The third B14 world championship hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole on Lake Garda started yesterday (12 September, 2001) in glorious sunshine and a moderate southerly Ora breeze. Before the start of the event, all of the competitors observed a minutes silence in respect for the dreadful events in America.

The first race was sailed in 10 to 15 knots and the right-hand corner was definitely the place to be. Jason Andrews and Marcus Lynch (GBR 756) went hard right and enjoyed a 100-metre lead at the first mark from a pack of boats from which Steve Lovegrove and Shaun Barber (GBR 762) emerged to challenge for the lead on the second beat. As these two leaders closed on the second windward mark Lovegrove forced a penalty on Andrews and took a lead which he held to the finish. Tim Fells and Richard Dowsett (GBR 758) who had been deep in the pack at the start pulled through to take second from Andrews on the line. Matt Snedker and Dave Dobrijevic (GBR 736) started a good day with fourth.

The second race started in slightly less breeze and Fells / Dowsett port-tacked the fleet to lead into the right-hand corner and round the first mark. With the breeze starting to break up on the run, Fells / Dowsett dropped to fifth with Snedker / Dobrijevic taking the lead. However, they had no answer to the speed of Nils Jolliffe and Jon Branch (GBR 728) who took a lead on the second beat that they held to the finish with Matt Searle and Rich Bell (GBR 725) coming in third.

The third race of the day was started in a dying breeze and the left side paid strongly with a line of pressure down the shore producing close tacking duels up the bank. Snedker / Dobrijevic found their way through the shifts to hold a good lead at the top mark which they never relinquished, eventually finishing 400 metres in front. Behind them Chris Lewns and Simon Nearn held a comfortable second but on the last run they were hunted down by Fells / Dowsett who just snatched second with Aids Williams and Dave Larkham (GBR 742) coming home fourth.

So after three races Matt Snedker and Dave Dobrijevic hold a two-point lead over defending champions Tim Fells and Richard Dowsett. Many of the other leading contenders have picked up some bad results and all indications are that this will be a high scoring regatta with consistency hard to find.

Results (after three races)

1st GBR 736, Matt Snedker and Dave Dobrijevic (4,2,1) 7 pts

2nd GBR 758, Tim Fells and Richard Dowsett (2,5,2) 9 pts

3rd GBR 756, Jason Andrews and Marcus Lynch (3,6,8) 17 pts

4th GBR 749, Dave Hayes and Sean Dwyer (9,4,6) 19 pts

5th GBR 746, Jono Pank and Richard Edwards (12,7,7) 26 pts

6th GBR 645, Chris Sallis and Dick Roe (7,20,5) 32 pts

7th GBR 762, Steve Lovegrove and Shaun Barber (1,9,23) 33 pts

8th GBR 728, Nils Jolliffe and Jon Branch (16,1,16) 33pts

9th GBR 725, Matt Searle and Richard Bell (15,3,17) 35 pts

10th GBR 685, Chris Lewns and Simon Nearn (19,14,3) 36 pts