gbr01The morning of Saturday 14th September awoke to blue skies and a gentle northerly Welsh breeze at Cardiff Bay YC where 3 teams from across the land (2 apparently from God’s Country) gathered for what was going to be a spot of training and then a racing test event. The teams “Doris” (Mark Cockrill/Alex Farr) & “Adventure Wales” (Gareth Davies/Nathan Cumpstone) began with a spot of England v Wales banter whilst waiting for the late arrival of “Sabre Sails” (Simon Brewer/Alistair Ramsden) – someone forgot what time we were all meeting apparently).

 

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Day 0

Many teams (including 2 boats from France) arrived early for some pre-event practice, only to be met by a warm 40 knot welcome from Whitstable. So it was an early start in the bar for many, enjoying the usual Whitstable YC hospitality.

Day 1

Friday dawned with gusts well into the 30's and, following a less than optimistic briefing from PRO Dave Curno, the fleet set about bimbling and relaxing.

whit12 1sWhitstable awaits the fleet for what should hopefully be the biggest B14 Nationals since 2003. Whatever the weather throws at us, it should be cracking event. One trophy that will be hotly contested, will be the new Endeavour Trophy awarded to the highest score boat finishing all races- so no matter how you're doing it might be worth carrying on regardless.

stokesbay02thumbWith the first round at Rutland having been postponed until August thanks to the very cold spring, and an early Nationals looming, Stokes bay was to be the only TT event to tune up. A healthy 13 boats turned up, as many as the RS400s who shared the event, with a couple of last minute substitute crews stepping up after work commitments and illnesses intervened.