Patsy, could it be Distress's weekend?
Race 2 - Another good start by Distress but Brian Willmott in Phantom K1136,crewed by Greg Martin overtook and headed Edward and Patsy to the windward mark when disaster stuck Distress with a capsize and the other competitors passed her (see Blakeney Sailing Club facebook). Chris and Nick Dunster in Wistful K859 reeled in Brian and went onto win and young Sam Vaughan in Seawich K935 (his Grandfather, Tom Vaughan wrote the history of the 14's) crewed by his father James also overtook Brian for a superb well deserved 2nd place. A great 3rd for Joe Plant K1113 Bare Necessities by cousin Lewis Plant, a new boat for Joe.
A very happy evening was had by all at the Kings Arms.
Race 3 - Slightly less wind for day 2. The Dunsters showed everyone else how to make the oldest boat in the fleet go to win. Edward now crewed by son Chris had a gear failure before the start, the universal joint on tiller extension was found to be broken at the launch, running repairs were done but not in time for the start. Chris and Nick 1st,
Brian and Greg 2nd, Sam and James 3rd.
Race 4 - Port tack flyers again, but Joe and Lewis forgot that the white buoy was the inner distance mark and had to turn back. Edward and Chris battled on but got caught at the windward mark and struggled without a spinnaker pole (lost yesterday in the capize). Gradually they got overtaken and Dunsters went on to record their 3rd win and the Wolfe Cup, Brian and Greg 2nd and great to see Ian Turfrey and Alistair Wilson in Billabong K885 coming in 3rd.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Sail No | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Wistful | Chris Dunster | Nic Dunster | 859 | Norfolk Broads Y.C. | ‑3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2nd | Phantom | Brian Willmott | Greg Martin | 1136 | Trent Valley S.C. | 2 | ‑4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 3rd | Seawitch | Sam Vaughan | James Vaughan | 935 | Rickmansworth S.C. | ‑5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 4th | Bare N. | Joe Plant | Lewis Plant | 1113 | North Staffs | 4 | 3 | 4 | ‑7 | 11 |
| 5th | Billabong | Ian Turfrey | Alistair Wilson | 885 | Rickmansworth S.C. | ‑6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
| 6th | Distress | Edward Allen | Patsy Seymour/C Allen | 943 | Blakeney S.C. | 1 | (RET) | RET | 5 | 14 |
| 7th | Mirage | Andy Hunter | Simon Duskin | 1092 | Trent Valley S.C | 7 | (RET) | 6 | 6 | 19 |