B14 TT Series Round 1 at the Stokes Bay Sailing Club Skiff Open 2026

Ten B14's joined the band wagon & headed to the south coast for the class's first TT of 2026. Over the weekend of the 25th and 26th April, we were promised sun and light to fair wind. The sun arrived as ordered but the weather gods were to play their hand with the wind. As teams arrived on site, light zephyrs were observed on the Solent.

As always, sailors were greeted at Stokes Bay by the friendly members running the show, slipping off to ones usually preferred rigging areas, either the dinghy park, front lawn if any space left or promenade.

Six 45 minute races were planned over two days. Each day each race had 3 starts (1 = RS800, RS700; 2 = B14, 400; 3 = Mustos). After a short delay teams launched to sea with a slight building breeze. The sun was out and if the heat built, though still a bit chilly, we'd see a clockwise movement in the wind direction from the heading of 120? (T). The joker in the pack could be the strong tidal flow later in the day.

Race 1, 2 laps got away at the first attempt with the 4000s, going high off the line to hold their lanes against the B14s which added spice to the mix. GBR799 Seavolution (Mark Barnes/Jack Kilburn) got the legs out on the rest from the pin once the 2 4000s close to them rolled onto port, putting the bow down and heading inshore. Unfortunately, the pressure was better mid beat and when coming back had to duck several boats. On future beats in the race this would prove the way to go. At the first the lead was held by Pathfinder Homes GBR774 (Ralph Singleton/Lucy Loughton) followed by Seavolution and Trunky GBR772 (Kathy Sherrett/Char Horlock). With a dog leg to the outer course nothing changed on this leg other than the 4000s were in the mix and forcing a decision of soaking to leeward, or heating it up and rolling over. Seavolution went low and the other two higher. Onto the run along the shore, Pathfinder Homes and Seavolution jostled for the lead with Seavolution getting the overlap at the leaward mark to lead from there over the next lap to the finish followed by Pathfinder Homes and a recovering Brightmile GBR797 (Mark Watts/Matt Johnson).

B14 TT at the Stokes Bay Skiff Open - photo © Amanda Jenks

Race 2, 3 laps with one general recall as the pin boats took both fleets over the line early. At the restart, more of the same but the fleet behaving and remaining behind the line. With little to choose on the first beat, the fleets were led out from the left by Brightmile followed by Seavolution and Pathfinder Homes with GBR789 Asbo (Crispin Taylor/Dan Newall) leading the chasing pack. At the first leeward mark Seavolution got the inside overlap and hooked Brightmile. Over the next lap Seavolution extended with Brightmile not far behind followed in third by Asbo. Unfortunately, Seavolution, after some discussion on board headed to the finish a lap early at the leeward mark rounding, schoolboy error, re-joining in 2nd and spending the next lap chasing down Brightmile. At the finish Brightmile led with Seavolution riding their transom followed by Asbo.

Race 3, 3 laps. The heat was on with the main protagonists midline. However, rolling out of this pack was GBR795 Night Shift (Amir Shamsuddin/Claire Allen) heading right with a roll of the dice followed by Trunky and Pathfinder Homes. The right shift arrived on queue and these 3 made hay while the sun shined. Seavolution was on the hunt with Brightmile with both buried on the beat. On the runs Seavolution slipped through to give chase to Night Shift who had built a lead on the first two laps. Would they hold on or capitulate. Slowly Seavolution closed in, Night Shift feeling hunted heated it up to break the cover. Coming into the last turn mark it was a case of pressure required for Night Shift to soak down and hold on. Getting to the 3 boat lengths circle by the narrowest of margins they held on, executed a perfect drop under pressure and held out Seavolution on the sprint to the finish. The first B14 TT win for either Amir or Claire and celebrations on board. Third was Trunky.

Once ashore, all got together to enjoy the evening and food laid on by the club.

Sunday morning, head fog gone and with more breeze, when would the fat lady sing, Would Brightmile get the bullets they needed to take the event by the neck or would Seavolution progress and build on Saturday.

Race 4, 3 laps, Seavolution took the pin only to have to back off as a large yacht motored across their bow just after the start. On the cross back they had to duck several B14s rather than cross ahead. Benefit to Brightmile. Over the race Brightmile held the lead slowly extending as GBR788 Admiral Trailers (Tony Blackmore/James Dawson) and Seavolution jostled for the next 2 places with little to chose between them. At the finish Brightmile won from Admiral Trailers and Seavolution.

B14 TT at the Stokes Bay Skiff Open - photo © Amanda Jenks

Race 5, 3 laps, more of the same, with Asbo coming into play with Brightmile and Seavolution. Brightmile just led at the windward mark to keep the lead to the finish. Asbo had a twist in their kite on the hoist, releasing Seavolution to give chase. The 2 protagonists extending throughout the race as the pack fought a close battle throughout with places changing until the last turn mark. At the finish in 3rd was GBR771 (Matt Banbrook/Chris Dawson) who had all weekend been there or there abouts but still finding the gear changes in the conditions due to being new to the TT circuit.

So, on equal points overall and with discard, who would sing the loudest, would it be Brightmile or Seavolution. Seavolution threw the grenade in to the pile and capitulated to leave the fleet to decide the winner as they head straight from the finish ashore as Barnsie had not been feeling his best this weekend.

Race 6, 2 laps, the breeze was holding and had swung a little to the right. Asbo shot off the line with speed and were neck and neck with Brightmile at the windward mark. Brightmile held the lead ahead of Asbo with Admiral Trailers, Pathfinder homes and GBR771 having a royal tussle. Toward the end of lap 2, a handling error allowed Admiral Trailers to overtake Asbo who then gybed inside and overtook. Seeing that Brightmile were sailing the 3rd lap, Asbo followed suit only to observe Admiral Trailers and Pathfinder Homes heading for the line. At the finish, Admiral Trailers followed by Pathfinder Homes and Asbo. The last race podium was a lockout for the Starcross YC team.

B14 TT at the Stokes Bay Skiff Open - photo © Amanda Jenks

The fat lady could finally sing. Equal on point with Seavolution before and after discard, reverting to number of firsts, Brightmile were worthy event winners.

The Stokes Bay skiff event is always a great one and this was no exception, thank you to Dan Vincent and the excellent support team.

Special mentions to Night Shift Amir and Claire for their bullet in Race 3, Chris and Natasha Pilling sailing in an older boat GBR 711 who were in the mix the whole time, youngest team, Matt and Chris in their newly acquired 771 who are defiantly ones to watch, Starcross graduate, Dan Newall crewing Asbo in a B14 for the first time in 12 years who was on great form.

Finally, the return of ever speedy Kathy Sherratt in Trunky crewed by Starcross supercrew Char Horlock (Jones).

Next up Weymouth Skiff weekend, 10/11 May, which going by the close racing at Stokes Bay could potentially be a classic, then on to the Euros and Worlds in late June at Royal Torbay YC.

Overall Results: