International 14 Prince of Wales Cup Week at the WPNSA - Day 1
by Andy Brown & Stu Keegan 23 May 16:43 PDT
22-27 May 2025
The Castaways from the North East
Hailing from the frothy shores of Tynemouth Sailing Club, the dynamic duo of Andy Brown and Stu Keegan made landfall at Prince of Wales Week aboard their trusty steed—a Beiker 4 that's seen more flying wire than a Marvel film set. Boat 1522, affectionately nicknamed "The Leaky Express" (not officially, but spiritually), was locked and loaded for a week of hooning, booming, and (on occasion) mild doom-ing.
Andy, who boasts six previous helmings of a 14 but still look for a mainsheet cleat was finally ready to line up against real-life International 14s. Meanwhile, Stu, with five solid years in the class and at least two good knees left, came armed with optimism, snacks, and an ironclad ability to talk absolute nonsense on long reaches. "Just swing then over your shoulder and send it".
Day One: Where the Wind Blows and the Ego Grows
The week kicked off with sensible conditions with wind ranging from 6-12knts. The start line was polite mosh pit, but our intrepid duo nailed it with a moderately competent start that saw them mid-fleet and briefly optimistic.
Their crowning glory came at the windward mark. As the gods of puff and angle smiled briefly upon them, Andy and Stu found themselves side-by-side with The Gods of the Musto Skiff, Danny Boatman and Billy Maughan, in one of the latest, greatest, and lightest 14s ever to touch saltwater. A fleeting moment of triumph unfolded as Stu out-hoisted Billy—a feat now etched into Geordie folklore.
Unfortunately, hubris is a cruel mistress. Just 30 seconds later, the big lads came rolling through like an express freight train powered by protein shakes and carbon fibre. 1522 was left in their wake, which to be fair, is a lovely place to be—if you like spray in your eyes and the sound of shattered dreams.
The Downwind Chronicles: An RS200 in 14's Clothing
While upwind progress was admirable, downwind efforts were... shall we say, interpretive? Despite sailing a cutting-edge skiff, the lads somehow managed to channel the spirit of an RS200. Not the fast ones either. The ones you see being overtaken by ducks.
With the kite barely full and both sailors squatting tentatively on the wire like Victorian ladies trying not to touch a public toilet seat, 1522 scuttled along with the urgency of a distracted snail. The boat wagged its stern with the sort of lazy indecision typically reserved for indecisive Labradors and BBC weather presenters.
Shenanigans and Shenanigan-Adjacent Moments
Highlights included:
- Andy mastering going on the wire downwind after a quiet chat with Poseidon.
- Stu declaring, "This is the one!" before every race. It wasn't. Not once.
Reflections from the Foam
Despite the bruises, the boat bites, and the existential dread of every start line, one thing remained clear: Andy and Stu love sailing 14s because there's simply nothing else like hooning around with mates in boats that look like spaceships and handle like caffeinated dolphins.
They may not have topped the leaderboard, but they absolutely won in vibes, good humour, and the ability to laugh at themselves while sailing backwards through the fleet. In a old boat the Prince of Wales Week was less about silverware and more about salt spray, banter, and the absolute joy of being part of one of sailing's most gloriously chaotic tribes.
Probably.
Thoughts from Caroline Gosford, the oracle, on the committee boat:
Race 1 - 8-10kgs, S-T 2 laps, clear start, 1568 won Ctte Boat end. Ww1 1569 first. LW1 1569 just from 1553, 1568 3rd. Fitz capsized near gate from 3rd.... Finish 1569 with kite from 1553 who got mapped and dropped early, 1567 3rd and newbies 1565 a good 4th, 1568 5th.
Race 2 - WL 2 Laps, 9-11kts, 220deg. 08 nm. 1572 over at start but cleared. 1569 pin end start. 1553 1st at Ww1, fleet all R more breeze. Lw1 1553 good lead over 1567 and 1569. Split up beat, 1553 extended, win 1553, 2nd 1567, 3rd 1569.
Race 3 - There's a 3rd race by agreement with fleet at briefing. 220 deg WL2 10-12 knots building breeze, clean start 1553 flying Committee Boat end, lead and extended throughout race. 1569 second, 1567 3rd. Solid steady breeze all day!