International 14 class return to Tynemouth Sailing Club

International 14 class return to Tynemouth © TSC

After a gap of nearly 20 years, the International 14 class retuned to Tynemouth Sailing Club in search of its Northern Soul. Seven entries included two new Ovington B6s built less than a mile from the Club.

Day one, started in a strong northerly gusting 28kts which proved challenging conditions for the fleet. Race 1 was won by the current 'Gun' teams of Neale Jones & Ed Fitzgerald who were followed home by Andy Fitzgerald & Richard Dobson with local boy Adam Ovington in third crewed by newcomer to the fleet Stuart Keegan.

Race 2 saw Neale and Ed win again with Martin Jones & Harvey Hillary in second and Ovington & Keegan in third. Impressively, Martin Jones was sailing a new B6 straight out of the box and was starting to show real pace in testing conditions.

The promise of the new 'virtual one design' package was demonstrated further in race 3 with a well-deserved race win for Jones & Hillary after Jones & Fitzgerald suffered spinnaker issues.

After lots of cheap beer and fantastic camaraderie with Musto Skiff sailors and club members, the fleet launched on Sunday in Southerly winds and a building swell. Race 4 continued to see Jones Jnr & Fitzgerald Jnr dominate with Jones Snr & Hillary scoring another second.

The breeze and wave height increased for Sunday's second race with Neil and Ed taking the bullet ahead of Charles Duchesne & Ian Lodder who were loving the big waves. The final race saw Duchesne & Lodder and Ovington & Keegan go head to head, with the former taking line honours.

Special mention must go to newcomers to the fleet Mark Schuerch & Keith Greaves (sailing a 10yr old Picked Egg) and Nathan Bachelor (in an 18yr old B4). Great work lads and testament to big fun/low cost 14 racing!

The fleet will return to Tynemouth next year for the 2020 POW (29th July - 2nd Aug).

Overall Results:

1st Neale Jones - Ed FitzGerald (ISC)
2nd Martin Jones - Harvey Hillary (ISC)
3rd Adam Ovington - Stuart Keegan (Tynemouth)
4th Charles Duchesne and Ian Lodder (ISC)
5th Nathan Bachelor and Alex Knight (Tynemouth)
6th Mark Schuerch & Keith Greaves (Rutland)

2019 Open Series Leader board: