I14 World Championships - Second and third places still up for grabs

by Tracey Johnstone on 16 Jan 2015 The final race of the 2015 I14 World Championships plays out today on Corio Bay, Geelong, with second and third place still to be decided.

Yesterday’s Race six of the series determined the new I14 World Champions, Britain’s Glen Truswell and Sam Pascoe.

The competitors have been put on notice that they should watch the AP flag as PRO Ross Wilson and his volunteer race management team, heads out to the course area to view the conditions and make a decision on today’s race. A strong north-westerly, gusting in the high 20s, continues to pump in across the bay.

On shore at Royal Geelong Yacht Club, the remaining 62 teams are making their last minute tweaks on their fast Fourteens.

Sitting back assessing the scene is Australia’s Ian Cunningham. He is not so sure his 59-year-old body can take another day of skiff racing after competing in back-to-back World Championships.

Racing with his son David, Cunningham competed in December’s ISAF Sailing World Cup in the 49er class, then finished third in the B14 World Championships the week before the I14s started. So while the teams are rigging up in anticipation of a relief in the heavy wind, Cunningham as both a competitor and current President of Yachting Victoria is sitting back in the sunshine with a cup of coffee, reflecting on the success of the I14 event.

'The success of the event is in the fleet being happy, in how much they have enjoyed the venue and the camaraderie of the class competitors. It’s been a very harmonious group that has got on well both on and off the water. The social side of things has also worked well.

'I think the I14 class will benefit in Victoria from this event. We have a couple of young guys that have come into the class like my elder son and his crew. They have been sailing in the class for a while, but this is their first year for a serious campaign and they have proved themselves to be up there among the best. I think other guys who have the capability, have seen that these guys have been able to achieve that without spending a wealth of money. I think that will entice them into the class as well.

'The observers of the class looking to come into the I14s will see that young guys can do it. I think the class has become not as expensive, not as developmental as it has been so it has made it easier to pick up a good second-hand boat at a cheaper price,' Cunningham said.

When the racing gets going this afternoon, in the hunt for second and third overall are five teams. Holding second place is Ben McGrane and James Hughes (GBR) on 13 points. In third is Brad Devine and Ian Furlong (AUS) on 18 points. In fourth is the four-time class World Champion, Archie Massey and crew Harvey Hillary (GBR) on 19 points. In fifth place is Andy and Tom Partington (GBR) on 25 points and in sixth place is 2005 World Champion Lindsay Irwin and Andrew Perry on 26 points.

In the Australian Championship title battle, it’s between defending champion Devine and Irwin for first place, with only five points separating them.

Today’s final race of the series was scheduled to start at 2pm. The latest the race can start is 4pm.

At the time of release the Race Committee were reporting an average of 25kts on the course area.