Northampton Sailing Club - Meeting, 15th/16th July.

At last it looked as though some good weather had arrived in time for the Twelve's Inland and Junior championships at Northampton Sailing Club. A force three greeted the 36 entries on Saturday and it looked set to be an excellent weekend.

Race 1 saw Stuart Hudson and Jane Stamp take the early lead and stay there despite many places changing between the next three places. Everything hinged on the beat, with shifty conditions, the most tactical came out on top. Ian Gore and Jane Jones slipped to fourth from second letting the new slimmed down Johnson's grab second with Frances Gifford and Richard Bailey in third.

Race 2 on Saturday afternoon saw Hudson and Stamp continue their domination with the new yellow Bart sailed by Robin and Ben Wood just snatch second from Gore and Jones on the finish line.

Chris Mayhew did his best all day to distract the fleet by capsize on the start line.

Sunday was brighter and less windy but this didn't put the fleet off. Stevie Sallis and Jenny Jones stopped the Hudson/Stamp domination (who had to settle for third) after a tight race with Mayhew/Hilditch keeping it upright this time to take second. Race 4 saw the wind dropping even further and a return to victory for Hudson/Stamp. The Johnson's continued their speedy streak to take second with Julian Hood and Ginger Queen taking third.

The last race was the lightest so far with the wind coming and going leaving the fleet stationary at times. Hudson/Stamp and Dave Wade and Henry Johnson opened a massive lead on third boat Gore/Jones. It was pure match racing for the hour-long race whilst the rest of the fleet looked on. After much changing in the top two places Wade/Johnson finally pulled away to finish half a leg ahead on the next boat.

Results:
1st 3453 Stuart Hudson & Jane Stamp RHYC
2nd 3423 Bruce Johnson & Claire Johnson RHYC
3rd 3441 Ian Gore & Jane Jones Grafham Sailing Club

Team Trophy Royal Harwich Yacht Club

Junior Champion

Richard Williams & Stella Brown RHYC