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Updated 28 January 2012
International 14
Australian Championship 2012-13
In a
return to a former stamping ground, the International 14 fleet will race
from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron for the 2012-13 Australian Championship.
The I14 has a history that can be traced back to the early 1900s in Queensland and even further back in other parts of the world. The class once raced in good numbers on Waterloo Bay and the fleet is looking for a return to a proven track.
While the class is rightly proud of its history - that includes the invention of the planning hull about 90 years ago and the trapeze some 80 years ago - its sailors are first and foremost smitten by the challenge and speed delivered by the 14.
Two-time Australian and World champion Archie Massey has dominated the national scene for the past few seasons in his all-black, modifiied Bieker 5 George 1st. With upwind speed of better than 10 knots at times and downwind at 'shut up and hang on' speed, the 14s deliver sufficient thrills and spills to remain one of the stronger skiff classes on the Australian sailing scene.
While the 2010 World Championship on Sydney Harbour attracted 108 entries that included representatives from Great Britain, Germany, Canada, USA and Japan - the typical fleet size for an Australian Championship over recent years is between 30-40.
The innovation of the class has allowed the boats to remain at the forefront of sailboat technology for more than 100 years and this is currently evident in the square top mains, adjustable hyrdrofoil rudders and all carbon build. This year's top boats are Paul Bieker B5 designs featuring rudder foiles of around 1200 - 1300 wingspan and predominately Alexander or Irwin sails flown of CST carbon masts.
Class stalwart Stewart Vickery is offering quality clear finished carbon B5 hulls for around $12000. Although Bieker designs have dominated the class over the past decade, new designs like Tom Partington's Ting Tong, complete with 'dreadnought' bow, are raising interest in the northern hemisphere.
RQYS provides excellent facilities on the edge of Waterloo Bay which is renown for its steady summer seabreezes, mainly out of the nor'east, on a race track that is relatively flat. The venue is also an easy drive to 'Brisvegas' and the Gold Coast, with the Sunshine Coast and North Stradbroke Island other nearby regional attractions.
Perhaps the return to RQYS will also allow the class to
reconnect with the humble Oxley Sailing Club - way upstream on the
Brisbane River - where the class raced for many decades on the snaking
brown river with local stalwarts with names like Lovelock, Goldsmith, Love
and Cameron playing their part in 'Fourteens are Forever'.
The 2011/12 regatta program is as follows:
Measuring and registration on the 28/12/12
Invitation 29/12/12
Heat one 30/12/12
Heat two 31/12/12
Lay day 01/01/13
Heat three 02/01/13
Heat Four 03/01/13
Heat five 04/01/13
Heat six 05/01/13
Heat seven 06/01/13 and presentation night.
Results of international class rule vote on mainsails and weight reduction
We now have the results of the vote on the class rules relating
to mainsails and weight reduction. The conclusion is that we:
1) WILL change the rule on
mainsails, and will adopt the Australian “maximum angle”
approach
2) WILL NOT delay the hull weight
reduction
Votes were submitted by AUS, CAN,
Proposal 1, to change the mainsail rule: all votes cast were in
favour, we will therefore change the rule
Proposal 1a and 1b, choice of method to use to control
mainsails:
-
For the
- For the AUS “maximum angle “ approach: AUS, CAN,
The “maximum angle” approach wins
Proposal 2, to delay the weight
reduction:
- For: AUS,
-
Against: CAN,
The rule wording (available via http://www.international14.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=37
) for the new mainsail rule will be forwarded
to ISAF for their approval and the new “maximum angle” will apply to
mainsails first measured one month after that approval is obtained (note
that sails first measured before then will still have to comply with the
existing rules, including the sailplan height limit). Now awaiting the
ISAF approval
2010 / 2011 National Championship
Scroll down for photos and reports
Results and more at
www.adelaidesailingclub.com.au/Int.14Nats10
Photos courtesy www.paparazzi.com.au and www.petermuirhead.com Go to those sites for more
Massey and Wilsdon win!
Photo Greg Pratt- www.paparazzi.com.au
Defending champions and current world champions in the International 14 class Archie Massey and Dan Wilsdon today won the final race of the series to secure the 2010/11 Australian championship sailed in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia.
Massey who hails from England but has resided in Sydney for several years has formed an impressive team with Sydney for’ard hand Wilsdon and defended the Australian title they first won in Sydney last summer.
Massey sailed his modified Bieker 5 hull George 1st with Wilsdon in a near faultless display all series to finish with four firsts and two second placings over a generally light series. So with a second place being their 'drop', the George 1st crew simply tightened their stranglehold on the series with a clear win in the final race today.
The easy-going Massey said their domination was partly attributable to clean starts.
"Our starts have been good all week," he said.
"We also put in so much work before the world championship in Sydney (last summer) and that helps (with crew work and tuning)."
