B14 National Championships Race Day 1 - Write up and Results

The Harbour provided a typically Sydney welcome to the B14 National Titles, with an absolute plethora of Many ferries slicing through the race course. The ferry timetable seemed to be completely in synch with the B14 laps. Some boats had a closer look at the ferries than others, with ferry horns sounding out across the sparkling blue water.

Controversially, one B14 and one FD (who are jointly holding their Nationals with the B14s) were disqualified by the Race Officer for being too close to a ferry. Scotty Cunningham and Rhenny Fermor (Bonework, Vic) will be in mediation with the race director tomorrow morning seeking to have that call reversed.

Two races were held on Day One in South Easterly winds, averaging 15 knots. It was a corker of a day, with brilliant sunshine and 28°C. The conditions tested much of the fleet (particularly due to the ferries) with four not completing the first race and not commencing the second. Cole Dabner and Clare Cromarty (Cromarty Engineering, Tassie) were very unfortunate to break a wing just off the first start. The English visitors (Leaky and Gerry Brown) were so overwhelmed with the loss in the cricket, they tried to end it all twice: once capsizing in front of a ferry, and then again in front of a sea plane.

Apart from the ferries, the additional challenge of the south-easterly course was the inability to see the top mark from the start due to Shark Island being in the middle of the race track. It was fascinating to see which side of the island paid off, as your competitors finally reappeared from the far side.

Guy Bancroft and Lachlan Imeneo (One More for the Bone, Vic) showed their dominance on Day One, with a bullet in both races. The youngest team in the fleet, Robbie Hunt and David McAully (The Hitcher, Tassie) are sailing impressively, with a second in the first race (after a ferry-lull capsize) and a fourth in Race Two. At the other end of the spectrum, one of the older teams in the regatta (Richie Reynolds and Lissa McMillan, The Nude, NSW) got third in both races. Andre Webster and Craig Davidson (Octopussy, ACT) were fourth in the first race and second in Race Two.

Tomorrows racing is due commence at 1400hrs and winds are expected to be 10 to 15 knots from the south east. Stay posted for further updates.