National 12s @ Thorpe Bay Y.C.

The weekend of 17/18 July saw just under 20 boats competing at the Thorpe Bay open meeting. After a general recall, the first race got under way in a F1-2. Richard Williams and Lindsey Iles led all the way around, holding the lead as the wind went round in circles and at times dropped to nothing with torrential rain, thunder and lightning. Unfortunately this was to be in vain as they had been over the line at the start, gifting the race to second placed Ian Gore with guest crew Penny Yarwood. Third placed Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne were also OCS, moving Nigel and Hannah May up to second. The second race also started in a F1-2 but quickly dropped to almost nothing, leaving the fleet struggling against the tide to get to the mark formerly known as the gybe mark. Fortunately for those boats that that resisted the temptation to paddle home, the wind filled in after about half an hour allowing most of the remaining fleet to finish a much shortened race. First across the line were Camm and Ballantyne, followed by Gore and Yarwood with Terry and Angie Cooke taking third. Saturday evening was party evening at the Iles household with entertainment provided by Kevin Iles desperately trying to get his new boat sufficiently completed to sail the next day. Sunday dawned with a touch more breeze which remained reasonably constant in strength and direction for the days racing. In the third race early leaders Steve Dunn and Helen Hunt were overhauled on the second beat by Camm and Ballantyne and Gore now sailing with wife Alex. These two boats held the leading positions to the finish with Williams and Iles moving up into third. Camm and Ballantyne led the final race for the first lap followed by the Gores. The second beat saw the Gores move up to challenge Camm and Ballantyne and then take the lead on the final beat, sailing higher and faster. Kevin Iles' and Jane Wade's efforts the previous evening proved worthwhile as they finally made the water for the final race finishing in third place (albeit unmeasured). Overall Results 1st Ian Gore and Penny Yarwood/ Alex Gore, Tabitha Musto, Up River YC 2nd Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne, Babel Fish, Burghfield SC 3rd Nigel and Hannah May, Jayseaess, Notts County SC