National 12's @ Aldeburgh Y.C. 12/13th June 1999
Aldeburgh Yacht Club hosted its annual open meeting for the National Twelve class over the weekend of 12/13th June. Attempting to offer a bit of everything the club laid on sea racing on Saturday and river racing on Sunday.
The first race on Saturday was led from start to finish by Bruce Johnson and Jo Brown, hanging on to the lead through a rainstorm, a flat calm and a 180 degree windshift while chased closely by Paul Pelling and Ian Simkins. The second race on the sea was won by Chris Mayhew and Helen Hilditch, who pulled clear of the fleet as Gifford and Bailey fought an eventually successful battle for second with Ian Gore and Lesley Iles.
Sunday was dry, ultimately sunny, and the day for sailing on the river. A traditional estuary race in the morning was won by Gifford and Bailey, with Mayhew and Hilditch second. In the afternoon the high tide was used to lay committee boat start lines and sail some imaginative courses and both races were won by Jon and Charlotte Ibbotson. With only three of the five races to count this was enough to give Jon and Charlotte overall victory.
As usual the club, and race officer Terry Fellowes, worked hard to maximise the enjoyment if the event and provide what the class wanted. The class continues to thrive, with more new boats being launched every week.
1st Jon & Charlotte Ibbotson, RHYC, N3445
2nd Antony Gifford & Richard Bailey, AYC, N3431
3rd Chris Mayhew & Helen Hilditch, RHYC, N3437
4th Jon Brown and Jane Jones, RHYC, N3426