Massey said George 1st was basically the same boat and set up as used on Sydney Harbour for the worlds but with a slightly stiffer mast. He said they were using a CST Composites HM2 carbon spar and had stiffened it up a bit which appeared to have paid off for what was a generally light series in Adelaide.
"I think one of our key differences is the ability to change gears well," he said.
George 1st certainly seemed to be in a slightly different class to the rest of the fleet in terms of performance across the wind ranges. The closest challenger and one of the slickest combinations in the fleet was Ronstan/Irwin Sails (Lindsay Irwin/ Andrew Perry) of Victoria.
Ronstan/Irwin Sails finished with one first placing and several minor placings. Irwin said it was the same boat and set up as last season but he had made a number of changes that had resulted in better performance all round.
Adelaide sailor and sail
maker Dave Alexander teamed up with Sydney sailor Cam McDonald in
Touring Wombat to finish third overall. Although they live in
different State capitals and sail only occasionally together, these two
sailors obviously make a good team and proved the best of the local boats
and challenged the front runners all series.
The I14 fleet seemed to
consolidate this year in terms of design innovations. The fleet of 32
boats was mainly made up of Bieker 5 designs, all sported hydrofoiling
rudders of various shapes and the sails were predominately a mix of Irwin
and Alexander. The States represented included South Australia, Western
Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
Adelaide Sailing Club was an excellent venue with its expanse of rigging lawns, facilities, small boat harbour and a band of willing and friendly volunteers.
The series was held in light airs and often high temperatures under blazing sunshine which tested the sailors and the race management but overall the vibe was one full of camaraderie and good spirit, even though the West Australians were perhaps wishing for much fresher winds to show off their renown heavy-air boat handling skills.
The next major event on the
I14 horizon will be the world championship later this year in Weymouth,
UK, and then the 2011/12 Australian championship to be hosted by Perth
Dinghy Sailing Club, Perth.
Race 6: George 1st, 1; To Late to Stop Now, 2; Rostan/Irwin Sails, 3; Touring Wombat, 4; CST Composites/DPC, 5.
Progressive Score: George 1st 6 pts (1,2,1,2,1,1) 1st; Ronstan/Irwin Sails (3,1,2,5,5,3) 2; Touring Wombat 15(5,3,6,1,2,4) 3; To Late to Stop Now 18 (4,5,3,7,4,2); el diablo 23 (2,4,4,3,33.OF,10) 5; Flaunt it 41 (10,7,7,11,6,20) 6; Do you get it yet? 43 (8,11,9,14,7,8) 7; Ray & the Crazy 88s 46 (7,10,10,10,33.OF,9) 8; Bullet 47 (14,8,11,16,8,6,9) 9; CST Composites/DPC 48 (6,6,27,4,33.O,5) 10.
- Neil Patchett
Race 5
Archie Massey and Dan Wilsdon found top gear today in a classic Adelaide seabreeze to win Race 5 of the International 14 Australian Championship sailed in Gulf St Vincent.
After days of variable and shifty light winds, Adelaide’s summer seabreeze arrived under a near cloudless sky to provide a good 15 knots of sou’west over the windward-leeward race track off Glenelg.
Current World Champions Massey and Wilsdon sailing their modified Bieker 5 hull George 1st with a wardrobe of Alexander Sails found the conditions just about perfect and finished just over a minute ahead of the next best boat Touring Wombat (Dave Alexander/ Cam McDonald).
George 1st did not have it all its own way however and had to chase down early leader Ronstan/ Irwin Sails (Lindsay Irwin/ Andrew Perry) who jumped out of the blocks hard and fast to lead for the first windward and first downhill. It was the second windward that gave George 1st the opportunity to pounce and once this classy crew got the lead, they were never going to let it go without a fight.
The fight certainly was there, especially with such a hot fleet that includes a number of national and world champions.
With the race committee putting on a long work to windward, the result was superb downwind conditions for the fleet of hydrofoil-rudder equipped I14s that simply flew downwind in excellent two-wire conditions.
Adelaide sailmaker and classy sailor Dave Alexander once again showed excellent form and together with crew McDonald followed up yesterday’s race win with a strong finish today to take second.
Former champion Brad Devine finally got conditions to put a smile on his face. Devine and crew Ian “Footy” Furlong revel in fresh winds and have honed their skills in the ‘Doctor’ summer breeze that blows across their hometrack of the Swan River, Perth. Their boat Dela Boca Vista hit its straps in the conditions and registered its best result so far with a third.
Devine and his 100kg plus “Footy” may not be so lucky tomorrow with the forecast for light and variable conditions.
There were five boats that did not finish today including ‘gun’ boats such as One More Grunt and el diablo. Another of the DNF boats was Back in Black which is being sailed by what one competitor describes as Beauty and the Beast … with class stalwart Robert "RV" Vickery playing the part of the Beast.
