Day One 2015 ISail Whitsundays B14 Worlds - 'I’m a Bit Dizzy'

by Jane Moffatt on 3 Jan 2015 Day one conditions at the ISail Whitsunday B14 Worlds were not looking promising a weak north easterly threatened to completely fade. However Race Officer Peter Merritt found a magic spot on the water and squeezed in two races.

A clear start in race one saw GBR 788 Seavolution sailed by Mark Barnes and Alicia Clifford hit the windward mark first but a bad kite drop at the leeward mark set them back to third. AUS 793 Guy Bancroft and Lachlan Imeneo were in second at the windward mark and were pushing hard but with Imeneo losing his footing they also had a bad kite drop leaving Brent Francombe and Leigh Dunstan to move from third to first.

Bancroft and Imeneo fought back and keeping close inshore upwind took the gun in race one. Bancroft commented that they’ve 'had a good start to the championship'. After a disappointing nationals and probably not as much preparation time in the new boat as they would have liked, the good start will have done much to restore faith in boat, body and mind.

It seemed that a lot of teams were finding their feet as Tom Pygall sailing AUS 761 Whitstable Marine got his feet caught during a gybe and just managed to stay in the boat. Having finished first in the Australian Championships Pygall and skipper Chris Lewns are looking for another podium finish during this championship. Lewns and Pygall may have a secret weapon in Ian 'Bunny' Warren as their coach; although comments about 'Bunny always supplying good bottles of red wine at dinner' may be a benefit to their competitors.

With a 10th place in the Australian Championships AUS 371 Rick Plain and Alice Walker had a blistering second race finishing first leaving them sitting in fourth overall. Plain and Walker are looking for a top 10 place overall with a couple of top three race finishes, looks like they are on course.

With the wind remaining consistent race two got under way with a clear start but for Barnes and Clifford it turned into something more akin to the nursery rhyme round and round the mulberry bush. They led off the committee boat at the start but by the end of the race they had done three….yes three 360’s, including one with their kite up. So like a game of snakes and ladders they moved from back of the fleet to near the top of the fleet before sliding back down and finishing 11th. Barnes’ comment on the day, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, 'I’m a bit dizzy'.

Results for the ISail Whitsundays B14 Worlds available here
For more images from the day go to http://www.sailingshots.com.au

For updates go to the McCrae Yacht Club Facebook page facebook.com/McCraeYachtClub .