Pathfinder Homes B14 European and Global Championships 2026 - Day 1
by Mark Barnes 19 Jun 01:54 PDT
18-26 June 2026
Day 1 - Pathfinder Homes B14 European and Global Championships at Torbay © RTYC
The fleet rocked up to The Royal Torbay Yacht Club on Wednesday, well most did, and were greeted by a friendly member organising team. Measuring and registration were well organised with a few people having to make a couple of minor adjustments including your author for today, but all were not performance issues just a class measurement for the mainsheet ratchet take-offs. So all good there.
Day one and all were keen to get out and assess the racecourse with the forecasted breeze being a light SE - southerly six knots increasing throughout the day with sea breeze kicking in mid afternoon.
Course would be upwind/downwind 3 laps with no leeward gate on the last lap and straight to the finish. One general recall on Race 2 and the fleet sailing under U flag for the rest of the day.
Race 1 and off the line it was Seavolution/North Sails (Mark/Barnes/Jack Kilburn) at the pin and Trunky (Kathy Sherrat/Char Horlock) with The Nude (AUS (Rich Reynolds/Lissa MacMillan) midline that would stretch out on the fleet up the first beat. Seavolution/North Sails going up against these two lighter teams would adopt the high mode upwind to hold their own with the other two going for speed.
However, it was the speed of super lightweights The Nude which was impressive. Leading from the first mark and slowly extending their lead throughout to take the win. Behind, Trunky led the charge for the first 2 laps, but on the final upwind Seavolution/North Sails got the better of them to close out 2nd.
Race 2 and more of the same from The Nude but with slightly more pressure Seavolution/North Sails in hot pursuit throughout closing in on them on the last lap but never getting close enough to be a problem. Behind these two it was very close, a right battle royal ensued with Harken (Nick Craig/Toby Lewis), Pathfinder Homes/Squirrel (Ralph Singleton/Lucy Loughton), Neil Pryde (Amy Roberts/David Roberts), Wonkey Donkey (Mark Watts/Matt Johnson), Admiral Trailers (Tony Blackmore/James Dawson), Exe Asbo (Crispin Taylor/Daniel Newell) and Trunky having a right old ding dong till the last gybe.
Over the race Wonkey Donkey and Harken would pick the rest off to move to the front of the pack with Harken getting the better of Wonkey Donkey on the last downwind.
With a delay as the sea breeze started to really kick in, it would be party time for the heavier teams as a solid 12 - 14 knots became the state of play. Out of the blocks, it was Harken and Wonkey Donkey that showed their intent with Exe Asbo, Admiral Trailers and Trunky in the mix. Seavolution North Sails and The Nude had a bit of a misfire on the first beat by their showing so far. The Nude at 130 kg as opposed the bigger teams at 150 kg plus, would they hang in there.
Over the race the front two held formation with Admiral Trailers in hot pursuit. On the move was Seavolution/North sails climbing to 4th on the water and Pathfinder Homes/Squirrel coming home fifth
Overnight in the Open European Championship Harken and Seavolution North Sails are on equal points the same worst result and The Nude counting a 9th in the last race in 3rd. In the European only results Seavolution North Sails lead on 6 (1, 1, 4), Harken 6 (3, 2, 1) and Wonkey Donkey 9 (4, 3, 2).
Special mentions must go out to the Whispering in the Dark (Chris Pilling/Natasha Pilling) and Yellow Bone (Anthony House/Amanda Digby) in their classic B14s showing a number of the Grand Prix B14s the way round the course. Classic B14s have a slight handicap adjustment within the races which can help improve the result if close racing as proved the case today.
It is looking interesting for the Ashes come the Worlds, where the top 3 teams from each hemisphere have their scores combined to see who has the bragging rights and wins the cup come the Global Championships.
With 11 females in the fleet, two of which are helms in the mix, it shows how inclusive the B14 is.
After racing the fleet retired to the club for the opening reception and much banter of the day's on water action.
Tomorrow is looking like more wind again from the SW, possibly force 4 - 5 which will be good for the heavier teams.
Results so far