Twelve @ Norfolk

All the competitive racing this year at Norfolk was for the place prizes as Ian Gore and Alex Harris for the week's results, they won five out of the eight sailed in the points series and also won the Jenny Lee memorial race at Burnham Overy Staithe. Second and third places were closely contested by Patrick Elcombe with Carole Shore and Steve Le Grys crewed by Jon Thomson. Steve's chances were not helped by him being unable to sail the first race but he made an impressive start with a second at Hunstanton on the Sunday. Patrick had his best result, a second to Ian, in the glorious sunshine of Blakeney. Others with a claim to have got close enough to see Ian's tongue were Phil & Helen David at Hunstanton, Peter Miatt and Ruth Holt in the first race at Brancaster, and Tim Tomlinson and Jessica Pullen in the second Brancaster race. It took the arrival of Tom Stewart and Liz Ross to cut Ian's engraving bill as they won Wells, and both races at Snettisham. Antony Gifford and Jo Brown took a third and second at Snettisham but as Tom and Antony's results did not count for the week's results this made no impact on the serious competition.

Patrick claimed his success was due to a new mathematical formula allowing him an extra 0.3 sq. metres of sail area whilst remaining in the rules, however, Carole calims that it was due far more to the support boat of Peter Shore and his Indian canoe crewed by two small white dogs wearing handbag conversion kits. The case that the dogs may have been used as external propulsion was never proven, but Peter took the nickname Hiawatha anyway.

Other news: The Yorkshire Ouse contingent Vince and Fiona Phillips had produced a prototype crew, 12 weeks old called Alexander. Brian Miatt couldn't sail this year as he was recovering from hip surgery and the prize for the most dedicated 12 sailors would have to go to James and Kirsty Nicholson who came all the way from Sweden. Steve Le Grys contested this title by making a very dedicated effort to become a tow rope as he was determined not to be left out of the tow out at Brancaster and spread himself between his boat and a rapidly departing Laser. This followed another "Le Grys moment" at Hunstanton in which had the attention of two AA men for three hours trying to open the boot of his car only for Sue May to point out that his keys had been in his pocket all the time.

Glorious weather ensured that this was a very pleasent Norflok week, in spite of several days of light winds. Ian can now claim the title of most successful N12 Norfolk week helm ever. Sunbathing, Beer drinking and Barbecues once again played a prominent part in the weeks activities and it will be good to see everyone again next year - hopefully with some different faces too.

Overall Results:

1st N3441 Ian Gore & Alex Harris,

2nd N3394 Patrick Elcombe & Carole Shaw,

3rd Steve Le Grys & Jon Thompson.