Twelves at Ranelagh for RTYC Trophy.

After celebrating the 2001 season at the Saturday evening prize giving, the
first event of the 2002 N12 Thames Area season took place on Sunday 27th
January at Ranelagh SC for the Royal Thames Yacht Club Trophy. With gales
on the Saturday and more anticipated for Sunday, surprisingly, the wind
failed to materialise, and the select group of 10 entrants found themselves
barely able to stem the tide in the very light zephyrs.

Sailing a traditional course on the Putney reach, the contestants made
their way down to the first mark with the tide helping their progress.
First off the line was Bim Daser crewed by Alex, but Graham Camm and Zoe
Ballantyne had no qualms in quickly overtaking the designer of their
Numinous design to take the lead. The rest of the fleet spread across the
river to make what they could of the little wind available. A necessary
mark repositioning as the leading boats approached caused some
consternation in the fleet, however Graham& Zoe rounded first with Bim &
Alex overlapped outside. The incoming tide sweeping both upstream away from
the mark allowed the next boats to harden up and tack inside on a slight
puff. Frances Gifford crewed by Jess Brown then managed to hook the mark on
their rudder and with the tide under them started dragging it off towards
Hammersmith much to the frustration to those still trying to round. However
it was a godsend to those struggling to get past the mark against the tide,
and the first to benefit were John & Mandy Thornton in another Numinous
design, getting back into the shore for the long trip back to Putney.
Graham and Zoe followed closely, and Ben Brown and Daryl Wilkinson squeezed
into third ahead of Bim & Alex. What followed was a long and tentative beat
back against the tide hugging the bank, with occasional costly tacks out
into the stream. With the floodwater turning the tide early the race was
finished at Putney. The Thorntons won from Graham & Zoe, both extending
their lead over third place and first non-double bottomed boat of Ben and
Daryl, ahead of Bim and Alex. Frances & Jess staged a remarkable recovery
after re-rounding the mark to finish 5th and first woman helm.  Predictably
after packing up the wind arrived in the afternoon!

Results:
1st 3468, Pillow Fight, Numinous Design, John & Mandy Thornton, Henley SC.
2nd 3469, Thanks for all the Fish, Numinous Design, Graham Camm & Zoe
Ballantyne, Burghfield SC
3rd 3385, Wild Front Ear, Ben Brown & Daryl Wilkinson, Burghfield SC
4th 3410, Feeling Foolish, Bim Daser & Alex, Ranelagh SC
5th 3431, Zippy, Feeling Foolish Design, Frances Gifford & Jess Brown,
Aldeburgh SC

Admirals Cup Prize: 3385, Wild Front Ear, Ben Brown & Daryl Wilkinson,
Burghfield SC
Womens Prize: 3431, Zippy, Feeling Foolish Design, Frances Gifford & Jess
Brown, Aldeburgh SC

With twelve events in this years Thames Area Trophy, it looks like it will
be more hotly contested than ever before, with many top crews determined to
win this prestigious trophy.

www.national12.org
Class Secretary: Janet Bloor 01332 882 620
Thames Area Rep.: Frances Gifford 020 7727 3733.