Racing Day 5 – Bohaul Express Australian B14 National Championships – Perth Dinghy SC – 6/01/2011
There were many challenges ahead for the final days racing. Pockets of competition were still alive throughout the fleet and everyone was keen to do well on the last day. The wind was blowing from the west-sou-west and gusting from 15 to 20 knots with the occasional squirt up to 25. The fleet got underway at about 1pm, 1 hour earlier than previous days.
The siren hoots at the start of the 7th heat of the australian B14 Championships
The Bule Rabbit, Wing It gets away to a winner start
Off the line with speed Octopussy (Webster/Webster) from the photos got the best start from Wing It (Patterson/Vickery) off the line with gallant speed. By the top mark Wing It kept their good pace to round in first position, in 2nd OMFTB (Bancroft/Grace) with Siren (Darlow/McDonald) in 3rd. Octopussy and Strait4devils (Beswick/Cromarty) got through in 4th and 5th. Strait4devils got through with an early gybe and carried a gust down to the bottom nearly getting through Octopussy but coming into the bottom mark, Wing It managed to capsize right on the Starboard gate to make for an interesting rounding and as Hunt Leather attempted to gybe inside them and avoid Wing It.
The final and second lap of the race OMFTB got into the lead and got around the course comfortably to take the win from Siren in 2nd and Octopussy in 3rd followed by Strait4devils in 4th. The Nude (Reynolds/McMillan) came through in 5th, their best result for the windy regatta with Blown Seal finishing in 6th.
The final race of the series got underway in a similar breeze to the first one. It was the first Individual Recall for the regatta with the Nude going back and one other boat that was just over but couldn’t be identified.
Strait4devils went over the boat to find a slot after the gap closed up to get to the line and got away well with speed along with Hunt Leather and OMFTB. Siren also did well at the pin end and crossed back into a top position on the upwind.
At the top mark on the first of three laps Siren rounded in 1st position Hunt Leather rounded in 1st position with OMFTB getting through in second position and Strait4devils in 3rd on the way to the bottom mark Strait4devils went for a gybe and managed to capsize for the first time in the regatta, the only boat that hadn’t capsized all regatta.
Strait4devils plays catchup after their capsize
Siren went left down the first downwind and suffered in low breeze while Hunt Leather and OMFTB rocketed down in pressure. By the top mark of the second lap Hunt Leather had maintained and built on their lead over OMFTB. On the third lap Siren got back through OMFTB on the upwind in pressure. The last downwind OMFTB went for their third swim of the regatta on the last lap of the final race letting through Octopussy to take a third position, one of their 6 for the regatta.
The heat win was the first for the Hunt Leather Wife/Husband combination of Sophie Hunt and Andy Payne. Second for the heat went to Siren and third to Octopussy sailed by Andre and Jake “Gobberhead” Webster, who is officially now known as “Gobberhead” around his close sailing mates.
Upon further research Gooberhead means: "A person whose brain is the size of a peanut, which is also called a goober, or goober pea, in the Southern United States"
Hunt Leather races to victory in the last race of the Championship
Overall for the regatta check out the final results at:
http://www.sportspage.com.au/yacht_clubs/pdsc/b14/B14_Championship.htm
Onemoreforthebone holds off the rampage to take the championship win after a capsize
Stewart "Jock" Ross and Guy "Bangers" Bancroft celebrate a successful regatta together
Guy Bancroft and david Grace Celebrate their win with the local Penguins