Australian B14 National Championships winner Onemoreforthebone

by Adrian Beswick on 8 Jan 2012 Australian B14 National Championships fifth and final days racing was forecast to get underway in a 15 to 20 knot sea breeze, to the front runners excitement it didn’t disappoint.

But before the final days entertainment a big thank you must be said for all the sponsors that made this years B14 National Championships possible. Firstly a massive thank you to Bohaul Express the naming rights sponsor for the Championships. Bohaul provided the class association with assistance to get us across the Nullabor to the other side of the home we call Australia. Without a single boat from the local area within Western Australia the whole B14 class has packed up and put on a serious road show to make it all happen and its great to have the support of Bohaul Express to ensure its successful completion. A big thanks also to our prize sponsors for the regatta including: Irwin Sails, Bethwaite Design, CST Composites, Boyle and Grigg Airconditioning, Ronstan and Hunt Leather for making sure there was plenty of reward for such a big commitment from the sailors.

Bohaul Express was the idea of our Managing Director, Neil Beauglehall, in 1972. His vision was to offer a two day, door to door express service from Melbourne, to the isolated, but fast growing city of Perth. A capital that required freight urgently, from the eastern states and return. Neil’s idea gained support immediately and Bohaul Express went from strength to strength, now being one of the leading independently owned and operated express service companies on this long road haul.

Our linehaul trucks are equipped with airbag suspension, ensuring the smoothest possible transfer of goods from state to state. We can service a wide range of freight, from computers to steel, all of which are carefully loaded by the experienced Bohaul team. Bohaul Express is a full road express service with no rail component whatsoever. Both our Melbourne and Perth premises are company owned and operated. To find out more visit the website.

Some of you may have also read something about the girls that are part of the class, here is a photo to remember why it’s great to be a part of such a mixed bunch of people within the B14 class.

There were many challenges ahead for the final days racing. Pockets of competition were still alive throughout the fleet and everyone was keen to do well on the last day. The wind was blowing from the west-sou-west and gusting from 15 to 20 knots with the occasional squirt up to 25. The fleet got underway at about 1pm, 1 hour earlier than previous days.

Off the line with speed Octopussy (Webster/Webster) from the photos got the best start from Wing It (Patterson/Vickery) off the line with gallant speed. By the top mark Wing It kept their good pace to round in first position, in second OMFTB (Bancroft/Grace) with Siren (Darlow/McDonald) in third. Octopussy and Strait4devils (Beswick/Cromarty) got through in fourth and fifth. Strait4devils got through with an early gybe and carried a gust down to the bottom nearly getting through Octopussy but coming into the bottom mark, Wing It managed to capsize right on the Starboard gate to make for an interesting rounding and as Hunt Leather attempted to gybe inside them and avoid Wing It.

The final and second lap of the race OMFTB got into the lead and got around the course comfortably to take the win from Siren in second and Octopussy in third followed by Strait4devils in fourth. The Nude (Reynolds/McMillan) came through in fifth, their best result for the windy regatta with Blown Seal finishing in sixth.

The final race of the series got underway in a similar breeze to the first one. It was the first Individual Recall for the regatta with the Nude going back and one other boat that was just over but couldn’t be identified. Strait4devils went over the boat to find a slot after the gap closed up to get to the line and got away well with speed along with Hunt Leather and OMFTB. Siren also did well at the pin end and crossed back into a top position on the upwind.

At the top mark on the first of three laps Siren rounded in first position Hunt Leather rounded in first position with OMFTB getting through in second position and Strait4devils in third on the way to the bottom mark Strait4devils went for a gybe and managed to capsize for the first time in the regatta, the only boat that hadn’t capsized all regatta.

Siren went left down the first downwind and suffered in low breeze while Hunt Leather and OMFTB rocketed down in pressure. By the top mark of the second lap Hunt Leather had maintained and built on their lead over OMFTB. On the third lap Siren got back through OMFTB on the upwind in pressure. The last downwind OMFTB went for their third swim of the regatta on the last lap of the final race letting through Octopussy to take a third position, one of their six for the regatta.

The heat win was the first for the Hunt Leather Wife/Husband combination of Sophie Hunt and Andy Payne. Second for the heat went to Siren and third to Octopussy sailed by Andre and Jake 'Gobberhead' Webster, who is officially now known as 'Gobberhead' around his close sailing mates.

For full results click here.