The B14 fleet arrived at Grafham to be greeted by sunny skies and a fair breeze.
Sharing the course with the 29ers, the B14s were the first fleet to start, sailing on the outer course. The stage was set, in a shifty and gusty force 2 – 3, a story was to unfold.
Throughout the day, the racing was to be tight, with many place changes throughout every race, it was a day of much joisting, giving spectators a battle royal with each race going to the wire. As the day progressed, it became readily apparent that each team would have their moment of glory, particularly All Good Fun (Dan Cowin/Dan Hollands) taking race 4 to the big guns and outwitting them to gain their maiden win in a championship.
The team that initially led the charge was Seavolution (Mark Barnes/Paul Smith) hounded throughout race 1 by North Sails2 (Robin Wood/James Coxon), The Anthill Mob (Tim Harrison/Johnny Radcliffe), Torq (Gerry Brown/Leaky Fermor) and Acxiom (Mark Emmett/Allan Stuart). With the tables turned half way through race 2, it was the Anthill Mob that were to show there colour and roll the dice on the run to outplay the front of the pack to take the race, following that with a close struggle to take race 3. Race 4, with the right holding good had the lead change several times till All Good Fun finally broke through to take their crowning glory.
Concentrating on the Jib? How odd...
That evening the fleet headed off to the Ullman Sails TT series dinner and presentation at the Rivermill Tavern. A great evening was to be had with many receiving prizes for their endeavours throughout the year. Winners of the Ullman Sails TT series was North Sails1 (Dave Hayes/Richie Bell).
Sunday dawned with cloudy sky and a force 2 and all surprisingly in good spirits rather than the full on hangovers. It may have something to do last orders being at 2300 and an extra hour in bed.
The fleet were again first away. Leading the charge, was North Sails2 with Acxiom hot on their heels. However, it was Seavolution that was to pull the rabbit out of the hat, sailing round the fleet up the middle to split the front two at the windward mark. With a large wind shift and fading breeze, the next 3 laps were to prove incredibly tight. At the last mark Seavolution and Acxiom got the better of North Sails2 to lead the sprint to the finish, but the fat lady was to sing. With the breeze dying completely, and North Sails2 on the recovery, the race was abandoned with Seavolution and North Sails2 200 m. off the finish line. Having seen the series outcome being rewritten several times during the race, and with the breeze failing to fill in, The Anthill Mob took the event from Seavolution who in turn beat North Sails2 on countback.
With the culmination of TT series, the fleet will be looking to send out the Winter Pursuit team to this winter's main events.