The B14 fleet arrived at Queen Mary on 15/16 June for their Inland Championships and an excellently run event it was too.
Three races were scheduled for each day, but the Race Officer wisely consulted the fleet who unanimously agreed to delay the start until 3.00pm on the Saturday with two races, followed by four on the Sunday.
The fleet launched into a wind that was averaging force 3 but with numerous gusts, holes and shifts to keep everyone on their toes.
Dave Hayes and Sean Dwyer in Sea-Sure started on port, blasted out to the right hand side of the course, and quickly established what looked like a commanding lead, followed by Tim Harrison and Jonny Radcliffe with Mark Elkington and Lisa Curtis in hot pursuit. Tim and Jonny closed the gap considerably, but Sea-Sure held on to win. Mark and Lisa held on to third.
Race two saw Tim and Jonny leading all the way, closely followed by Anthony York and Simon West. These two established a long lead over the rest of the fleet. After having both been buried at the start, Mark and Lisa and Dave and Sean in Sea-Sure pulled through and did battle for third with Mark and Lisa coming out on top.
Race three, the first on Sunday, saw Sea-Sure round the windward mark just in front and open up a gap which got wider and wider as the race progressed. Simon Hadley and Gerry Brown held second ahead of a third third place for Mark and Lisa.
The fourth and fifth races both saw the top three places being contested by Dave and Sean in Sea-Sure, Tim and Jonny and Simon and Gerry which meant that, if Tim and Jonny won the last race, Dave and Sean needed to finish second to secure the Championship.
All was looking comfortable as Sea-Sure, again rounded the windward mark first, ahead of Tim and Jonny. But on lap three (of four), with Sea-Sure heading left down the run as they had been doing most of the day, Tim and Jonny saw something happening which persuaded them to go right and they sailed round the leaders, dragging Alan Davis and Alison Wilson with them.
With one lap to go Tim and Jonny were smiling, but unfortunately for them, Dave and Sean overhauled Alan and Alison upwind and this time covered them closely downwind in the knowledge that they needed to hold onto second to win the championship. In fact they also caught Tim and Jonny who held on to win, but by less than the length of their pole.
Results