B14 World Championship at Woollahra Sailing Club - Day 1
by Chris Bateman 6 Jan 2025 14:18 PST
6-10 January 2025
Day one of the B14 World Championship kicked off Monday in Sydney, Australia at Woollahra Sailing Club.
With a medium wind forecast for the day, competitors looked forward to a stiff sea breeze filling in across the bay, just in time for the first start of the day. Thirty boats lined up on the start line, and the harbour glistened with a mild chop beginning to build.
In Race One it was Craig Garmston and Paul Fleming of Australia sailing "Snatch" who were leading at the top mark. The Irish pairing of Chris Bateman and partner Lucy Loughton in "Squirrel" challenged from behind just ahead of Nick Craig and Toby Lewis of Great Britain. As the breeze increased, the fleet spread out across the course and the pace of the race began to change. After an exciting downwind on the first leg, the Irish pair (IRL 774) overtook the leaders to take first place. Nipping at their heels were team Snatch (AUS 375). Taking third place was Craig and Lewis (GBR 801).
Race Two, and the wind had increased to a steady fourteen knots. However gusts of up to eighteen knots blew across the course, making manoeuvres challenging.
A clean start later and the B14's screamed out to the left side of the course, which proved to be the favoured side. In the melee of tacking dinghies, Bateman/Loughton popped out ahead, to round the first mark in the lead. Craig/Lewis rounded in second, however they were overtaken by the Aussie team of Garmston/Fleming on the first downwind leg.
The finishing order was Bateman and Loughton in "Squirrel" (IRL 774) taking line honours, with Garmston and Fleming in "Snatch" (AUS 375) coming in second. Nick Craig and Toby Lewis (GBR 801) completed the board, taking third place.
Race Three began after a slight course change. Surging into the lead was Garmston/Fleming. Attacking the port lay line with a vengeance, they rounded the top mark in first. Glen Cardwell and Karen Branch in "Bandit" rounded in second, having sailed a great first beat. Craig/Lewis challenged, overtaking Cardwell/Branch on the downwind leg. Brent Frankcombe and Leigh Dunston in "Demon" sailed a fast second beat, pulling into third place. A ferry and a couple of pleasure craft made the second windward mark rounding quite a challenge, however the order of finishing was not altered. Taking first place was Garmston/Fleming (AUS 375). In second place was Craig/Lewis (GBR 801) and in third place was Frankcombe/Dunston in "Demon" (AUS 378).
Overall standings are tight, with AUS 375 (Craig Garmston and Paul Fleming) taking the overnight lead. In second place is IRL 774 (Chris Bateman and Lucy Loughton). In third place is GBR 801 (Nick Craig and Toby Lewis).
Tuesday's forecast is for more wind, so it was with a relief that the sailors headed home to enjoy much needed rest before the breezy day ahead!