Congratulations to Craig Garmston and Paul Fleming for taking out the B14 2021-22 National Titles once again.
But it wasn't always easy...
Thanks to the Illawarra Yacht Club for hosting us once again, the B14s always feel very welcome at IYC and we are always well looked after.Thanks to Bob and Anne Bowers and all the volunteers. And well done Glenn Cardwell and Kim Desborough for all the hard work in organising this very well-run regatta.
Bryan Moses has created an excellent video of the event. 2021RaceDay2.mp4 (vimeo.com)
And more fantastic pics thanks to Brendan Markey can be found here. B14 Nats 6th Jan 2022 - Google Drive
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It’s all over…
We awoke to a rainy morning with no wind, what was going on? It was forecast to be at the top of the range today! Now it was looking like maybe we wouldn’t be able to sail because there was not enough wind to inflate sodden spinnakers. We started to rig wondering if it was going to be a surprise day for the lightweights, or another one for the strong wind masters. It ended up being NNE 18-20 gusting to 23kn. There were a couple of holes out there but the gusts on the runs were amazing, flat-water blasting.
Heading into the race both 2nd and 4th spots were only one point behind the boats ahead of them, so there was a bit to play for. Guy and Louis in OMFTB in 3rd were keen to secure their spot on the podium by getting to the top mark first and blasting away down the run with Craig and Paul on Snatch rounding behind them, with 4th-placed Glenn and Jack on Bandit in hot pursuit. By the time they rounded the bottom mark, Bandit had moved up to be behind OMFTB, pushing them right to the last rounding of the top mark in the 3-lap race. Richie and Lissa in The Nude were down the fleet a little and slowly worked their way up to 4th as a couple of those ahead of them succumbed to the pressure and tipped it in on gybes in the gusty conditions.
Congratulations to Craig Garmston and Paul Fleming on Snatch for a well-sailed series and taking out successive B14 National Titles at the Illawarra Yacht Club.
 Results Day 5 Oz Nats | [ ] | 52 kB |
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The forecast for races 8 and 9 was up near the class limit so there was a bit of nervousness in the fleet. But word came back from the course that the wind was 12 – 15kn. Strangely it looked a bit more when we got to the start area.
When we got underway it was in NE winds 16-21 gusting to 23kn. In the final 2 minutes of the countdown to Race 8, Snatch ditched it but managed to get up and going at the gun, and ended up taking 2nd behind Guy and Louis (OMFTB) who took out their second win for the regatta. Bandits Glenn and Jack were 3rd, with The Nude (Richie and Lissa), regatta leaders going into the day, managing 4th in very unNude weather.
Race 9 was again in NE winds 17-21, gusting 24kn (according to the start boat – some competitors felt there was the odd bullet that could have topped that!).
Craig and Paul showed their class once again with a win. Sophie and Andy (Hunt Leather) always enjoy the breeze and racked up their first podium for the event with second. There are five women in the fleet and Sophie is the only girl helm (again! Go Sophie!!!) Bangers and Louis took third.
The start boat did record a 27kn gust during racing, and the forecast for the final race tomorrow is WINDY and possibly stormy. We shall see!!!
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The forecast thunderstorm didn't eventuate, but there was rain and easterly winds. Race 6 saw 8 to 10 knots, with local boat Bandit (Glenn and Jack) taking out their first win, with The Nudists (Richie and Lissa) clawing their way back from an OCS to snag second ahead of Craig and Paul in Snatch.
Race 7 started in similar wind, but shortly after the start a squall came through from the left with up to 18 knots. Bangers and Louis (OMFTB) notched up their first win of the regatta, with Snatch consistent as ever in second place. The Nude came back from another shocking start to finish 3rd.
The forecast for the final two days is for plenty of wind and rain!
 Results Day 3 Oz Nats | [ ] | 49 kB |
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