National 12s @ Newburn/Ryton
Tynemouth Sailing Club's long established arrangement for
the transfer of winter racing from the Tyne Estuary to the tidal
up-river course at Newburn/Ryton resumed on Sunday 14th November
when they hosted the Tate Winter Trophy for National Twelves.
Ten Twelves from six different clubs had to wait for a spring
tide to flood the Newburn slipway before launching to enjoy two
brisk river races in a firm westerly breeze and sunshine.
Mark Simpson and Tressa King from Scaling Dam broke clear from
the start of the first race and were never seriously challenged
thereafter. Behind them a tussle for the minor places resulted
in a photo finish between three boats. Philip David sailed his
20 year-old China Doll embarrassingly quickly and looked as if
he would steal 2nd place from Howard and Thomas Steavenson on
the finish line. However Bernard Clark and Richard Willey's gamble
on the opposite bank paid off. They sneaked into 2nd by a "short
foredeck", leaving Howard 3rd and Philip 4th.
More breeze and a strengthening flood tide had the effect of
'foreshortening' the up-river beats during the second race. This
placed more emphasis on the down-river run against the tide.
Slack water became an important factor. On this occasion it
was Howard and Thomas Steavenson who broke clear from the start
and increased their lead to the finish. Once again a close battle
for the following places developed, this time between Sue Jones/Sue
Wright and Ian Simpson/Olly Townsend. They became so engrossed
in their fight for 2nd place, that the final charge of Mark Simpson
was ignored. Once again the race officer needed an accurate 'sight'
down the finish line to separate the three; and again it was
the straggler on the approach that wriggled into 2nd on the line.
This gave Mark Simpson and Tressa King the overall trophy by
a one point margin and also propelled them to an overall victory
in the season long 'Old Spice' traveller trophy for Northern
Twelve Meetings during 2004.
Overall Results:
Position |
Boat Name |
Sail No |
Helm |
Crew |
Club |
R1 |
R2 |
Points |
|
1 |
Ardvaak Issues |
3472 |
Mark Simpson |
Tressa King |
Scaling Dam SC |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Not another Ardvaak |
3479 |
Howard Steavenson |
Thomas Steavenson |
Tynemouth SC |
3 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
Roly Mo |
3447 |
Bernard Clark |
Richard Willett |
Yorkshire Ouse SC |
2 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
Little Meg |
2545 |
Philip David |
James Kerslake |
Yorkshire Ouse SC |
4 |
5 |
9 |
5 |
Suum Cuique |
3263 |
Sue Jones |
Sue Wright |
Tynemouth SC |
6 |
4 |
10 |
6 |
Why can't you? |
3244 |
Ian Simpson |
Olly Townsend |
Scaling Dam SC |
8 |
3 |
11 |
7 |
Bicycle Clips |
3162 |
John Brookes |
Georgina Brookes |
Tynemouth SC |
5 |
8 |
13 |
8 |
Freddy |
3239 |
Peter Chignell |
Philip Benn |
Ripon SC |
7 |
7 |
14 |
9 |
Lets Go |
1673 |
Brian Herring |
Ros Stevenson |
Winsford Flash SC |
9 |
9 |
18 |
10 |
Pipe Dream |
2951 |
Patrick Gaunt |
Judith Greaves |
Yeadon SC |
10 |
DNF |
21 |
|