International 14 Firecracker at Itchenor Sailing Club

International 14 Gallon Trophy at Itchenor © Tillie Rose-Brown

After severe winds on Saturday, five boats ventured out on Sunday, initially in a calm five knots of wind.

Martin Jones comfortably won the first race, showing what a new boat and lots of experience can do and with Kimball attempting to tack with the kite up around the last mark let the Pascals in to second place.

Before race two started the wind switched on, jumping from 5 to 20 knots, causing a fair amount of carnage. But by the start the wind had dropped to a more manageable 15 knots with Kimball getting the jump on the rest, showing a clean pair of heels for the win.

International 14 Gallon Trophy at Itchenor - photo © Neale Jones

By race three the wind had moderated further to 10-12 knots and Martin Jones again showed great consistency taking the race and the regatta.

It was great to see such a mix of boats on the water with 1497, a 15+ year old Beiker 4 helmed by Pete Bromley getting around the course and being right on the pace as well as the new Ovington Beiker 6 showing that the "off the shelf package" really is working.

Overall Results:

1 1567, M. Jones & A. Lees 1, 2, 1
2 1558, Dragon, R.Pascal &M.Pascal 2, 3, 2
3 1523, K. Morrison & J. Fowke 3, 1, 4
4 1497, P. Bromley & Milkie. 4, 4, 3
5 1530, Josh Boniface DNS, DNS, DNS

Ranking update

All events have now been completed in the inaugural International 14 ranking year and we have the scores on the doors. Neale & Ed have led from start to finish, but the battle behind has been intense. Early podium places were taken by Andy FitzGerald and Andy Shaw, however over the last few months there has been a swing, Douglas Pattison had a very consistent middle of the year and has a solid second place for a reward and a late surge by Dan Holman has taken him to 3rd. Only 100 points (equivalent of a 10th place at POW) separated 3rd to 7th and because the ranking system rolls on from year to year, this titanic battle will commence at the first major event of next year, the Easter Tray.