Original Cottages B14 Europeans and Nationals 2022 at Whitstable Yacht Club - Day 3

Day 3 dawned with light winds to the pleasure of much of the fleet. However, the breeze started developing big holes so the race team sensibly postponed a couple of hours and the fleet launched into a steady 10 knots. As we approached the race area, a thermal breeze killed the gradient so we bobbed around for 10 minutes.

As the day warmed it was looking like a breezeless stalemate between the gradient and thermal but thankfully the forecast of increasing gradient held true and we were treated to three races starting in 8 knots building to 15 by the last run of the last race.

Nick Craig & Tobytastic found the B14 go button to win all three races and open up the event but were pushed very hard by Mark Watts & MJ in the last two races. There was only a boatlength between the two at both last windward marks after many close tactical calls, gains and losses in the somewhat patchy breeze.

The opening race was a joy for the lighter weights who could plane the B14 both upwind and downwind in just 8 knots with Russ Gibbs & Lucy Loughton having their best race with a third.

B14 legends Mike Bees & Ferret put in a solid day with a 5,3,3 to open a nice gap behind for third on the podium. Josh Wilce & Matt Hollis got faster as the day went on to score 9,5,5. One of the pre-event favourites Mark Barnes & Kathy Sherratt went fast, but a swim paid to one good result but closed out the day with a 4th.

The podium now decided, unless they get it spectacularly wrong, with the next four places up for grabs.

Tony Blackmore & Charlie Hadley were also fast in the slightly lighter conditions to score a sixth in the opening race and move into the top ten.

Whitstable are laying on an excellent event with the fleet enjoying beers on the balcony followed by a BBQ shortly. At the AGM, planning is well under way for a potential Worlds in Garda next year, or Euros in France, which should attract several countries for more high quality skiff sailing.

Results after day 3: