GP14 Nationals at Tenby - Day 1

Tenby is really beautiful.

But there was work to be done. Boat rigging, and fitting the new spinnaker catcher. Sticking the laminated course details onto the deck. Working out our Tally Number (14 = very appropriate !).

Practice Race

We carefully made our way to the start line. Enterprises with their blue sails, and Miracles went first. Then it was the GP14 start. We started behind the fleet. General recall. Restart with a black flag. 

High tide in an hour, so that would push us to the right hand side of the course. So head left.

Course was two “sausages” with a leeward “gate”, followed by a rhomboid to the finish. 

We flew the “kite”. Lots of concentration, and we finished with a few boats behind us. 

We scored 29th. Not bad. We now know who to watch out for near the back of the fleet.

Grab a quick snack before the next start.

Race 1:

This was the big one. Wind was 12 or 15 knots, with gusts. We made a Good start.

Great progress up the course.

The only hairy incident was a Near hit on Richard and Tom, who went in front of us on Starboard. We were on Port. Fortunately, we were all going so fast that our boat responded rapidly to the jerked rudder, and we ducked behind them.

Going down-wind was a chance to practice “wave riding” - a skill I still need to work on.

We scored 32nd in our first ever National race.

Race 2:

For the final race, we went to the right hand side of the course behind a couple of other boats. 

The tide had turned, and everyone was heading right.

But we were both tired. I think my concentration was on “following”, rather than “racing”. So we tracked other boats rather than progressing our own race.

Andy Wadsworth in 14014 was ahead of us, but we were loosing ground. And last.

At the top mark, the powerboat took pity on us, and offered the “Whisky flag” = we are counted as finished 35th, and could go home early. 

But Where was Tenby? I was completely disorientated. But we were shown the Tenby Church Tower - time to sail home.

Exhaustion !

Arriving back at the beach, we had to drag the boat over the sand. 

I was completely exhausted, I could barely help push the boat up. 

We also lost our burgee due to the overhanging trees near the dinghy park.

No matter. Time for a shower, plenty of water (followed by beer later) and rest.

We had done it. 

Not National Champions. But we had competed.