B14 Worlds - Cyclone hits opening event races

by Richard Fisher on 3 Jan 2009 After the first three races of the B14 Worlds Pre-Event, being held at the Royal Yacht of Tasmania, in Hobart, there is a three-way tie for the lead. The first day provided hail, snow and tropical cyclones with a wind strength that varied from about 3 knots to 32 knots. After the carnage of the first day, the second day was a more gentle northerly of 15-20 knots.

Tied in the lead after day two are Mark Barnes and Pete Nicholson (GBR), Nick Craig and Matt Johnson (GBR) and the Australian pair, Nick Richardson and Alan Nicholas.

One point further back are David Hayes and Sean Dwyer (GBR) followed by Guy Bancroft and Nick Darlow (AUS) and Chris Bibby and Scott Cunningham (AUS) rounding out the leading six places.

Day 1 National Championships 2009 Hobart

A lovely balmy day, interspersed with hail, snow and tropical cyclones. Wind strength was variable, from about 3 knots to 32 knots. The record fleet of 48 boats left the shore with plenty of time, for an early start ahead of the King of the Derwent.

We started with a port bias start line, with a late shift just before the start. It was a clean start in fairly light air, and the boats on the left picked up nice height and pressure, including MJF/North (Dave Hayes/Sean Dwyer), Bang Bang (Kieran Livermore/Jonathan Branch), Hunt Leather (Sophie Hunt/Andrew Payne) and The Nude (Richie Reynolds/Lissa McMillan). Most of the fleet went right but it didn’t pay. The first top mark saw MJF/North round first, followed by Bang Bang and Hunt Leather.

The wind filled in from behind, which saw a huge pile up at the first bottom mark. Quite a few capsizes, and some raised voices. On the second downwind leg, Last Gasp (Chris Bibby/Scott Cunningham) took advantage of some great pressure, then took over a couple of English boats on the way uphill. Last Gasp ended up first, with Anthill Mob second, (Tim Harrison/Jonathan Ratcliffe), and first UK boat, then Pigs Arse (Nick Richardson/Alan Nicholas).

The conditions during the race were an average of 20 to 23kts, with a few gusts of about 27kts. Somewhat extreme, at times, and there were a lot of capsizes, broken gear, and a fair lot of rescuing. The second race was postponed till tomorrow, just before a terrific 30+ knot squall with rain.

The fleet is primed for a great regatta ahead of the Worlds next week, well-organised by a very efficient team and lots of support, not to mention action in the bar. With the BBQ tonight and a 1300 start, there may be a few sore heads in the morning.

Day 2 B14 National Championships 2009 Hobart

Day 2 started in a prevailing northerly in 15-20 knots with an expected afternoon sea breeze.

Race 2: Sailed in a steady pressure although shifts meant big gains or losses were there to be made. After numerous changes to the lead, AUS Toxic (Dave Lorimer / Raf Heale) came out on top from GBR Seavolution (Mark Barnes / Pete Nicholson) , GBR Hyde sails (Alan Davis / Toby Barsley-Dale), AUS Last Gasp (Chris Bibby / Scott Cunningham) and AUS Bonework (Rhys Bancroft / Joey Randell).

Race 3: Started with a Northerly 10 knot breeze and was all going well for 2 and a half laps when the race was abandoned just as the leaders were starting the last downwind and had the finish in their sights, due to a 180 degree windshift.

Race 3 re-sailed: The course was re-laid and sailed in a dying 5 knot southeasterly sea breeze, which was shortened at the last windward mark. After 2 and a half laps, GBR Seavolution took line honours. GBR Team Gill (Nick Craig / Mark Johnson) just got ahead of AUS The Nude (Richie Reynolds / Lissa McMillan) followed by AUS Pigs Arse (Nick Richardson / Alan Nicholas), GBR MJF/North (Dave Hayes / Sean Dwyer) and AUS Sly Bone (Guy Bancroft / Nick Darlow).

The race officers had their hands full with 2 starts abandoned due to wind changes and a general recall, an abandoned race and the final race needed to be shortened to stay within the time limit. After yesterdays carnage, the rescue crews had an easier day and could watch the racing.

Last night the fleet received a warm welcome by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. Welcome drinks and a BBQ were enjoyed by all. The friendly fleet all joined in to celebrate the hapless calamities suffered by some sailors as they explained their exploits during the days sailing, in their 'five minutes of fame'.

