The race management team and local volunteers have been fantastic-providing clear communication, quick decisions, and excellent setups on a challenging course with shifting conditions.
Practice Race
The event kicked off on Thursday under light winds that made things tricky. The Race Officer kept everyone alert by running several practice starts while we waited for the thermal breeze to kick in-the perfect way to shake off travel fatigue and get those starting instincts sharp.
By the third start, enough wind had filled in to run a proper practice race. We navigated around autonomous robotic GPS marks, giving everyone a great chance to tune up before official racing started.
The Opening Ceremony
Thursday evening featured an opening ceremony at the Great Lakes Museum where local sailing leaders welcomed all sailors and supporters. It was a wonderful event and marked the beginning of daily social activities meant to unite our international fleet, share strategies, and reconnect with friends from far and wide.
Day 1: Breaking Kingston’s Norm (Race 1)
Friday’s championship opener faced a short delay as an easterly breeze tried to disrupt our usual south-westerly flow. Once things settled into a gentle range of about 6-8 knots, Race 1 got going over three laps with a downwind finish.
Local wisdom typically advises: “Stay left.” However, the leading boats took a risk heading hard right with minimal tacks-a gamble that really paid off with clearer air and better pressure:
Social debrief: After enjoying post-race food and cold drinks back at the boat park, everyone headed into town for an evening gathering at The Brass Pub-a local favorite.
Day 2: Chasing Shifts Near Wolfe Island (Race 2)
Saturday brought another test in light airs coming from the south without any thermal help. The Race Committee set up a tough four-lap course featuring an upwind finish (five full beats!), making each leg feel like a strategic challenge.
With winds streaming over Wolfe Island, shifts and holes filled the top of the course ready to catch out anyone not paying attention. A tight gybe mark on one leg called for aggressive kite handling so these high-powered skiffs wouldn’t capsize.
Glen Truswell & Ed Fitz Gerald (GBR 1553, Scrumpet) built an early lead on the first beat and managed to keep it despite hitting a massive hole on one upwind leg.
Behind them, places changed rapidly during that final triangle and beat as Andy Shaw & Rob Struckett (GBR 1569, Bubble) fought hard to take second just ahead of Chili con Carbon (GER), while Adam Ovington & Stu Keegan (GBR 1565, Zog) secured another solid fourth place.
Social debrief: Sailors gathered downtown for an outdoor screening of The Tragically Hip’s famous last concert alongside some great local food recommendations from our host fleet.
Days 3 & 4: Wild Conditions Ahead!
The third (Sunday) and fourth days (Monday) saw everything change dramatically as we faced strong westerly winds gusting between 20-25 knots whipping up challenging four-foot chop-waves crashing closely together.
Given these boat-breaking conditions on the bay the Race Committee wisely decided to postpone racing both days instead choosing to make use of designated lay days along with scheduled multi-race days later.
On Day Four frustrated US team members John Clark and Cam Mc Donaldson braved testing conditions showing fellow competitors that racing was possible-with some epic footage captured!
Life Off Water
Dinners were organized for Day Three where entrants mixed into groups around eight people each-intentionally separating helmsmen from crews-and sent out to pre-booked restaurants throughout Kingston-this format fostered new friendships across national teams!
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A live gig happened on Day Four featuring an outdoor BBQ paired with music headlined by none other than ‘Hoist’-the Canadian I14 rock band-which was complemented perfectly by popular local brewery Daft Brewing’s offerings!
The forecast continues delivering high-adrenaline updates with plenty more races still ahead; excitement is palpable throughout the boat park!
If you want more info or follow along join us via www. instagram. com/international.14 or www. instagram. com/corkkingston
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