Velocitek B14 National Champs at Weston Sailing Club - Day 2

Light winds on day two of the B14 nationals at Weston © Liam McGrath

Seavolution’s day at the races

Day 2 and the fleet were greeted with a 5 – 7 knots Northerly breeze and sunshine. Race 5 and with a port bias the fleet congregated at the pin. The boats that came out best were Performance Rigging (Don Forster/Sean Dwyer) and Velocitek (Guy Whitby/Anna Payne). As the fleet split left and right, it was all about tide and wind lanes. First to the windward mark was Performance Rigging followed by Seavolution (Mark Barnes/Pete Nicholson) and Blue Marine (Drew Malcolm/George Morris) with the next 5 boats overlapped. Battle royal ensued down the run with Performance rigging holding on by the smallest of margins from Seavolution and Ovington Boats (Chris Turner/Phil Eltringham). Up the next beat Seavolution got the jump on Performance Rigging and led from this point onwards pulling away from the fleet over the next 2 laps. However, a real battle developed behind between Ince&Co (Mark Watts/Tim Rogers), North Sails (Nils Joliffe/Richie Bell), 758 (Tim Harrison/Johny Radcliffe) and Ovington. At the finish it was Ince&Co by the narrowest of margins from 758 and Ovington.

Race 6 and more of the same with Ovington and Performance rigging winning the pin but with Seavolution and Ince&Co holding the middle ground on a slight port bias line. Up the beat Seavolution covered their adversaries but Performance Rigging and Ovington went hard left with Ovington first to round followed by Seavolution, Ince&Co and Blue Marine. With the fleet tightly compacted the places changed continuously throughout the race with Ovington holding on to the finish whilst a real dogfight occurred astern between Seavolution and Ince&Co. So at the finish, Ovington won from Seavolution narrowly pipping Ince&Co with the pack closing on the leaders at the finish.

With a dying breeze, the decision was made to send the fleet ashore. As this did not materialise R/O Mike Jarman binned it for the day. So with 3 races to sail tomorrow, Seavolution leads from 758, Ince&Co and Ovington.

Kings of the Handicap Series are Sailsport (Tony Blackmore/Charlotte Jones) and Blue Marine on equal points, showing the fleet the way and lying to wait for all comers on the final day.

Conditions for tomorrow promise are predicted to be a 7 – 8 knot gradient wind. However, The Sumo Suit wrestling and party games may account for a few tonight.

Results after Day 2: (top ten, 6 races, 1 discard)