North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Yacht Club - Day 2

North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Day 2 © Annick Wilks

Day 2 was looking to be a case of building breeze possibly staying in the SW till 1400 hrs, when a front was due to come through with much rain, setting in for the rest of the day and wind going up a notch for Sunday.

Race Officer Richard Woffinden last night issued a notice that the first start would be moved forward to 1030 hrs with 3 races back-to-back.

B14 teams started appearing on parade by 0745 hrs in time to raid the galley for bacon/sausage butties and a strong coffee. Last night had been a good one with curry and quiz providing much merriment for both fleet and club members. Sadly the club teams won. Many slunk off before closing to get ready for a big day on the water.

At 0945 hrs the first teams headed out to the arena, with the windward mark approx. 0.8 n.m. off the club and leeward mark down towards Swansea Marina. Sea state further down the course you went got bigger with near 2.0 m. swell near the committee boat. Great for putting the peddle to the metal in a B14. Bit like Stokes Bay in an offshore windy race. You get that false sense of security, but can see the horizon moving and know what awaits.

North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Day 2 - photo © Annick Wilks

Sharing the course with the Dart 18s, the B14s would be away first. With slight pin bias for both starts it would be a case of muscling the pin.

Race 5, started a full chat upwind with Donkey (Wattsy/MJ), Dot (Josh/Matt) and Dimelza (Peter/Henry) heading out to sea to the left. First to the right was Pocket Rocket (Ben/Jez), North Sails/Seavolution (Barnsie/Jack) and Night Shift (Amir/Jamie). To the right had a slight bend and to the left some nice gradient shifts. Closing on the windward mark, Donkey edged across North Sails/Seavolution, with Dot ducking. This was going to be a close battle rounding the top mark in that order followed by Night Shift and Dimelza. Up went the 29.2 sq.m. kites, downhill they charged. Dot took a large wave at the spreader prior to hoisting and surfed over/rolled Seavolution/North Sails with these 2 remaining close to the leeward mark. Over the next lap Donkey got the better covering Dot and opened a small lead, with Seavolution/North Sails in the wings chasing. These 3 were going hammer and tongs, one slip and you were out of the back. On the second run gybing for the gate, firstly Seavolution/North Sails gybed and as a gust hit having grubbed to much speed, completed the gybe and spun out followed by Night Shift that got flattened. Up front the other two continued to battle with Dimelza giving chase with Pocket Rocket. Night Shift got up and gave chase but well back, whilst Seavolution/North Sails having turtled, licked their wounds and regrouped for the next Joust. Flying home to win was Donkey followed by Dot and Dimelza.

North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Day 2 - photo © Annick Wilks

Would we get another race in as the clouds started to build and the front was visible in the far distance. Out of the blocks in race 6 Seavolution/North Sails meant business and won the pin heading left into the chop and breeze. Progressively the main protagonists flipped off to the right covered by Seavolution/North Sails rolling last. Closing on the windward mark the gradient breeze shifted right. Dot crossed in first with Seavolution/Norths Sails tacking on the bow of Donkey. Down the run they flew with Donkey going into high mode rolling Seavolution/North Sails. Over the next 2 laps as the sea and wind started to build up a notch, these 3 battled hard with Dot taking a well-deserved first win of the championships hotly followed by the other two with Dimelza and Pocket Rocket.

As the Dart 18s came down to the finish, they brought the rain and wind not far behind. R/O Richard on recognising it was time to play the joker, sent all packing ashore, making sure both fleets were in under the Mumbles headland prior to the big wind coming in.

Though an early finish on the day, great racing was had throughout the fleet with all flying around the course, some really full-on close racing and if the sun had been out, champagne downhills.

Scores on the doors has Donkey ready to canter off with the prize, being kept honest by the next 5 B14s.

Tomorrow is looking edgy at best, and unless the forecast changes, unlikely to happen. Having had a number of light events across classes this year, has been a pleasant change to go for a blast, even if we miss the last day.

With more free beers and Welsh cakes on coming ashore out of the rain, a welcome pleasure for both fleets and wholesome hot food from the galley if needed. Tonight we have more food provided by the club and Live music from Matt Cook a local musician. So it looks like it could be a long one, especially with the forecast.

Results after Day 2: