Burton week 2006 write ups
Summary
Celebrating 70 years of National 12 sailing, Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, sailing a Feeling Foolish design were the convincing winners of the 2006 Burton Week, hosted by Porthpean SC, recording 6 wins in the 8 races sailed. Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne in a Numinous design won the Sir William Burton Cup, the Champagne race of the week. Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles in a Nigel Waller built Final Chapter design won the remaining race and took second overall in the series. With the exception of the lighter wind Burton Cup race the racing was generally held in moderate breeze and these downwind planing conditions were much to the liking of Stewart & Ross.
As ever in recent years there were a myriad of designs at the front of the 45 boat fleet. Six different designs filled the first 10 places, sails from three sailmakers (P&B, Alverbank and Rowsell), masts from three builders (all carbon fibre) (Angell, Superspar and Chipstow), and a crew weight range from 17.5 to 22.5 stone. One of the boats, sailed by Gavin & Jasmine Willis to seventh place overall was both home designed and home built. Unlike many classes there remains a strong cross section of sailors enjoying the National 12. Married couples made up 20% of the fleet, 25% of the fleet were parent and child combinations, and there were 3 sets of siblings competing too. A third of the competitors in total were under 21, another third over 40. There was fierce competition for the subsidiary trophies. The first new helm to Burton Week was Paul Davies, the Gill Supercrew was Guy Pelling, the Canter Trophy for the leading over 40 helm was won by Ian Gore and the leading female helm (and Grand Master) was Caroline Martin celebrating her 25th year. The Admirals Cup for older boats was won by Felix & Lottie Newall-Smith in Baggy Aardvark. The Joe Yorke Trophy for most improved was won by Brian & George Kitching.
Burton week was generously sponsored by a number of sponsors, including; Snipe, Muc-Off, Yachting World, Gill, Alverbank, St. Austell Brewery, Marineware, Aardvark Technologies and Pinnell & Bax. As ever the week ended with a grand prize giving with many in the fleet taking home some fantastic prizes. Thank you to the Sponsors!
Overall Results
Yachting World Silver National (overall points)
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1. N3501 Tom Stewart & Elisabeth Ross, Northampton SC, 6pts
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2. N3450 Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles, Royal Harwich YC, 15pts
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3. N3441 Ian & Alex Gore, Up River YC, 22pts
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4. N3492 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Burghfield SC, 25pts
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5. N3436 Steve Sallis & Jenny James, Hykeham SC, 25pts,
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6. N3473 John & Katy Meadowcroft, Henley SC, 26pts
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7. N3485 Gavin & Jasmine Willis, Bristol Corinthian YC, 40 pts
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8. N3484 Antony & Jo Gifford, Aldeburgh YC, 47 pts
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9. N3497 Tim Laws & Sam Game, Forfar SC, 49 pts
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10. N3449 Steve & Robbie Adshead, Spinnaker Club, 54 pts
Sir William Burton Cup
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1. N3492 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Burghfield SC
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2. N3441 Ian & Alex Gore, Up River YC
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3. N3501 Tom Stewart & Elisabeth Ross, Northampton SC
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4. N3450 Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles, Royal Harwich YC
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5. N3497 Tim Laws & Sam Game, Forfar SC
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6. N3436 Steve Sallis & Jenny James, Hykeham SC
Kit list
| Burton Week kit list | Hull | Hull | Crew weight | |||||||||