B14 Worlds Pre-Event, Australian Nationals 2009 - Positions after 3 races

1 GBR768 Seavolution Mark Barnes Pete Nicholson W/BYC 14 2 1 17pts
2 GBR773 Team Gill Nick Craig Matt Johnson FPSC 4 11 2 17
3 AUS372 Pigs Arse Nick Richardson Alan Nicholas WYC 3 10 4 17
4 GBR757 MJF/North David Hayes Sean Dwyer TBA 5 8 5 18
5 AUS778 Sly Bone Guy Bancroft Nick Darlow McYC 6 7 6 19
6 AUS379 Last Gasp Chris Bibby Scott Cunningham McYC 1 4 19 24
7 GBR775 Quinta Raddison Ltd Chris Bines Dave Gibbons BSC 8 12 9 29
8 AUS371 bangbang Kieran Livermore Jonathan Branch WSC 9 6 17 32
9 GBR758 Anthill Mob Tim Harrison Jonathan Ratcliffe HPYC 2 23 11 36
10 GBR763 Hyde Sails Alan Davis Toby Barsley-Dale WeSC 11 3 24 38
11 AUS376 Hunt Leather Sophie Hunt Andrew Payne WSC 7 25 8 40
12 AUS370 The Plumbers Ian Cunningham David Cunningham McYC 12 9 20 41
13 AUS368 The Nude Richie Reynolds Lissa McMillan WSC 17 22 3 42
14 GBR772 Simmons & Simmons Mark Watts George Morris WeSC 20 18 10 48
15 AUS363 Just In Time Ben Price Jim Morgan RYCT 25 17 7 49
16 AUS378 Siren Kelvin Boyle Josh Fullenger McYC 13 14 25 52
17 AUS359 Epic Chris Wells Dianne Maynard DSC 19 21 13 53
18 GBR760 On Purpose Geraldine Brown Leaky Fermor TBA 15 15 23 53
19 AUS353 Dodge A Bullet Andre Webster Jacob Webster CYC 21 20 14 55
20 AUS037 Aviva Simon Morgan Drew Latham RYCT 22 13 21 56
21 AUS369 Strait4devils Budget Adrian Beswick Josh Phillips RYCT 10 19 29 58
22 AUS377 Early Warning Ross Daley John Genders MPYC 18 26 18 62
23 AUS7 Bonework Rhys Bancroft Joey Randell McYC 48 5 12 65
24 AUS367 Phantom Stephen Miller Lauren Keil MPYC 16 27 22 65
25 AUS374 Toxic Dave Lorimer Raf McYC 48 1 26 75
26 AUS357 Buggar The Bone Richard Fisher Stuart McDonnell TYC/PDYC 48 16 16 80
27 AUS361 Smokin' David Cromarty Cameron Gibson TYC 23 31 28 82
28 AUS159 Partic Nasty Weather William Short Alan Short KBSC 24 30 35 89
29 AUS182 Power Play Simon Baker Aaron Ellis DSC 48 35 15 98
30 AUS151 The George James Patterson James Huggett McYC 48 24 30 102
31 AUS355 Bondi Tram Stephen Mitchell Amy Van Galen MPYC 48 28 33 109
32 AUS366 The Cunning Plan Cole Dabner Rob Moreton PDYC 48 32 32 112
33 AUS250 B Alert Tim Grant Stuart Grant MYC 48 34 31 113
34 AUS226 Esra Tew Gavin Barwick Simon Legge TYC 48 37 34 119
35 AUS103 Blow Me Luke Cripps Sam Cannamela BYC 48 33 40 121
36 AUS181 The Edge Timothy Starkey Mathieu Mongin RYCT 48 36 37 121
37 AUS356 B-Sting Daniel Watson Derek Schaefer RPAYC 48 48 27 123
38 GBR770 Compact Pussycat Simon Hadley Nikki Webster WhYC 48 29 48 125
39 AUS290 Serious Yahoo Peter Fox Mick Hawes KYC 48 48 36 132
40 AUS313 Bring It On Shaun Hancock Sam Lowe MPYC 48 48 38 134
41 AUS299 Hurricane Geoff Waldon Rick Boughton WSC 48 48 39 135
42 AUS101 Jason Hancock Glen Bouse MPYC 48 48 48 144
42 AUS104 Austral Asia Line Benjamin Zamstra Peter Coad DSS 48 48 48 144
42 AUS152 Not Just Yet John Tanton Benn Morgan RYCT 48 48 48 144
42 AUS280 B+ Craig Macaulay Louise Macaulay BRYC 48 48 48 144
42 AUS362 Shmoo Roger Board Alex Board RYCT 48 48 48 144
42 GBR728 Hey Ho, Here We Go Trevor Harris Lucy Walter BSC 48 48 48 144