B14 Open Meeting at Great Yarmouth & Goulston

by Mark Barnes on 25 Jul 2006 The B14 Open Meeting at Great Yarmouth & Goulston SC got off to a great start Saturday when the breeze kicked in about 1300 hrs. with glorious sunshine. There was plenty of tide that was to prove the undoing of more than one boat over the weekend.

The fleet started Race 1 in a force 2 with Readycrest winning the start. The fleet split left and right. At the windward mark, the right had paid and Seasure (Dave Rose/Ginny Rose) rounded first followed by CSC (Chris Bines/Dave Gibbons), Leaky Pipes (Gerry Brown/Leaky) and 757 (Dan Willett/Stu Phillips). On the run CSC broke through in to the lead followed by 757 and PICA (Mark Watts/Stig Rogers). On the next beat Readycrest (Mark Barnes/Tom Pygall) passed PICA and 757 to round behind CSC.

The breeze now was up to 20 knots on the edge of a large weather system. Down the run CSC lead with Readycrest on there heals. CSC held on to the beat. Coming up to the gate there was nothing in it in the building breeze but CSC bladed their mainsail more and the result was a broken main halyard and retirement. Readycrest led the next round to the finish followed by 757 and PICA.

Race 2 and the breeze was again force 4 - 6. Off the line 757 led to be overhauled by Readycrest by the windward mark. Readycrest and PICA tacked round with 757 in third gybing to hoist kites for a blinding downwind leg in 25 knots plus. Over the next two rounds the breeze moderated to force 3. PICA passed Readycrest in the last 50 m. to take the win and 757 were third.

Race 3 and Readycrest led off the start holding the left with some breaking right. At the windward mark it was Readycrest, followed by 757 and PICA. Over the next 3 rounds to the finish in a breeze Readycrest led to the finish followed by PICA with CSC making a charge to pass 757 at the finish.
Overnight Readycrest led from PICA. The fleet retired to the bar and barberque.
Sunday and again the fleet waited for the breeze. It kicked in at 1230 hrs. and built throughout the day to a SE force 4 by the close of play.

Race 4 and 757 led at the start taking the bulk of the fleet. At the windward mark it was 757 from Readycrest and 735. On the run Readycrest passed 757 with 757 hooking the leaward mark and being passed by PICA. Over the next two rounds Readycrest led to the finish followed by PICA with CSC pulling through the fleet to third.

Race 5 and with the meeting now between Raedycrest and PICA, they were in close proximity to each other from the start. Readycrest led from the start. Local knowledge was to play its game in this one. 735 hit hard right and had the biggest lead of the day at the windward mark followed by Readycrest and PICA. The top 3 did not change for the next round but on the second run Readycrest broke through into the lead followed by PICA and 735. On the third round Readycrest covered PICA to win by 5 boat lengths followed by 757 and 735.
Having won Readycrest retired to the bar.

Race 6 PICA port ended the fleet and hit the right hand corner, never to be seen again by the fleet. 757, 735 and Leaky Pipes had a close race with 757 taking second followed by Leaky Pipes.
The fleet again enjoyed some fantastic sailing, good race management and the great hospitality of the club.

Overall leading results:
1. Readycrest, Mark Barnes/Tom Pygall Whitstable YC - 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 9 = 6
2. PICA, Mark Watts/Stig Rogers, Mayflower SC – 3, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1 = 8
3. 757, Dan Willett/Stu Phillips, Brightlingsea SC – 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2 = 14
4. 735, Dick Roe/Katie Dalieu GY&GSC – 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4 = 22
5. CSC, Chris Bines/Dave Gibbons, Brightlingsea SC – 9, 4, 3, 3, 9, 9 = 28