North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Yacht Club - Day 1

North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Day 1 © Annick Wilks

Firstly, this morning at the briefing, the R/O Richard Woffinden after the agreement of the committee the previous evening announced we'd be doing 4 races on the day due to the projected forecast with the scheduled race length 45 - 50 mins for the first B14.

The wind schedule was for the breeze to build throughout with 20+ knots with big gusts from 1400 hrs. onwards. Racing would get under way in 15 knots and finish in 20+ knots.

As all mounted their steads and headed to the arena with the windward mark approx. 0.7 n.m. offshore and leeward mark Mumbles side of the navigation channel, beat length 0.8 n.m., the breeze built as all cleared Mumbles headland, but sea state was less than 1.0 m. at the committee boat.

After a short delay, the race was on. Out of the blocks Donkey (Wattsy/MJ), DOT (Josh/Matt), Dimelza (Peter/Henry), Night Shift (Amir/Jamie) and Pocket Rocket (Ben/Jez) jousted up the beat. First leading out of the left were Dot and Night Shift with Donkey, Dimelza and Seavolution/North Sails out of the right. At the top of the beat with little to choose, you could put a fag paper between the steads. Dot, Donkey and Seavolution/North Sails were overlapped. Down the run they split only to meet up at the leeward gate splitting right and left. Donkey and Seavolution/North Sails taking turns to hunt the other down. After the three laps and lead plus place changes, to many to count due to the pressure and shifts, Donkey kicked blasting downwind across the line with Seavolution/North Sails on their tale, with Dimelza recovering to 3rd.

North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Day 1 - photo © Annick Wilks

After a short delay Race 2 got away to a blast, with Dimelza getting a jump on the fleet midline. Would they hold on to the advantage or fall to the pressure astern of them provided by Donkey and Dot. On the first run downhill on a double gybe to the leeward gate, Seavolution North Sails hit the tide, not to be seen again near the front due to the close intensity of the race. Another close but positive finish for Donkey with Dot close astern and Dimelza 3rd. Is there a theme evolving for Dimelza.

The breeze was building and a few steads after falling were remounted by their jockeys, some headed for the hills and home.

Race 3 and after a course reset due to moving westerly, the same protagonists hit the line. Going left were Pocket Rocket, Donkey and Seavolution North Sails, with Dot leading the charge right. Again repeat as all tacked into the windward mark. Pocket Rocket in 2nd hit the tide on the first gybe. Donkey bucked a bit and survived an iffy gybe to take the lead with Seavolution/North Sails on the prowl with Dot on a charge. As an intense race closed out, Donkey took another bullet, Dot passed Seavolution/North Sails on a deep vein of pressure downhill into 2nd.

North Sails Seavolution B14 Nationals 2025 at Mumbles Day 1 - photo © Annick Wilks

Race 4 and the breeze built more, some jibs were dropped. Out of the blocks were Dimelza rolling round the pin vying with Seavolution/North Sails followed by the rest astern as a shift and tide took its toll. Seavolution/North Sails split right and front went left led by Dimelza. Up the beat Seavolution/North Sails hit a big breeze with lift and bow down. Off they trotted to a small lead at the windward mark. Over the next lap they and Donkey played cat and mouse. Seavolution/North Sails held on to the windward mark, Jack slipped bouncing Barnsie out of the back mid tack. Benefit of that was Barnsie hit the plate and 20 seconds later astern of Donkey they gave chase. Pocket Rocket was on a hop chasing down Dot in big pressure. At the leeward gate Dot went left and piled in on the monster gust, Seavolution/North Sails spun out and stayed upright licking their wounds with Pocket Rocket grinning like a Cheshire Cat jumping both into 2nd. This is how it would remain to the end of the next lap with Donkey winning out followed by Pocket Rocket and Seavolution/North Sails.

A great day on the water in some big gusts and reasonably flat water blasting across the bay. Donkey leads with Dot and Seavolution/North Sails on equal points followed by Dimelza and Pocket Rocket. Other teams appeared at times in the mix, but due to the number of changes, lost count of who and when.

The fleet retired to shore a bit sore and tired to be greeted with a cheery smile, free beers and Welsh cheese cakes, bringing smiles and banter from the competitors, with all looking forward to the club's curry night and quiz. Tomorrow to try and beat the next big pressure coming in Richard has put all on notice of a 1030 start.

As they say, it is far from over as there is sure to be a few twists and turns moving forward.

Results after Day 1: