National 12 open meeting @ Burghfield S.C. 17th March 2002

This was the first visit to Burghfield for the 12s and the fleet was greeted
with a stiff breeze and shifty conditions for the second event of the year
in the Thames area series. The first race kicked off in
sunshine with the majority of the fleet making a pin end start. Half way up
the first beat the wind veered and late committee boat end starters Frances
Gifford sailing with Katy Meadowcroft and Chris Mayhew sailing with
Charlotte Ibbotson took advantage of the shift to take the lead. Chris then
consolidated his lead and proved to be unstoppable. The rest of the fleet
fought for third place with constant battles on each beat. Antony & Jo
Gifford looked promising for third but rudder trouble thwarted their efforts
enabling Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne to sneak through.

The wind picked up for the second race with force 5 gusts coming from
unexpected directions to keep the fleet on their toes. Frances & Katy flew
off the start line and rounded the windward mark first, with the pack
closely on their heels. Racing remained close on the second lap until Antony
& Jo capsized at the windward mark resulting in a reshuffle of positions
with Graham & Zoe taking second. Some vicious gusts whipped across the next
beat resulting in early season gooseneck traumas for Fran & Katy, allowing
Graham & Zoe to take the lead all the way to the finish. With a running
finish the fight was on between Ian Gore and Chris Mayhew for second place,
with Chris snatching second by a whisker.

Following two tough races the fleet was slightly reduced for the third race.
As the gun went the wind died and the fleet jostled in the even shiftier
conditions. Graham & Zoe rounded the windward mark first with Ian & Alex in
hot pursuit. Graham & Zoe's lead looked safe until the final beat when Ian &
Alex got into the swing of the shifts and squeezed past to finish first just
a boat length ahead.

The open meeting also saw the launch of Mike Cooke's home built "Aardvark
Issues" with a specially commissioned Alverbanks rig. Mike and Jimmy
Whitehead showed some blistering speed especially in the strong stuff off
wind and were also able to hold their own upwind. An impressive start to the
season and one to watch (although they couldn't count their results as the
boat is still to be measured).

Results:
1st. Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, N3469 Numinous
2nd Chris Mayhew & Charlotte Ibbotson, N3443 Final Chapter
3rd Ian Gore & Alex Harris, N3441 Feeling Foolish

1st Admirals cup (Non-double). Bim Daser & Richard Attoe, N3410 Feeling
Foolish



Graham Camm
N3469 - "Thanks for all the fish"