Original Cottages B14 Euros / Nats 2022 at Whitstable Yacht Club - Day 2

Day 2 of the Europeans and Day 1 of the Nationals saw a number of sore bodies and a lot of boat fixing. The day brought slightly less of the same compared to the previous day - slightly less wind, slightly less Whitstable chop, a similar flood tide and the bearing to the windward mark still painted on the blackboard at 60 deg.

Same as before, the general plan was tack off asap after the start and hit the right hand lay line - on the assumption that this was dodging the tide - maybe - a bit.

Race 1 (Nats)/4 (Euros) and again same as yesterday it turned into a demonstration by BrightMile (Mark Watts/Matt Johnson) who led at the first mark and were never seen again. The next two at the first mark, Demelza (Peter Knight & Giles Gilbert) and Blue Badge (Beezer & Ferret) held 2nd and 3rd for the entire race followed by Highland Girl (Dave Hayes/Pete Nicholson) and Harken (Nick Craig & Toby Lewis) who were rocketing through the fleet after some technical issues on the first lap.

Race2/5 followed a similar pattern, with a reversion to yesterday's top two of BrightMile/Harken having a private duel whilst pulling away from the rest of the fleet. Third place initially was held by Demelza chased by Blue Badge, who slipped by on the first downwind to finish in that order with Dads on Tour (Josh Wilce/Matt Hollis) following through in 5th following a decent last downwind.

Race 3/6 and again the rest of the fleet waved goodbye to BrightMile and Harken. At the first windward mark Admiral Trailers (Tony Blackmore & Charlie Hadley) steamrollered in from the left to round in unison with a consistent Demelza. As the race played out Demelza consolidated 3rd place for a very consistent day's 2,4,3 with Highland Girl in 4th and Seavolution/North Sails (Mark Barnes & Kathy Sherratt) coming in 5th.

Tonight heralds the annual class AGM and a monster Fish & Chip order from Ozzie's

After today's lazy 2pm start tomorrow will be a wake-up call with a 10:30 kick-off. The breeze is expected to be lighter and from the South, meaning shifts, variable pressure and a cross-tide course - plenty of opportunity for snakes and ladders to shake things up a bit.

Results after Day 2: