International 14 Grand Prix Heat 3 at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club

International 14s Grand Prix Heat 3 at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club © Victorian 14 Foot Sailing Council

After weeks of being belted around the course in strong winds it was looking like a repeat for Grand Prix Heat 3 in Geelong, but come race time conditions couldn't have been any more perfect with the breeze moderating to 10-15 knots and flat water, anyone that didn't make it down missed out on some of the best racing we have had all year.

Lindsay Irwin / Andrew Perry got out to an early lead favouring the left side of the course and coming out ahead of a tight knit group of Roger Blasse, Chris Vaughan, Stewart Vickery, Anthony Anderson, Ian Cunningham and Dave Wright all fighting for position on the downwind leg.

Anthony Anderson gybed early and managed to pick up Stewart Vickery downwind and it was now Roger Blasse, Chris Vaughan and Anthony Anderson fighting it out for 2nd place with Lindsay Irwin maintaining his lead from the first work. It was all looking very tight at the top mark Roger and Chris split from Anthony upwind going left while Anthony favoured the right which was looking promising but a misjudged lay line kept him in fourth around the mark. The breeze started dropping on the downwind leg making every movement critical in the tight racing.

Positions were maintained around the bottom mark but everyone in close proximity. Lindsay Irwin /Andrew Perry came through with the goods to take the win, Roger Blasse and Andrew Gilligan held on to second place and it was now the fight for third. Chris Vaughan / Matt Balmer tacked just ahead and to leeward of Anthony Anderson / Daniel Vaughan on the port lay to the finish, A small gust to the left favoured Anthony and Daniel lifting up 10 degrees and rolling over the top of Chris and Matt to claim 3rd place.

Second race of the day began in a 5-8 knots crews going from semi wiring to up on the foredeck, Anthony Anderson got off to a strong start closer to pin end and tacked out to the right mid-way up the course while the other boats that continued for another 200m ending up knocking down to him, Dave Wright and Stewart Vickery were looking the goods after going hard right at the start. The wind swung back left and it was Roger Blasse / Andrew Gilligan rounding first followed by Lindsay Irwin / Andrew Perry and Anthony Anderson / Daniel Vaughan, racing was super tight with the top seven all within boat lengths of each other.

Lindsay Irwin split from the group downwind and went left but lost out to Anthony who picked up 2nd place around the bottom mark. From here gains were few and far between in the light conditions with all positions held around the top mark, Roger Blasse had crept away in first but it was an intense battle between Anthony and Lindsay downwind. Roger Blasse / Andrew Gilligan eventually took the win and Anthony Anderson / Daniel Vaughan held out Lindsay Irwin / Andrew Perry for 2nd and 3rd.

Thanks to Royal Geelong Yacht Club for a great day's racing.

Watch the video highlights here