National 12s at Datchet Water
The
windless weekend of 16th/17th November saw the arrival of
12 twelves at Datchet for the final meeting of the Thames Area series. The wind really didn’t arrive but in one of
the gaps when it didn’t not arrive quite as much as it hadn’t arrived earlier,
we took to the water en masse.
Following a half hour beat of a trapezoid course, in which the lead
could have been anybody’s, the wind that hadn’t ever really arrived disappeared
completely. So the race officer duly
abandoned and the rescue boats provided a much needed tow home, reminding many
of their cadet and optimist days.
Sunday
dawned very quickly following a lively Thames Area dinner, but once again the
majority of the wind failed to materialise.
The little wind that there was did prove to be enough to think about
racing, so six of the twelve boats that had made the journey took to the seas
and competed in two brilliant races.
The
first race was lead by Tom Stewart and Liz Ross who had stormed off the start
line in a mighty gust only to have the world’s closest race of the day with
Caroline Martin and Sophie Mackley, with Caroline and Sophie nipping in front
to take the gun. In the excitement, Ian
and Alex Gore also got past Tom and Liz to take second.
Race
two started in less wind than most people might ever really have enjoyed
sailing in that much but we were all a keen bunch and duly set off for a three
lap windward – leeward course. Caroline
Martin and Sophie Mackley surged ahead, as did Ian and Alex Gore in
second. This was how it remained with
Frances Gifford and Jenny Wilkins taking third from Bim Daser and Mandy
Thornton who excelled against all the other Admirals Cup boats (no second
bottom), taking this most coveted prize.
Overall
1st
3455 Caroline Martin and Sophie Mackley, Burghfield Sailing Club
2nd
3441 Ian and Alex Gore, Up River Yacht Club
3rd
3431 Frances Gifford and Jenny Wilkins, Aldeburgh Yacht Club
4th
3476 Tom Stewart and Liz Ross, Royal Harwich Yacht Club
Admirals
Cup winner 3410 Bim Daser and Mandy Thornton
A
brilliant brilliant Thames Area series came to an end with Graham Camm and Zoe
Ballantyne having dominated but so much very close racing for the subsequent
places that it was all very exciting until the very very end.
Overall
1st
3469 Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne, Burghfield Sailing Club
2nd
3468 John and Mandy Thornton, Henley Sailing Club
3rd
3431 Frances Gifford and Jenny Wilkins, Aldeburgh Yacht Club
4th
3464 Geoffrey Camm and Amelia Hall
5th
3410 Bim Daser and Various crews, Ranelagh Sailing Club