Shepherd Neame / Holiday Cottages B14 TT at Whitstable Yacht Club
by Mark Barnes 2 Oct 08:37 BST
Upwind on day 1 - Shepherd Neame / Holiday Cottages B14 TT at Whitstable © Ayhan Betez / Eye Sky UK
The B14 flying circus headed to Whitstable for what was going to be a busy weekend. The weekend was sponsored by Shepherd Neame brewery and Holiday Cottages.
Forecast was not great, but in 2026 we all have got used to that, be it light to fickle conditions or windy with little in between.
So, some hardy B14s arrived to almost mirror glass seas, joined by the Dart 18s. Forecast had come in as predicted. Would we see a sea breeze of sorts as the temperature was not hot but a nice 22 - 23 C, sun out and spring tides.
Both fleets launched on time to a postponement for approx. 1 hr. Then the faint breeze started to fill. R/O Steve Gray and his team led by course layer Colin Smith got to work. After a short delay due to the breeze establishing from the east, racing got under way. All B14 races would be under black flag and 2 laps with target time of 40 minutes for the first boat. There would be a strong tide setting up to the committee boat first from the east and on the ebb from the west. Turn arounds would be quick minimising the delay between races as the breeze would not last.
Over the afternoon the B14s would, being better suited to the wind, find themselves finding lanes through the Dart 18s minimising disruption to the breeze.
Dart 18s led off with the B14s 6 minutes behind. Race 1 out of the blocks Captain's Bunk (GBR 770 - Simon Hadley/Gerry Fermor) led from the right and Seavolution/North Sails (GBR 799 - Mark Barnes/Jack Kilburn) from the left. Gerry not helming her usual B14 Leaky Pipes was crewing with a rendition of the team's 2001 Worlds pairing at Garda (25 year reunion). They were to prove to be slippery and playing the shifts throughout the weekend.
Captain's Bunk rounded the first mark in the lead already amongst the Darts chased By Seavolution/North Sails and GBR 757 (Ali Moppet/Reece Moppet). Over the run these 3 played cat and mouse as the pressure came and went. Captain's Bunk held on just. Up the next beat Seavolution/North Sails found a vein of extra pressure and hit the front to lead over the next lap to the finish followed by Captain's Bunk and GBR 757.
Race 2 and more of the same, but this time led out by Seavolution/North Sails initially chased by GBR 787 (Will Rand/Rob Aylward) and GBR 757. At the windward mark GBR 757 having come in on a nice lift led followed by a closely bunched pack. Down the run Seavolution/North Sails broke through followed by Captain's Bunk to take out second with GBR 757 taking third holding position till the end of the race.
Race 3, again Seavolution/North Sails led out chased by GBR 757. At the windward mark Seavolution/North Sails led followed by a closely bunched pack. Down the run Captain's Bunk broke through to take out second with GBR 757 taking third.
Heading to shore after 2 hrs of racing and quick turn arounds, the race team had beaten the fading breeze, just.
Saturday night was party night, with dinner included in the entry, with entertainment provided by the very popular Dead Pelicans. All had a great evening, your author not remaining to the very end.
Sunday dawned with the promise of wind. 3 laps would be the call for the day. Launching in to an offshore 8 knots, it was not long before we had a nice 12 knots with gusts which slowly built to 16+ knots with gusts from the south swinging SSW would set the playing field.
Three races were sailed is some stonkingly nice conditions with reasonably flat water and enough wind to stretch our legs, though there were holes in the pressure and some big shifts causing a few snakes and ladders.
Seavolution/North Sails closed out all 3 races, with some close competition to keep them honest. Races 4 and 5 Captain's Bunk showed some good speed to come home 2nd in both followed by GBR 757. Race 6 GBR 757 turned up the wick and came home 2nd with some good speed on the beats.
Seavolution/North Sails with the help of local knowledge closed out the overall win, followed by Captain's Bunk, GBR 757 and GBR 787. Some very close racing was had and overall, an enjoyable event.
Thanks to RO Steve Gray, course layer Colin Smith and their team for some great courses and fast turnarounds. Saturday 2 hrs from start to finish of racing, only to be repeated on Sunday and finally to Glenn Cook and Anthony the club manager for organising all the on shore side which went like clockwork.
Event sponsors were primarily Shepherd Neame brewery (providing all competitors with bottles of Whitstable Pale Ale) and Holiday Cottages.
Next B14 TT will be the Final Fling in Plymouth on 17th - 18th October where several teams will be back from their holidays and expecting a good turnout.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 799 | Mark Barnes | Jack KIlburn | Whitstable YC | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 770 | Simon Hadley | Geri Fermor | Whitstable Yacht Club | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | (DNC) | 10 |
| 3 | 757 | Alastair Moppett | Rory Moppett | Bough Beech SC | ‑3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| 4 | 787 | Will Rand | Rob "The Leg End" Aylward | Lymington Town Sailing Club | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | (RET) | RET | 20 |