Plymouth Final Fling

The B14 circus headed down to Devon for the Final Fling. Despite a forecast of very light winds, the boats that made the trip were in for some peachy sailing outside the breakwater conducted by R/O Dave Curno and his race team.
Saturday and overcast skies with 15 knots of wind, greeted the fleet. With 10° pin bias, Seavolution/Blue Marine (Mark Barnes/Pete Nicholson) won the start followed by 762 (Mark Elkington/Charlie Game) and 764 (Mark Pollard/Richard Hingston). Being the second start chasing down the Larks, both fleets arrived at the windward mark together but the B14s headed back directly downwind away from the Larks. At the mark Seavolution/Blue Marine were followed by Leaky Pipes (Gerry Brown/Chris Fermor) who were to fade to 4th with 764 and Ince&Co (Mark Watts/Kathy Sherret) finishing 2nd and 3rd.

Race 2 and a repeat at the start but this time 764 led followed by 767 (Paul Bartlett/Mark Philips) and 730 (Will McGrath/Charlotte Jones). At the windward mark, 764 led from 767, 762 and Seavolution/Blue Marine. Over the next two rounds Seavolution/Blue Marine picked off the leaders to win race 2 followed by 764 and Ince&Co.
Race 3 with a flat line and no bias, there was nothing to be gained. Seavolution/Blue Marine took the pin but this was not where to be as the right started to pay with increasing pressure. Therefore those to windward gained the advantage led by 646 (Crispin Taylor/Tom Baker). At the windward mark, 767 led the way and rounded first followed by Ince&Co and Seavolution/Blue Marine. Over the race Seavolution/Blue Marine passed Ince&Co and 767 to take the win followed by Ince&Co and 767.

With the fleet retiring to shore to watch the rugby match, a great days sailing was had with grins on all faces. Sustained downwind speeds up to 15.6 knots in 15 knots of wind were recorded on the fleet's Velociteks.
Sunday and with a few sore heads and only 10 knots of wind, the fleet headed out to the race course.
Race 4 and with the usual 10° pin bias, the fleet piled into the pin with 762 leading the fleet off the line. Up the beat the right was to pay with the fleet evenly split. Those heading right led by 767 rounded first followed by 764, 646 and Seavolution/Blue Marine. By the leeward mark Seavolution Blue Marine had passed 646 and took the next 2 on the following beat to lead to the finish followed by Ince&Co and 764.

Race 5 with the usual suspects winning the pin the fleet split left and right. First to the windward mark the right had paid with Ince&Co taking the lead followed by 762, 764 and Leaky Pipes. Over the next round, Seavolution/Blue Marine reeled and passed the latter three to head for a showdown with Ince&Co on the last round. Going into the leeward mark they were nose to tail with Seavolution/Blue Marine tacking under Ince&Co for the finish, taking the gun by a nod, followed by 764 and 762.
Race 6, the pace setters from the start were 767 and 764 followed by Ince&Co and Seavolution/Blue Marine. Rounding the windward mark 764 led from 767 and Seavolution/Blue Marine. Over the next 2 rounds Seavolution/Blue Marine worked their way past the 2 boats to take the win from 764 and 762. With their 6th win Seavolution/Blue Marine won the open from 764 and 772 with some very close racing had throughout the fleet. The showdown between Ince&Co and 764 was not to happen as racing was abandoned due to the breeze becoming unstable, so the R/O called it a day.

A great weekend was had with the race team running a good slick event.

Results (which only goes to prove that you don't need to be called mark to do well in the Ba14 fleet but it sure helps . . . )

1st	Seavolution	Mark Barnes/Pistol Pete Nicholson
2nd	764	Mark Pollard/Richard Hingston
3rd	Ince & Co	Mark Watts/Kathy Sherret
4th	Elmswood Consultants	Mark Elkington/Charlie Game