B14 Nationals Lee on the Solent

Gutted Hedgehog Slips through to take two wins on Day one.

The day started with a building Southwesterly sea breeze. Race 1 got off at the first attempt in a force 3 and glorious sunshine. The fleet split to either side of the course. Gutted Hedgehog (Matt Searle/Andy Ramus) led from the left followed by CSC (Chris Bines/Dave Gibbons) and Performance Rigging (Don Forster/Kate Forster) and (Guy Whitby/Anna Payne) from the right. At the windward mark it was Performance Rigging followed by Gutted Hedgehog and CSC. Gutted Hedgehog rounded first followed by Watts/Rogers and Performance Rigging and Readycrest (Mark Barnes/Tom Pygall). On the run against the tide there were some place changes with the big movers being 772 (Mark Watts/Tim Rogers) and Readycrest. On the next beat it was a case of bang left and in doing so CSC climbed back into second by the windward mark behind Gutted Hedgehog. These two were followed by 772 and Readycrest. On the run the first two held on with Readycrest passing 772 to round on the transom of CSC. Up the last beat it was a case of follow the leader out to the left for the first four boats. Gutted Hedgehog rounded first followed by CSC and Readycrest, with this order maintained till the finish.   

Race two and the breeze was patchy. The start got away at the second attempt. Just after starting, there was a 30° windshift and drop in breeze that tested the agility of the crews. With this shift and patchy wind, those brave enough to break out to the right and take the 25° headed wind bend, gained handsomely. At the windward mark, it was 770 (Simon Hadley/Nikki Webster) followed by Performance Rigging, Harken (Piers Lambert/Pete Nicholson) and 757 (Dan Willets/Stu Phillips). Down the run it was all about staying in the pressure and deciding whether to go for the extra pressure or out of the tide. The fleet split with the majority going for pressure. At the leeward mark, there was nothing in it with the top 8 boats cross gybing into the leeward gate. The big losers were Harken, CSC and 757 and the winner Gutted Hedgehog who sailed below the stranded pack to take the lead. Up the next beat Gutted Hedgehog covered the right followed by Readycrest and 772. At the windward mark, Gutted Hedgehog rounded first followed by Readycrest and 772. On the run the first two went left inshore with the rest heading right in pressure. At the leeward mark these two had a large lead and headed out to the right followed by 757. The following pack headed out left. At the windward mark CSC had played a blinder to lead round first followed by Watts/Rogers, Gutted Hedgehog. On the run places 3 – 7 were very close and many place changes occurred. At the finish CSC was deemed to be OCS, handing the win to Gutted Hedgehog, followed by 772 and Harken. 

The fleet then retired to the bar for a night of Caribbean music and cocktails.

Posn	Sail	Boat	Helm	Crew		R1	R2	Total
1	773	Gutted Hedgehog	Matt Searle	Andy Ramus	HISC	1	1	2
2	772		Mark Watts	Tim Rogers	Mayflower SC	4	2	6
3	768	Readycrest	Mark Barnes	Tom Pygall	WYC	3	4	7
4	774	Harken	Piers Lambert	Pete Nicholson	Brightlingsea SC	5	3	8
5	757		Dan Willett	Stu Philips	Brightlingsea SC	7	5	12