Racing continues tomorrow.
Race 5: George 1st 1:26:30, 1; Touring Wombat 1:27:31, 2; Del Boca Vista 1:27:49, 3; To Late to Stop Now 1:28:02, 4; Ronstan/ Irwin Sails 1:28:24, 5.
Progressive Score (with a drop): George 1st 5 pts (1,2,1,2,1); Touring Wombat 11 (5,3,6,1,2); Ronstan/Irwin Sails 11 (3,1,2,5,5); el diablo 13 (2,4,4,3,33.OF); To Late to Stop Now 16 (4,5,3,7,4); Flaunt it 30 (10,7,7,11,6); Do you get it yet? 35 (8,11,9,14,7); Del Boca Vista 36 (13,15,5,15,3); Ray & the Crazy 88s 37 (7,10,10,10,33.OF); Reactor 40 (11,13,17,6,10). - Neil Patchett
Race 4
Dave Alexander and Cam McDonald : Photo Greg Pratt - www.paparazzi.com.au
Sailmaker Dave Alexander and crew Cam McDonald today won Race 4 of the International 14 Australian Championship sailed in the waters of Gulf St Vincent, South Australia.
Alexander and McDonald in their boat Touring Wombat won the race sailed in 8-12 knots of sou’west seabreeze by leading all the way from the start.
Alexander was clearly delighted with the win against first-class competition provided by a hot fleet that includes current World Champion George 1st (Archie Massey/ Dan Wilsdon), fellow red-hot South Australians el diablo (David Hayter/ Trent Neighbour), former Australian champion Ronstan/Irwin Sails (Lindsay Irwin/ Andrew Perry) and former Australian champion Brad Devine and Ian Furlong sailing Del Boca Vista.
Alexander said: “We just got a good start, kept it clean and made few mistakes today. We have had good speed all regatta but have made mistakes in other races. Today was good. “
By race end Touring Wombat held a handy lead of more than 40 seconds on George 1st with el diablo a further 40 seconds back in third place.
Racing today was tight throughout the 32 boat fleet with crews enjoying Adelaide sunshine, crystal clear waters and the excellent facilities of Adelaide Sailing Club.
Overall George 1st remains in the lead after four races with 6 points from Ronstan/Irwin Sails I (11) and el diablo (13), closely followed by Touring Wombat (15).
Racing continues tomorrow.
Race 4: Touring Wombat, 01:21:07, 1; George 1st 01:21:53, 2; el diablo 01:22:13, 3; CST Composites/DP C 01:23:08, 4; Ronstan/Irwin Sails 01:23:34, 5.
Progressive Score: George 1st 6 pts (1,2,1,2); Ronstan/Irwin Sails 11 (3,1,2,5); el diablo 13 (2,4,4,3); Touring Wombat 14 (5,3,6,1); To Late to Stop Now 19 (4,5,3,7); Flaunt it 35 (10,7,7,11); Ray & the Crazy 88s 37 (7,10,10,10); Do you get it yet? 42 (8,11,9,14); CST Composites/DPC 43 (6,6,27,4) - Neil Patchett
George 1st Jumps Clear
Archie Massey and Dan Wilsdon: Photo credit to Greg Pratt - www.paparazzi.com.au
Current World Champion International 14 sailors Archie Massey and Dan Wilsdon dominated proceedings in race three of the International 14 Australian Championship sailed in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia.
Helmsman Massey and for’ard hand Wilsdon, of NSW, sailed George 1st to a commanding lead of more than one minute over second placed Ronstan/Irwin Sails (Lindsay Irwin and Andrew Perry) from Victoria.
George 1st had the better of the fleet for most of the day sailing in a 10-15 knot seabreeze that varied in strength and provided some significant shifts. George 1st relinquished the lead momentarily to Ronstan/Irwin Sails but used the shifts and a period of lighter winds to regain the lead and break clear.
The George 1st crew also took a moment to almost stop while racing and clear seaweed from their hydrofoil rudder, with Wilsdon jumping to the aft of the cockpit and sweeping the foils clear of the weed slowing the boat down.
Wilsdon said it only takes a moment to sweep the foils clear and it makes a real difference over a long windward.
Victorians Mark Krstic and Andrew Wilson sailed To Late to Stop Now into third place 15 seconds behind Ronstan/ Irwin Sails to highlight the strength of the class in their State with boats finishing second and third.
Local sailor David Hayter and crew Trent Neighbour in el diablo again showed plenty of potential and consistency to finish fourth ahead of former national champions Brad Devine and Ian “Footy” Furlong of Perth sailing Del Boca Vista.
Devine and Furlong show glimpses of their potential anytime the breeze strengthens but this Perth crew excel in fresh winds are finding the generally light conditions tough.
