International 14 World Championship 2015: Nervous energy in the boat park with regatta to start on schedule

Day one of the fleet racing in the International 14 World Championship is expected to get off as scheduled with the race to start at about 2pm.

The Principle Race Officer, Ross Wilson, said yesterday’s forecasted early morning blustery conditions appear to have already moved through overnight. He now expects perfect racing conditions for the 67-boat fleet. “We will be running as per normal. I am seeing that breeze probably moving from the north to the west then settling into a steady 10 to 15 knot westerly.”

Last minute artwork on the mainsail of Read BTW the Lines (Adam Syme/Daniel Farthing)
before the teams head out for Day 1. Credit: Tracey Johnstone

While these conditions should favor all the fleet, Victorian Fourteen Foot Sailing Council President Matt Balmer expects there will still be a handful of teams that will dominate the top places. “I think a few of the British – Glenn (Truswell) and Archie (Massey) – and some of the Aussies – Brad (Devine), Lindsay (Irwin), Mark Krstic and David Alexander – will be up there.

“I can’t see any one boat type dominating. It will be subtle differences between them such as in the rigs,” - Balmer said.

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