| Name | Design | Designer | Builder | material | Hull age | Sails | Mast | Correctors (kg) | Foils | (Stone) | ||
| 1 | 3501 | Tom Stewart & Liz Ross | Feeling Foolish | Bim Baser | Winder / P&B | Carbon/Foam | 6 months | P&B | Superspar | 13.00 | Winder | |
| 2 | 3450 | Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles | Final Chapter | Michael Jackson | Nigel Waller | Carbon/Foam | 6 years | Rowsell | Angell | 20.00 | Waller | 20.5 |
| 3 | 3441 | Ian & Alex Gore | Feeling Foolish | Bim Baser | Nigel Waller | Carbon/Foam | 7 years | P&B | Superspar | 15.50 | ||
| 4 | 3492 | Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne | Numinous | Bim Baser | Brett Dingwall | Carbon/Foam | 3 years | Alverbank | Angell | 12.20 | Driver | 17.5 |
| 5 | 3436 | Steve Sallis & Jenny James | Feeling Foolish | Bim Baser | Linton Jenkins | Glass/Foam | 8 years | Alverbank | Superspar | 4.80 | ||
| 6 | 3473 | John & Katy Meadowcroft | Final Chapter (mod) | Michael Jackson | Nigel Waller | Carbon/Foam | 4 years | P&B | Angell | 17.00 | Waller | 21.5 |
| 7 | 3485 | Gavin & Jasmine Willis | Paradigm | Gavin Willis | Gavin Willis | Carbon/Foam | 3 years | P&B | Angell | 0.00 | 22.5 | |
| 8 | 3484 | Antony & Jo Gifford | Paradox | Bim Baser | Nigel Waller | Carbon/Foam | 3 years | P&B | Chipstow | 12.30 | ||
| 9 | 3497 | Tim Laws & Sam Game | Big Issue 2 | Phil Morrison | Aardvark Technologies | Glass/Foam | 2 years | Rowsell | Angell | 27.25 | ||
| 10 | 3449 | Steve & Robbie Adshead | Final Chapter | Michael Jackson | Nigel Waller | Carbon/Foam | 6 years | Alverbank | Angell | 17.70 | Waller | |
Day 1, Race 1
The fleet assembled at Porthpean on the Saturday to be welcomed by a thick
sea fog. But at 2pm sharp the fog cleared and a cracking force 4 filled in for
the practice race. The race officer set 2 triangles for the race. No prizes for
guessing who was showing top form in these conditions, Richard Williams and
Lindsay Iles led the race, Tom Stewart & Liz Ross were also steaming along
pursued by the Meadowcrofts. The fleet came ashore thinking they'de already had
the best race of the week. But Sunday morning dawned with a sunny force 4 -
fantastic. After one general recall the OOD put up the black flag and the fleet
behaved a bit better. Tom & Liz had a cracking start at the pin end but with the
wind off the land the conditions were very shifty so anything could happen up
the first beat.
Initially the boats in the middle of the best playing the shifts looked good,
but then the wind filled from the left and Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles
popped out ahead, it then also filled from the right and Bruce & Clare Johnson
looked good. In the end Richard & Lindsey rounded first with Tom & Liz in hot
pursuit down the first reach. Tom & Liz kept the pressure on for the next two
laps of the triangular course and finally got past to take the lead on lap
three.
Race 1 Final positions
1st Tom Stewart & Liz Ross
2nd Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles
3rd Steve Sallis & Jenny James
4th Antony & Jo Gifford
5th Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne
1st Corrigan: Nathan Harding & Lucy Horsley
Day 2
Monday morning dawned wet, very wet, infact visibility was down to 200m due to drizzle as a warm front came over and the fleet huddled in the marquee looking glum. Fortunately after an hour postponement the sun came out and a force 4 filled in - brilliant. With 2 races planned Porthpean took pasty orders before racing ready for delivery between races. yum yum!
Race 2 - Monday morning
The wind was pretty shift coming off the land again. The bias was port one
minute and starboard the next. At 3 minutes to go the line was starboard biased.
Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles started in the middle of line and played the
shifts to take a clear lead by the windward mark followed by the Meadowcrofts.
Richard & Lindsey kept their lead around 2 laps of the P course until they were
caught by the Gores who flew down the run the sneak into the lead by the leeward
mark at the start of lap 3. Richard & Lindsey fought hard to regain the lead
which they took back at the windward mark of the final lap. They then held the
lead to the finish. Tom & Liz went up a gear for the final beat to take second.
Race 2 results
1st Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles
2nd Tom Stewart & Liz Ross
3rd Ian & Alex Gore
4th The Meadowcrofts
5th The Ibbotsons
Race 3 - Monday afternoon
The wind stayed a good force 4 for the afternoon. The line was port biased
and the wind swung hard left just before the start making it difficult for boats
to cross the line on starboard. There was some serious carnage at the pin end
out of which popped Gavin Willis who won the pin and looked good to be first at
the windward mark, but Tom & Liz powered through underneath to snatch first
position at the mark. Tom & Liz extended their lead throughout the race and were
never really challenged. There was a tussle for second with Richard & Lindsey
snapping at the Willis' heels upwind and Graham & Zoe on his tail downwind.
Gavin & Jasmin held their second until the penultimate beat where Richard &
Lindsey caught a better lift on the port hand approach to the windward mark and
overhaulled them to take second. The Meadowcrofts put the full width of their
boat to good effect on the final beat to power through to third.
Race 3 results
1st Tom Stewart & Liz Ross
2nd Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles
3rd The Meadowcrofts
4th Gavin & Jasmin Willis
5th Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne
Day 3, Race 4 - The Burton Cup
The morning dawned very light and patchy, so there was a postponement for two
hours to allow the breeze to fill in. The fleet eventually took to the water at
12. After a false start, the fleet finally got away around 1.15. The conditions
were very light, perching weather, with a mixture of swell and chop and some
ominous rainclouds. The first beat was very shifty and right paid initially but
then the wind filled in from the left. Nigel Playford was first round the mark
followed by Ian & Alex Gore and Graham & Zoe. Down the first reach Ian & Alex
took the lead, closely pursued by Graham & Zoe. Ian & Alex led down the next
reach but Graham & Zoe just pulled ahead on the next beat. Tim Laws and Mike
Shallow hit the right hand side and picked up a lot of places, while Tom & Liz
and Richard & Lindsey started to pull through the fleet.
Ian & Alex and Zoe & Graham swapped the lead for the next three laps, closely
pursued by Tom & Liz and Tim & Sam. The last beat was nailbiting as the wind
dropped off and the chop and shifts made tactics very difficult and stressful.
Finally Graham & Zoe got the gun, and Ian & Alex got the Coronation Cup
(thanking their luck that Graham & Zoe's wedding date is after the champs), just
keeping ahead of Tom & Liz.
Results:
1) Graham & Zoe
2) Ian & Alex
3) Tom & Liz
4) Richard & Lindsey
5) Tim & Sam
Wednesday Day 4, Race 5
The fleet were pretty keen to get over the line on Wednesday mornings race
and required 3 attempts at starting and the raising of the black flag before
they would behave! The wind was coming off the shore and was very shifty. There
was a group in the middle of the beat playing the shifts and a group led by
Terry & Angela Cooke and Mike Hoyle & Jenny King that headed right towards the
land in more breeze. The right hand side of the beat paid in buckets. First
round the mark were Tom & Liz who flew down the reach into an unstoppable lead
which they kept to the finish. The fight was then on for second between Mike
Hoyle, the Shallows, the Willis' and the Cookes. The Meadowcrofts and Ibbotsons
also joined the party at the gybe mark. The fight was decided on the final short
beat to the finish where going right paid yet again.
Race 5 results
1st Tom & Liz
2nd The Willis'
3rd The Meadowcrofts
4th The Ibbotsons
5th The Cookes
Race 6
The conditions deteriorated for Race 6. In the words of the BBC - "expect
rain followed by showers". We were now somewhere between rain and showers!
However spirits were raised by the delivery of toasty hot pasties by the
on-the-water Porthpean pasty service. yum yum!
The tactical options were the same as for race 5, the only additional dilemma
being what effect the approaching front would have. Having seen the impact of
the wind on the right hand side in the first race a lot of people went hard
right. Tom & Liz went slight right of centre, played some nice shifts and picked
up a storming gust and lift 2/3rds of the way up the beat to take the lead.
