National Twelves at Bristol Corinthian - 28 & 29 April 2001
The training day was an exacting and at times entertaining (for spectators) event with a series of testing exercises being carried out in gusty conditions. The training was superbly organised by and carried out under the watchful eye of Tom Stewart and Charlotte Ibbotson with support from Robin and Ben Wood. The more embarrassing (and inspiring) moments were captured on video by class Chairman John Meadowcroft. The rescue boats were kept busy as the fleet played 'follow my leader' and tacked and gybed 'on the whistle'. Later in the afternoon the wind strengthened further and starting practice was abandoned in favour of good planing 'blasts' across the reservoir.
The evening social gave an opportunity for a debrief which became more erudite and incisive as pints were downed to cool the glow from the accompanying chilli.
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The next day produced fine spring - like weather with a moderate breeze providing excellent racing conditions for the 17 open meeting entrants. After a clean start, Antony Gifford and Jo Brown (N3447) (RIGHT) took an early lead from Mike Cooke and Smiley John (N3419) who were quickly overhauled by Tom Stewart and Charlotte Ibbotson (N3465). Despite gear failure, Gifford and Brown held their lead until the final jybe, when Stewart and Ibbotson finally managed to overtake and lead to the finish. During the race, Robin and Ben Wood pulled through to third, with Mike Cooke and Smiley John in fourth. |
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At lunchtime the previous evening's chilli was found to have matured overnight and, suitably 'fired up', John and Katy Meadowcroft (N3429) lead the fleet round the windward mark, only to be overtaken downwind. Robin and Ben Wood, sailing 'Bart' (N3455) pulled ahead half way through the first lap and, making the most of the conditions, pulled away from the chasing group to win the second race with a good margin from Tom Stewart and Charlotte Ibbotson with Antony Gifford and Jo Brown in third place and Mike Cooke showing great consistency in fourth. |
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Throughout the day both race officers and competitors had to contend with a tricky, shifting wind and for the third race the race officers went to great lengths to set a line without too much bias, only to be rewarded by the fleet making a general recall necessary. However, the restart went off smoothly and Tom Stewart and Charlotte Ibbotson lead from start to finish to take the trophy. Behind them, Antony Gifford and Jo Brown recovered well from a poor first beat to chase Mike Cooke and Smiley John and Robin and Ben Wood, finally overtaking Cooke / John but not quite managing to pull through to second. |
Throughout the day the local boats were unable to keep up with the leading pack but enjoyed their own tussles somewhere around the middle of the fleet with Jimmy and Andrew Millar being the leading BCYC boat in 7th place overall. Overall results: 1st Tom Stewart and Charlotte Ibbotson
- N3465 - Royal Harwich Y.C. |