Day One of the 2021-22 B14 National Titles at Illawarra Yacht Club was held in glamour conditions, sunny and 7-14 knots.
Craig Garmston and Paul Flemming are leading after 3 races with 2 bullets and a second, with The Nudists in second with 2 seconds and a first. Local legend Glenn Cardwell, with crew Jack Markey, is in third, with Guy Bangers Bancroft and Louis Chapman snapping at their heels.
More pics https://www.instagram.com/b14sailingaustralia/ and https://www.facebook.com/SailingAtIyc
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After months of lockdowns and regatta cancellations, the Australian fleet is gearing up to hold the 2021-22 B14 National Titles at Illawarra Yacht Club.
The dates are the 2nd to the 7th of January 2022.
The club and the fleet are itching to hold the event, and to get the chance to see each other, compete and social once again.
To allow for the now-normal Covid uncertainties, entry is flexible, with no late fee applying, but do get in early before the November 28th cut-off date to ensure you get the event merchandise. The entry fee will be refunded less costs if health restrictions are reimposed.
 2021-22 AUS B14 National Championships - Sailing Instructions | [Sailing Instructions ] | 404 kB |
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The forecast was terrible for the second and final leg of the B14 NSW States at Illawarra Yacht Club on the 14th March 2021.
There was a gale warning, with southerlies of 25 gusting 30 knots predicted.
Four skiffs braved the elements, 15 degrees and rain, following a day of 28 degrees and brilliant sunshine.
The club was keen to provide racing if possible, both for the B14s and for the regular Sunday local sailors in Trailables and other craft, and had a boat on the lake taking readings, and of course was monitoring the wind as it moved up the coast. As race time approached, the rescue boat was only measuring 14 knots on the lake, although it looked a hell of a lot worse. Racing was declared ON, so the B14s started getting ready to go on the water. The locals, on the other hand, got out of their wetsuits and went home!!
While 4 boats rigged up, only 3 hit the water as Yellowbone had a kite halyard mishap which could not be rectified.
Glenn Cardwell and Audrey Scheu in Bandit dominated the day, winning all three races, two by a long margin. The Nude gave them a run for their money in the third, but Bandit won out comfortably. Nathan Reynolds and Darren Morgan in Usain Boat had a good first race, finishing 2nd. But in Race 2 they collided with Richie Reynolds (no relation!) and Lissa McMillan in The Nude at the first top mark, breaking The Nude’s tiller extension. Nathan and Darren capsized during the penalty turn and struggled to upright the boat. Although the wind remained about 16-18 knots most of the day, with a few 20 to 25 knot gusts, the lake was very lumpy in the southerly, and the sea state made sailing challenging. Happily the lake water was very warm!
Although Bandit won the day, The Nude took out the States 2021 (for the 11th time), having notched up 3 wins at Woollahra in leg 1, whilst Bandit had recorded 3 fifths on the Harbour. The State Titles Trophy has had to be modified, with another layer added to fit more shields.
At the AGM before racing, Glenn Cardwell took over the role of NSW President from Lissa, who has held the role for 21 years. Minutes of the NSW AGM are here.
We are very grateful to Illawarra Yacht Club for putting on racing for just our small fleet on a pretty ugly day on the water! Thanks to Bob our Race Officer, as well as Ann, Norm, Dante, and the others on the start and rescue boats.
 Results B14 NSW States 2020-21 | [ ] | 30 kB |
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Sydney’s had a run of “interesting” weather this season, with the planned first leg of the B14 NSW States postponed from 25 October after Woollahra cancelled racing due to a howling southerly. Racing was cancelled the following Sunday with southerly gusts in excess of 30 knots. And the rerun of the States on 8/11 saw southerlies again, albeit not ridiculously strong, but still gusty and swinging wildly.
Six boats braved the conditions to complete 3 races. It wasn’t easy to sail well, and some less than graceful manoeuvres were displayed! Of note was the less-than-a-minute-to-go-to-the-start-of-the-first-race capsize by class veterans Sophie Hunt and Andy Payne in Purple Cow aka Hunt Leather. But like the pros they are, they managed to finish in second place behind Richie and Lissa in The Nude.
Glenn Cardwell and super-crew Audrey Schue in Bandit were with the Hunties going around the top mark but their mast hit the water, pushing them back through the fleet. The boom also hit Audrey’s head during righting, which might partly explain Bandit’s unanticipated performance – they were not their usual highly competitive selves, chalking up 3 fifths.
On the other hand, Yellowbone (Anthony House and Natalia Wu) and Usain Boat (Nathan Reynolds and Ellen Noye) both had sustained periods of brilliance. The most impressive was the third race when they led the field to the first top mark, going around together. The Nude and Hunt Leather managed to get around the pair, with Yellowbone finishing up third and Usain Boat fourth in that race, and indeed in the regatta.
Despite not much time in the boat this season, Stan Bland and daughter Anna showed good pace, particularly off the start and upwind. The full results are here.
On a demographical note, it was a very balanced regatta, with one female and one male on each boat. The age range was also impressive, from 16 to 66!
Good fun was had by all and hoping others can join us for the second leg of the States to be held at Illawarra Yacht Club on 14th March.
 B14 results States Round 1.JPG | [ ] | 85 kB |
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