Vintage and Classic International 14 Open at Blakeney Sailing Club

Vintage and Classic International 14 Open at Blakeney, North Norfolk © BSC

Blakeney Sailing Club welcomed five Classic and two Vintage International 14 dinghies for the annual open meeting. Such is the reputation of this prestigious event that it attracted competitors from Cornwall, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Norfolk.

An early start was made on Saturday morning to the dinghy park but it was not looking good with a forecast of high winds and that was confirmed on the ground and consulting the anemometers. Having seen a gust of 34mph, it was decided to cancel the racing for the day. One classic ventured out (why come all the way from Nottingham and not sail!), but after half an hour sailing, a strop holding the jib gave way and the mast fell backwards. The club patrol boat was on hand, doing some training, so they got a real live situation to contend with. The classic was towed back to the dinghy park and repaired in no time at all, ready for Sunday racing. So off for a walk along the sea defence bank to The George and Dragon at Cley for lunch, then after returning and a restful afternoon to the Kings Arms for supper.

Sunday dawned with much a better possibility of racing but might be a bit of struggle to get 2 races in due to dying wind.

Vintage and Classic International 14 Open at Blakeney, North Norfolk - photo © BSC

The first race was set around the east end of the harbour, not wanting to use the west end in case of loss of wind; the Cockle World Championships were using most to the west end buoys.

A cracking start by 4 boats, James Vaughan and Alistair Wilson in K935 Sea Witch leading followed by Lyndon Beasley and Ian Marshall in K1048 Aquavit, these two battled around the course until Aquavit seized the opening to glide passed Sea Witch and finally to take the honours by 5 seconds over an hours race. Chris and Nic Dunster in K859 Wistful, then Paul and Karen Armitage in the vintage K366 Sayonara, Brian Willmott and Simon in K1136 Phantom and Andy Hunter and Greg Martin in K953 Distress borrowed from Edward Allen who was unable to sail but spent the weekend as Race Officer.

Amazingly the second race was an exact repeat of the first race with dying wind and 180 degree wind shift, very challenging for the race team as well as the competitors.

Another memorable weekend at Blakeney.

Overall Results: