National 12's @ Burton S.C. 6th June 1999
This year the event was combined with a new meeting at Staunton Harold SC which ensured a good turn out at both opens.
The first race was started in an extremely light and shifty wind, Robin Wood made superb use of his 15 stone all up weight to glide his Baggy into a winning position, breaking free of the fleet along with Ian Gore on the first beat. Diane Thorton drove her Cheshire Cat well around the first lap but with the wind varying between a beat and run the fleet bunched up and Diane got consumed. Wood finished well ahead of the fleet followed by Gore, third place was fiercely contested between Graham Camm, Tim Gray and Tony Edwards (approaching the line in new freshening breeze) with Camm clinching it by a whisker.
The wind freshened to a force 4 and became more steady for the second race. Terry Cooke was leading the pack until a course error allowed Robin Wood to take the lead. With 15 stone in the boat Wood was unstoppable and sailed into a clear lead, followed by Steve Sallis and John Sears.
The wind dropped to a breath again for the final race. Competition was fierce at the front of the fleet with Steve Sallis and Ian Gore battling it out all the way. Sallis finally clinched it leaving Gore second. Edwards, Camm and Wood battled it out for third with a gybing match which was won by a split second by Camm.
Final Results
1st Robin Wood & Ben Wood N3377 Baggy
2nd Steve Sallis & Vicki Woods N3436 Feeling Foolish
3rd Ian Gore & Alayne Seymour N3441 Feeling Foolish
4th Graham Camm & Kathryn Ingham N3378 Freak Out
5th Tony Edwards & Liz Royall N3179 Crusader