A fleet of 32 International 14s are racing in the series out of the Adelaide Sailing Club.
Race Three: George Ist 1:15:56, 1; Ronstan/Irwin Sails 1:17:13, 2; To Late to Stop Now 1:18:28, 3; el diablo 1:18:54, 4; Del Boca Vista 1:19:20, 5.
Progressive Score after two races: George 1st 4 pts (1,2,1); Ronstan/Irwin Sails 6 (3,1,2); el diablo 10 (2,4,4); To Late to Stop Now 12 (4,5,3);Touring Wombat 14 (5,3,6); Flaunt it 24 (10,7,7); Ray & the Crazy 88s 27 (7,10,10); Do you get it yet? 28 (8,11,9); Del Boca Vista 33 (13,15,5); Bullet 33 (14,8,11). – Neil Patchett
Irwin and Perry Snatch Race
Victory in Race Two
Archie Massey and Dan Wilsdon: Photo credit to Greg Pratt - www.paparazzi.com.au
Former champion skipper Lindsay Irwin and crew Andrew Perry snatched victory on the line today to win Race Two of the International 14 National Championship sailed in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia.
Perry said it was a great tussle and a tight finish in the waters off Glenelg, Adelaide.
“Archie (Massey in George 1st) was at the boat end and we were on the other tack and managed to luff up and get them by about a foot on the line,” Perry said. “It was good racing.”
It was evident that Irwin and Perry sailing Ronstan/Irwin Sails enjoyed the first decent breeze of the series and sailed with their typical classy act with smart tactics, excellent crew work in a well prepared boat.
The seabreeze fluctuated for much of the race from 12-17 knotes out of the southwest, with lots of shifts.
Local boat Touring Wombat sailed by Dave Alexander and Cam McDonald broke clear at one stage of the race sailed in full sunshine and clear but choppy water only to capsize on a downhill leg. Touring Wombat seemed to read the shifts better than most and was able to recover and finish third today just ahead of fellow South Australian boat el diablo (David Hayter/Trent Neighbour) in fourth.
Victorian boat To Late to Stop Now (Mark Krstic/ Andrew Wilson) chased hard all day to finish 16 seconds behind el diablo.
George 1st went into Race Two with a time bonus following a committee call for redress after a mixup with marks in Race One. The Race Committee was in the process of extending the windward leg in Race One when George 1st got caught with no rounding mark at one stage as it was being moved. The confusion occurred because the Race Committee had underestimated the speed of the International 14 fleet which completed the first work in just 8 minutes.
The redress action resulted in a favourable correction being applied to George 1st for Race One and as a result the boat was corrected to first place.
A fleet of 32 International 14s are racing in the series out of the Adelaide Sailing Club.
Race Two: Ronstan/Irwin Sails 1:15:50, 1; George Ist 1:15:51, 2; Touring Wambat 1:16:12, 3; el diablo 1:17:33, 4; To Late to Stop Now 1:17:49, 5.
Progressive Score after two races: George 1st 3 pts (1,2); Ronstan/Irwin Sails 4 (3,1); el diablo 6 (2,4); Touring Wombat 8 (5,3); To Late to Stop Now 9 (4,5); CST Composites/DPC 12 (6,6); Flaunt it 17 (10,7); Ray & the Crazy 88s 17 (7,10); Do you get it yet? 19 (8,11); One More Grunt 21 (9,12). - Neil Patchett
Race 1 Report
Adelaide skipper David Hayter and crew Trent Neighbour today won Race One of the International 14 National Championship hosted by the Adelaide Sailing Club.
Hayter and Neighbour's win came after a prolonged wait in classic Adelaide summer heat. With the temperature set to hit 41 degrees in the city and catastrophic fire alerts out for some parts of the state, the scene was set for a boil over.
The planned morning race was cancelled after the weak nor’wester completely failed by late morning and with the postponement flag hoisted at the club it was a case of wait and see. Fortunately, the seabreeze arrived soon after midday and the fleet got away in 8 knots of sou’sou’west after two general recalls and a black flag.
Current World Champion Archie Massey and Dan Wilsdon of NSW shot way to an early lead in the race but Hayter and Neighbour were never far away and eventually grabbed the lead.
The conditions were testing with shifting light winds and chop but it was Hayter and Neighbour (1:10:01 elapsed time) who crossed the finish line 16 seconds ahead of former champions Lindsay Irwin and crew Andrew Perry (1:10:17) with fellow Victorians Mark Krstic and crew Andrew Wilson third at 1:10:20.
Massey and Wilsdon finished fourth (1:10:39).
Race 1: Hayter/Neighbour (SA), 1; Irwin/Perry (Vic), 2; Krstic/Wilson (Vic), 3; Massey/Wilsdon (NSW), 4; Alexander/McDonald, (SA) 5. - Neil Patchett