The pack vying for second were Steve Sallis & Jenny James, the Giffords, the
Meadowcrofts, John Whitehead and the Willis'. Things started to get tense when
it went light and shifty on the approach to the second windward mark. The wind
stayed good on the left hand side which caught much of the pack out. The Gores
and Graham & Zoe caught up in this area but Steve Sallis and the Giffords just
kept ahead. The wind stabilised for the long run after which the race officer
shortened with a short final beat just in time for another band of rain to
appear.
Race 6 results
1st Tom & Liz
2nd Steve Sallis & Jenny James
3rd The Giffords
4th Graham & Zoe
5th The Gores
Day 5 Thursday - Race 7
The fleet were very well behaved on the start (this time) with no boats on
course side and all away cleanly sailing in fresh force 4+ conditions. John
Meadowcroft, Gavin Willis and Tom Stewart played the shifts on the right to
contest the lead, with the Willis' first round the windward mark, closely
followed by Tom and Jon. The first reach saw Tom take the lead narrowly just
before the gybe and Steve Sallis pull up into 3rd. Gavin Willis was trying too
hard to catch Tom and slipped out of the back of the boat, nearly saved the
capsize then ended upside down. Crew Jasmine was initially upset but giggled all
the rest of the way round remembering the ungainly position of dad half out of
the back of the boat and desperately trying to get back in.
Tom pulled way ahead over the next lap, with Steve now firmly in second place.
Plenty of gains and losses were made on the tricky shifts on the beats, but
eventually Richard Williams picked his way through the pack to take third place,
closely followed by Ian & Alex and John & Katy.
Race 7 Results
1. Tom Stewart and Liz Ross
2. Steve Sallis and Jenny James
3. Richard Williams and Lindsey Iles
4. Ian & Alex Gore
5. John & Katy Meadowcroft
Day 6, Race 8
The forecast for Friday was light and raining - not promising. But as the
fleet assembled at the club it was evident that we now had a solid Force 3 from
the south east. With first place overall safely in the bag for Tom & Liz and
second pretty much in the bag for Richard & Lindsey the fight was really on for
third place overall. With just 2 points separating the Gores, the Meadowcrofts,
Stevie & Jenny and Graham & Zoe it was all to play for.
The OOD set an slightly port biased line so there was the inevitable big fight
for the pin but with a little chop on top of a large swell it was going to be
hard to win it. The Willis' had first attempt but waves stopped play and the
baton was handed to the Meadowcrofts. Team Meadowcroft looked good for the first
part of the beat then headed out to the right just as the wind swung right. They
were best positioned for this and rounded the windward mark first closely
followed by Tom & Liz. Tom & Liz put their superior downwind speed to use on the
second reach to sail past the Meadowcrofts into yet another uncatchable lead.
Richard Williams also overtook the Meadowcrofts on the second reach. The fight
was now on for third place. The Gores caught up on the second beat. The wind was
patchy on the run and places changed with Richard & Lindsey dropping to fourth.
The third beat was also patchy with lots of boats coming down to the leeward
mark. The leaders split tacks. When they came back together the Gores were in a
clear second with Richard & Lindsey in third. Graham & Zoe took a left hand
course on the beat sailing in a little more wind to catch up the leading pack by
the windward mark.
The final two reaches would now prove critical with Steve Sallis, the
Meadowcrofts and Graham & Zoe all fighting for fourth in the race (and therefore
fourth overall). Graham & Zoe picked up speed on the second reach towards the
leeward mark and overhauled both the Meadowcrofts and Steve & Jenny to take
fourth. A short tacking battle ensued to the finish but places were unchanged.
Race 8 results
1st Tom & Liz
2nd The Gores
3rd Richard Williams & Lindsey Iles
4th Graham & Zoe
5th The Meadowcrofts
Photos at: