B14 class at the Skiff open meeting at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy
by Peter Knight 14 May 19:21 NZST
11-12 May 2024
B14s at the Weymouth skiff open © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
Great race management, eight races, a good moderate breeze and sunshine was the reward for the B14s at the WPNSA Skiff Open, 11th and 12th May. The B14s started with the Cherubs, 4000s and ISO, with separate results and prizes for the four fleets.
The Cherubs also provided good boat-for-boat racing
in 12 knots plus breeze, but stuck badly when they came off the plane in the lighter final race on both days.
Racing was excellent, with a good course, start lines with little or no bias, and minimal hanging around between races.The course was quite busy, with Musto Skiffs, I14s and 49ers, so strategies to keep clear air were as important as wind shifts and bends.
Saturday started with around 12 knots of wind, which held for three races, and then dropped to 7 knots in the fourth race.
Peter Knight and Jane Reeves in Demelza 785 were fully powered up and loving the conditions in the harbour, winning all four races. Paul Roberts and Guy Raynes in 756 showed a solid performance with second in the first three races. The wind dropped for the final race, and Amir Shamsuddin and new crew Pia Ellerbeck in 795 took second, also scoring thirds in race 2 and 3. James and Anne Gardener in 798 preferred slightly more wind, taking third in the first race.
Sunday was forecast with lighter winds, but actually delivered the first three races in the same good moderate wind, followed by the final race in a lighter and shifty breeze. Peter and Jane, 785 again took first in all races. Paul and Guy, 756, were second in the first three races, with James and Anne, 798 in third. Amir and Pia were second in the final race.