Gul B14 Europeans at Rock Sailing and Waterski Club - Form Guide
by Mark Watts 4 Sep 2015 11:32 BST
5-8 September 2015
B14 TT at Whitstable © Alex Cheshire
This weekend will see the B14 fleet heading to Rock Sailing Club in Cornwall for this year's Gul B14 European championships with a strong UK fleet attendance plus teams from France, Germany and even a team flying in from South Africa (yes, we know that is not in Europe!).
So to the runners and riders!
- GBR 771 – Mike Bees & Ferrett (Blue Badge)
2013 National Champion and usually near the front. They will almost certainly podium and will probably do so with the same sails they seem to use year after year after year. The controversy over bionic implants has now passed so as the fleet look for more secrets to their speed the conclusion is increasingly they are just legends!
Odds: 7/4 (Fav)
- GBR 791 – Mark Watts & Chris Bishop (Flying Donkey)
Will be looking to do something special after their performance in Australia at the Worlds. 2nd in 2013, 4th in 2014's breezy Nationals and just missed out on 2nd at this year's nationals. They have sailed one whole day together since the nationals but Wattsy has been on the water more with a number of guest crews so may be able to drag Bish around the course. The random element will be their complete change of upwind sail inventory since the nationals. Why? We are not sure either!
Odds: 5/1 (Just to annoy Barnsie!)
- GBR 788 – Mark Barnes & Charlotte "Chinscar" Jones (Seavolution)
Builder/supplier of the B14 and 2007 Nationals winner and 3rd in the pre-Worlds in Australia. Sailing with the legendary Chinscar. Barnsie with his shoulder recovered will have no excuses for this event and you would expect this team to podium but you never quite know. What is guaranteed is that all photos will have poor Char in some horrible, uncomfortable positions and they will continue to ignore advice with their team edition night time driving glasses and between race protein shakes (Could be their secret to light wind speed?)
Odds: 6/1
- FRA 773 – Alain Cadre & Francois Cadre
Previous B14 European Champions, Alain has been multiple windsurfing World Champion, and with his brother have finished on the podium in other classes. Sailing one of the fastest boats built (allegedly) we haven't seen too much of this team in the last 18 months. Will they come here and run off with the Trophy or have their work cut out at the front. It is impossible to call but all we can say is they will make it look effortless and whenever they do something different will have most of the front runners looking on in concern..
Odds 13/2
- GBR 785 – Peter Knight & Jane Reeves (Demelza)
Fast and tactically astute and 6th last time out in 2014, back to the dream pairing after Peter's brief public frolic with Crispin at the worlds. On home waters, well in Cornwall, this team will have an obvious advantage. Will the massive effort to organise the event have worn Peter down? We hope not! Will Jane fail to live up to Peter's experiences with Crispin? Well that's another matter!
Odds: 13/2
- GBR 787 – Alan Davis & Kathy Sherratt (Watts) (Troublegum)
Have most certainly spent more time on the water recently than any of the other top teams. They are fully calibrated and ready to go. Well okay they have a list of boat bimbles longer than your arm and despite Kathy nagging suspect they will still be on item 4 in the dinghy park in Rock. If they get past that, play nice with each other then they could well be a surprise, especially if Alan uses their new secret weapon mainsail!
Odds: 13/1
- GBR 786 – Gerry Fermor Brown & Leaky (Torq)
The team that promise so much and can often deliver sparking performances on and off the water. Currently causing confusion across the fleet with the 'which bike to pack' debate and likely to turn up with more toys than most! There is great expectation of what social interest Leaky will bring to this year's event!
Odds: 16/1 (Worth a few quid this one given the forecast!)
- GBR 681 – Paul Gliddon & Josie Gliddon – White Stiletos
These 2 have transformed 681 into a nearly new looking boat and showed at the nationals they are tactically astute with a race win and can be worryingly fast in the lighter stuff. There is some smart money on these 2 to be the surprise in Rock if the current forecast for lighter conditions continues. Ones to watch. Also surprisingly hard to find anything on them to add comedy value to the form guide. Will have to work on that in Rock!
Odds 16/1
- FRA 776 – Jean Baptiste Perie & Walter Duchastenier - Hydrotherapy
Well what can we say about JB and Walter? Few words needed. The excitement builds for their arrival in the UK. Will they take to the Doom Bar? How quickly will they find their feet back in bigger fleet B14 racing. So many questions.
Odds – I have no idea!
With the lighter forecast and so many other capable teams the results are difficult to place for clear odds, but we can be sure there will be some real snakes and ladders as the series evolves and close racing across the fleet. Could this be the year for one of the girls to walk off with the trophy!
The other hotly contested prize will be the unofficial concours d'elegence bragging rights. Will Paul & Josie take the prize, will Scott/Charlie be toppled, or could the late (and frankly most unlikely entry) the Raynes brothers take the prize!
This one looks like it should go to the wire and as usual the action will be as much off the water as on with a full social program and the local Doom Bar sure to feature both on and off the water!
Daily write-ups to follow as the action unfolds. Watch this space!