National 12s @ Twickenham YC

On 3rd October Twickenham Yacht Club hosted their annual National 12 Open meeting for the Challenge Trophy first raced for in 1936. Visitors came from as far as Dorset and Kent to face the challenging fickle winds of the Thames.

David Wilkins and Lesley Iles who led from the start won the first race from Mike Day and Anne Murch. Competition amongst the single bottomed boats was fierce with Roger Hidden and Ed Courtney snatching victory from Pip Deverson and Emi Sako just 20 yards from the line.

Race 2 again saw David & Lesley win but after a much closer race with Mike & Anne who managed to take the lead within the last few yards to each mark to and to loose it again immediately after. Positions amongst the older boats were reversed leaving the competition for their special cup wide open entering race 3.

Race 3, sailed through floating petals and ashes from an upstream funeral, saw Roger & Ed lead round the first mark in the lead but they were overtaken on the beat by David & Lesley. However they kept these two in their sights and challenged again for the lead on the next run. It was not until the final lap that a sizeable gap opened between these 2 boats that have a gap of 30 years in their ages. Pip & Emi were 3rd with Mike & Anne finishing 4th.

1st 3481 Cooked to Perfection - David Wilkins & Lesley Iles, Spinnaker
2nd 3454 Sunset Surreal - Mike Day & Anne Murch
3rd 2789 Sandpiper - Roger Hidden & Ed Courtney, Twickenham YC
4th 2700 Arctic Tern - Pip Deverson & Emi Sako, Twickenham YC