Racing got under way at North Berwick yesterday (Sunday) for the International 14 class National Championship, also known as Prince of Wales Cup Week, under the burgee of the East Lothian Yacht Club. Early morning drizzle and poor visibility cleared by mid morning, giving way to pleasant sunshine but very little wind.

Principal Race Officer Jim Sinclair made the wise decision to postpone the start of Race 1 until a sea breeze came in. The fleet got away about an hour later than the scheduled time of 2 pm in an 8 knot wind, after one general recall followed by a black flag.

The first mark was in the direction of the Bass Rock, and those who opted to pick up the windshift from the shore on the starboard side of the beat also benefited from the slacker incoming tide to lead the way on to the downwind leg that followed. Geoff Carveth and Adrian Murphy sailed well to lead around most of the course, and won from Andy Fitzgerald and Simon Marks. Martin Jones and Andy Rice finished third, with Jarrod Simpson and Harvey Hillary fourth, followed by Julian Pearson and Louise Hickey in fifth place.

The wind had faded a little towards the end of the race, but recovered sufficiently to allow Race 2 get away first time with a now fairly strong incoming tide holding the fleet of 45 boats back a little. This time, Mike Lennon and John McKenna opened up a lead which they increased to the finish, to win by a good distance from the consistent Andy Fitzgerald and Simon Marks, who again took second place. Andy Partington and Ben Verniere finished third, with Jarrod Simpson and Harvey Hillary again in fourth position, followed by Richard Lovering and Richard Kent in fifth spot.

Fitzgerald and Marks lead on points after two races, with Simpson and Hillary in second, ahead of Carveth and Murphy. Five more points races are scheduled, and the Prince of Wales Cup race will be sailed on Tuesday.

Results (race 1)

1. Geoff Carveth and Adrian Murphy, Hayling Island SC

2. Andy Fitzgerald and Simon Marks, Itchenor SC

3. Martin Jones and Andy Rice, Hayling Island SC

4. Jarrod Simpson and Harvey Hillary, Itchenor SC

5. Julian Pearson and Louise Hickey, RYA

(race 2)

1. Mike Lennon and John McKenna, Hayling Island SC

2. Andy Fitzgerald and Simon Marks, Itchenor SC

3. Andy Partington and Ben Vernieres, Hayling Island SC

4. Jarrod Simpson and Harvey Hillary, Itchenor SC

5. Richard Lovering and Richard Kent, Hayling Island SC

Overall (after 2 races)

1. Andy Fitzgerald and Simon Marks, Itchenor SC, 4 points

2. Jarrod Simpson and Harvey Hillary, Itchenor SC. 8 points

3. Geoff Carveth and Adrian Murphy, Hayling Island SC, 9 points

4. Mike Lennon and John McKenna, Hayling Island SC 12 points

5. James Fawcett and Dave Dobrevejivic, Hayling Island SC, 14 points

6. Andy Partington and Ben Vernieres, Hayling Island SC, 20 points

7. Julian Pearson and Louise Hickey, RYA, 20 points

8. Charles Duchesne and Mikey Warren, Itchenor SC, 20 points

9. Ian Pinnell and Sam Gardiner, Hayling Island SC, 20 points

10. Fred Eaton and Jason Lemieux, Royal Canadian YC, 22 points