Pathfinder Homes B14 Global Championship 2026 - Day 1

Pathfinder Homes B14 Global Championship at Torbay Day 1 © Royal Torbay Yacht Club

With a heatwave forecast for the week ahead, the Pathfinder Homes B14 Global Championship got under way today at Royal Torbay Yacht Club in Torquay, UK.

The fleet was looking forward to some great racing in warm, sunny weather as the UK braced itself for record highs in the coming days. Crews selected more summery attire compared to the European Championships held at the same venue the previous week. At the welcome to the club, the race officials revved us up with the promise of good conditions and the possibility of 3 races, given very light and variable winds forecast for the next few days. As the fleet prepared to leave the harbour it looked from the dock like we could be in for a few decent rides, but as we sailed out from the shore it seemed that the gusts were only along the shore and as we neared the start area the wind lightened off.

After a short delay, a light easterly filled in and the Race Team lead by Bill Butcher set the course for a 3-lap windward -leeward course at 090 degrees, 0.6nm. There was a clean start and racing was under way. GBR799 Seavolution (Mark Barnes / Jack Kilburn - fresh from third in the Europeans) got a good start at the pin end and led those choosing to stay on starboard tack towards the lay line and the cliffs. The group that headed right was looking good, until they tacked back and it became clear the cliffs were the way to go. AUS800 The Nude (Richie Reynolds / Lissa McMillan - oldest combined-age team at 125 years) got ahead at the top mark. There was lots of close racing, with the right downwind favoured once again. After more than 40minutes of racing, the wind lightened off and was abandoned as the leaders approached the leeward gate for the second time.

Pathfinder Homes B14 Global Championship at Torbay Day 1 - photo © Royal Torbay Yacht Club

After a slight postponement, the wind settled back to its original direction, with the same coordinates on the start boat. The line was looking fairly square until the last 30 seconds when it shifted left and caused chaos at the pin, with many boats having to duck the pin boat to restart, and others tacking onto port in very light air with starboard tackers bearing down. The race continued with those heading further towards Daddyhole Plain winning out. By the top mark, GBR774 Squirrel (Ralph Singleton /crewed by current World Champion Lucy Loughton) was leading, and then rode the gusts coming from Thunderhole and West Shag Rocks to consolidate their lead. GBR799 Seavolution recovered well from a poor start to be second at the first top mark. Well in the mix were AUS793 (Glenn Cardwell / Karen Branch - one of the 50% of the fleet with a female crew on board) and GBR786 (Geraldine Fermor / Leaky Fermor - who ended up being the first female helm at 6th place).

During the race the breeze lightened even further, and combined with the tide, created difficulties for sailors rounding marks and sailing in general. There were a lot of mark-hitting and 360s, with a record of 3 strikes going to locals GBR784 (Amy Roberts / Dave Roberts).

On the final run, all but the first 5 boats had to drop their kites to work to the finish with the wind changing 180 degrees.

GBR774 Squirrel took out the race by a fair margin over second place GBR799 Seavolution, and GBR785 Demelza (Peter Knight / Henry Hallam). There were great performances by some of the newer teams, with GBR775 Ceto (Ben Cutler-Sharp / Tesni King) finishing 11th after spending most of the race in the top 10, GBR771 (Matt Banbrook / Toby Banbrook) in 16th and GBR755 (Stephen McDonald / Hannah McDonald, at 16 the youngest competitor in the fleet) in 19th just behind AUS357 Yellow Bone (Anthony House, at 72 the oldest member of the fleet / Amanda Digby).

As the wind shut down, the rain came in, forcing the fleet to paddle home, allowing the Australians to enjoy a proper English summer day. The fleet recuperated in the Royal Torbay Yacht Club's Corinthian room with prizes for all the incidents of the day and a special fail flamingo hat for AUS800 The Nudes for what would almost have been a win of the first race of the Globals!

Results after Day 1: