B14 Pre Worlds 2025 at Woollahra Sailing Club, Sydney
by Tony Blackmore 5 Jan 09:40 GMT
2-4 January 2025
The three days of racing planned were primarily for the Aussie National Titles but it gave the Brits and Irish a chance to get into the Sydney Harbour washing machine and see what happens!
The first day was as different to anything we've ever sailed in. Shifty doesn't describe it! Wind was from the south and coming over the hills into the bays in lumps, anything from 5-10 knts gusting 15knts + And the harbour traffic was manic! We started down in Neutral Bay and headed up towards Clark Island and Double Bay. With the wind being shifted around the many headlands and bays on either side of the course it was Nick Craig and Tobytastic in GBR801 Harken who took the first line honours.
If you thought this would be the way of it you'd be wrong! Aussies Brent Frankcombe and Leigh Dunstan AUS378 Demon were second with Craig Garmston and Paul Flemming Aus375 Snatch in third. Snatch were second in the Garda Worlds last time out. The second race saw the young pretenders show their metal with Irishman Chris Bateman and partner Lucy Loughton IRE774 Squirrel take the first place. Craig and Paul AUS375 Snatch in second and Brent and Leigh Aus378 Demon in third.
Still early days but many teams coming into the mix. Locals Richie Reynolds and Lissa McMillan sailing in The Nude AUS800 took the third line honours after an abandoned race due to harbour traffic. A massive cruise ship decided to leave early and split the fleet in half with Craig and Paul Aus 375 Snatch leading with a good margin. They only managed a 5th in the restarted race. Chris and Lucy IRE774 Squirrel were second with Nick and Tobytastic GBR801 Harken in 3rd. Its only 3 races but the mix of results already suggesting a close series.
A day later and a complete change of direction. A nor-easterly came in at around 10 to 15 knots. Still shifty and still plenty to avoid in the way of harbour trafic. If you're familiar with the 18fters then you'll know where they generally start just outside Double Bay and above Clark Island. The windward Leeward course taking us up towards Shark Island. With many starting and heading straight for the compression off Bradleys Head it was a drag race into the shore to get the best possible lift on port and up towards the windward mark. This wasn't the only quick route to the top with many boats making gains on the Point Piper side of the course. Chris and Lucy IRE774 took the line in the first race with Nick/Tobytastic in Harken second and Craig and Paul in Snatch hot their heels.
Race 5 and it was Snatch Craig/Paul and Squirrel Chris/Lucy who swapped 1st for 3rd and vice versa with Nick and Toby in GBR801 second once again.
Chris and Lucy IRE774 Squirrel also took line honours in the 6th Race. Again real tight racing with Craig Garmston and Paul Flemming AUS375 Snatch in second and Brent Frankcombe and Leigh Dunstan AUS378 Demon in 3rd.
We had the first discard kick in today and it was Chris and Lucy sailing Squirrel IRE774 who were overnight leaders. Craig/Paul second with Nick/Toby GBR801 third.
The 3rd day and only 2 races to make up the series. With the eighth race came the second discard. With the second day having been forecast as the "light wind day" in 10-15knts of breeze, today was the BIG day! Forecasts predicting 20 knots plus from the north east...
The course was set with the start close to Shark Island and the windward mark close to Watsons Bay. We started in 18 knots and as the afternoon went on the wind increased slightly to 20 knots plus gusts. With the wind against tide and plenty of harbour traffic on this summer Saturday the water was more washing machine than inland harbour! At one point I had so many waves from so many different directions breaking over the boat I thought for a second the boat was sinking!
The first casualty of the day was Craig Garmston and Paul Flemming AUS375 Snatch who discovered their rudder bar and top pintle were coming apart. They made a quick exit to shore but couldn't fix it in time to get out again.
With more than an hour delay due to the first Musto Skiff worlds race being postponed a couple of times we finally made it off the start line. The top protagonists heading off towards the left shore of the harbour. The relatively lightweight Chris Bateman and Lucy Loughton IRE774 Squirrel giving Nick Craig and Tobytastic GBR801 Harken a run for their money. However it was Nick/Toby in first with Chris and Lucy following in and the Aussies Brent Frankcombe and Leigh Dunstan AUS378 Demon in 3rd.
All to play for and what a shame it was when Chris and Lucy had a problem with one of their wings and couldn't continue. However this left Nick and Toby the task of needing to win the last race to equal the scores once the final discard kicked in. With the building breeze it was their consistancy, keeping the boat motoring upwind and the thrilling downwind rides, jumping completely off wave at times that got them to the finish before anyone else. And in these champagne conditions with big breeze it was Nick Richardson and Liam Tassiker AUS372 The Hitcher from Tassie in second and Glenn Cardwell and Karen Branch AUS793 Bandit in 3rd.
So who had actually won the pre worlds?
In the closest finish where all the race scores matched and the decider was the last race result it was Nick and Toby taking the honours with Chris and Lucy on 10 equal points in second. 3rd was Craig Garmston and Paul Flemming AUS375 Snatch who also took the Australian Nationals Title once the none Aussie teams had been removed from the scoreline.
So the scene is set with the top crews all winning races and the first day on Monday forecast with big breeze it's going to be an epic ride wherever you are in the fleet.