International 14 Championships at Restronguet Sailing Club - Day 4

International 14 Prince of Wales Cup Week day 4 © Ed Shelton

Day four of the Duchy Contracts Prince of Wales Cup week dawned once again with very little wind and broken sunshine. Two trophy races were once again planned, but the optimism of the fleet was measured by the takings of the galley on cups of tea and bacon sandwiches still being consumed at the planned start time. Various discussions were had between the fleet and race officer concerning the minimum breeze that the fleet were happy to sail in but as a gentle southerly built to around 6 knots the fleet was released to a start line just round the corner, inside the harbour.

Normal behaviour had returned, and with the last hour of the ebb pushing the fleet forwards, the race officer had no option but to abandon at 10 seconds to go with 60% of the fleet over. No extra pin end was offered, but the sight of the black flag encouraged restraint, with only one boat infringing and the majority sitting at least a boat length shy of the line. Once again the beat was very one sided, with the left paying today, and those that hit the shore first from the start sailed away with Katie Nurton and Nigel Ash leading around the windward mark having won the pin end on starboard. They were followed by Glen Truswell and Chris Blackburn and Andy Fitzgerald and Richard Dobson. In contrast Andy Penman and Chris Watson (who rounded the windward mark in the top 6 yesterday having hit right) tacked immediately at the committee boat, stayed right and sailed round in last place for 2 laps.

The runs remained light and tactical, with those who could take speed and depth profiting hugely. At the front of the fleet Katie and Nigel slowly slipped backwards as Glen and Chris started to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the fleet. Once again Ben McGrane and James Hughes were moving forwards after a less than perfect start and first beat and were challenging the podium positions. The breeze continued to drop to the point that the helm was sitting in and the crew crunched on the foredeck, with the tight reach across the top of the triangle a welcome stretch for the legs. The run from the gybe mark proved to be the deciding factor at the top of the fleet as Glen and Chris cemented their position at the front, with Douglas and Mark, Ben and James and Dan and Jeremy sailing past Andy and Rich and Katie and Nigel. The third lap the breeze continued to drop, and although the front of the fleet compressed Glen and Chris held on to win from new National Champions Douglas and Mark, with Ben and James in third.

After the top 8 had finished the breeze died away completely as a north-westerly fought with the established breeze, leading to an absolute lottery as boats sailed in with breeze from behind, and they were able to keep momentum were able to gain 10 places in the short reach to the finish.

Despite the race officers optimism, after an hour and a half racing the fleet voted with their feet and sailed straight back into the shore, and a sensible last decision from class chairman Ed Clay saw AP over A raised, meaning the important business of the AGM could get underway where a near unanimous vote (only his wife voted against him) saw Dan Holman installed as the new class chairman.

Tomorrow sees two more championship races in a forecast 12 to 15 knots, followed by a single handicap race using a shortened windward mark, with the handicap fleets decided according to results so far. Having seen the handicaps the money appears to be split between either Katie Nurton and Nigel Ash or Christina Bassadone and Damian Ash who sail to the short mark on the first lap only, or Mark Upton-Brown and Jonny Blackburn or Jamie Reid and Tom Hayward who sail to the short windward mark on the first 2 laps. All will be to play for with the Island Commemorative Trophy being awarded to the winning boat, an upset may well be on the cards!

Results after Day 4: (three races)