International 14 season off to a flyer at Itchenor
by Glen Truswell on 11 Apr 2012
Easter Tray 2012 Andrew Penman https://profiles.google.com/101982837323177971915
The International 14 season got off to a flying start over the Easter weekend with 27 boats to include five central European teams attending 'the races' at Itchenor Sailing Club.
Despite light and somewhat variable conditions, 'business as usual' prevailed with many of the strongest UK boats from last year’s Worlds largely dominating the proceedings.
Over the duration of the weekend, two race wins went to Katie Nurton/Nigel Ash (GBR1520) while Sam Pascoe/Alex Knight (GBR 1509), Glen Truswell/Chris Blackburn (GBR1543), Dave Dubrovnic/Neil Jones (GBR 1538) all enjoyed one apiece.
Saturday evening brought with it a fantastic 'Space' themed fancy dress party with a truly ridiculous and lethal, red smoking alcoholic broth for all. Fuelled by copious amounts of vodka, drambuie and dry Ice, much of the technical bar talk over the course of the weekend centred around the possible merits and failings of Glen Truswell’s revolutionary hydrofoil support strut/prep foil system focused squarely at making these extreme boats more neutrally balanced, predictable and hence easier to sail.
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While no definitive theoretical conclusion was reached on this matter the boat in question wasn’t outside the top three in any race all weekend so research and development while inevitably continue.
The final day saw the new team of Christina Bassadone/Damian Ash (GBR1499) post a couple of very convincing second place finishes which put them in strong contention overall and to this end the overall standings at close of play were as follows:
1st Katie Nurton Nigel Ash 8.0
2nd Glen Truswell Chris Blackburn 10.0
3rd Sam Pascoe Alex Knight 13.0
4th Dave Dubrovnic Neil Jones 16.0
5th Christina Bassadone Damian Ash 16.0
The prize for the first central European boat went to Oliver Voss and Feliz Weidling from Kiel in Germany who finished ninth overall.
International 14 website
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