Hi folks.

I would like to tell you about a 14 foot regatta I sailed in a month ago,at Mannering Park Lake Macquarie NSW.

It consisted of 27 boats made up of Hobies, Mari cats, Wind Rush's, Arrows, Paper Tigers, not to mention the Nacra 5.8 and the Nacra 14sq.

The Mari Cat I was on (LaLoca)was borrowed and I was constantly reminded of my obligations to look after it, by all the compliments this boat got.

I get to the regatta early to rig and to have a test sail. It is sailed cat rigged so I left it that way. It had trap wires though. I soon realised I wasn't going to need them and took them off before the start.

I'm feeling pretty confident,and I want to mix it at the start, but it's not my boat so I hang back a bit. With 1 min to go, and minding my own business I have to run to the bows and push a Hobie off before it crunches me.

I missed the start by more than 1 min. The breeze is 8 knts from the NE and freshning. By the top mark there were two groups. The leaders and us. But at least I was at the front of the 2nd group.

So I settle in and try to work the boat out. I figure I have aprox 2 hours to catch them. After the 1st lap I had reeled in another 4 boats. The breeze is now 10knts and I'm hiking my guts out. The big long reach was a hoot and LaLoca was handling every thing I gave her. (by this time I forgot she wasn't mine)

The 2nd lap and the breeze kicks in another 2 knts and I'm getting very wet. The leaders didn't look any closer, but I managed to pick off another 4 boats. I'm now coming 6th and and resigned to the fact. But the leaders go around the bottom mark and off they go again.

The 4th and 5th placed boats were a Paper Tiger and the Nacra 14sq, and they round the bottom mark only 20 meters in front of me. Now I'm really feeling good, another lap I wasn't counting on, and I figured I would gobble up these guys within 10 mins. But the Gods wern't on my side. They got a puff before I could round the mark and I sat and wallowed in the only hole that appeared all day.

In the end I passed the 14sq when he capsised, but I let a hobie s,sloop pass me. The only boat to pass me all day.

6th over the line. Not counting the 5.8. For the record, the Arrows 1st and 2nd. Only 1 mari 4.3 cat rigged in front of me. I was stoked.

I wanted to tell this story, because I normally sail a Taipan 4.9 and wasn't sure I would enjoy my self.
But I have come to realise that speed and racing is all relative. I had that little boat singing, and It handled every thing I threw at it.
I'm not sure i'ts the type of boat I want to sail week in and week out. But it has a hoot, and there is a large bunch of enthastic 14 sailors where ever one goes.

I can see a future for the F14 class.

Good luck to you all maybe we wil meet up one day.

Regards Tony Jenkins