National 12 events 2005

GILL series 6: Starcross YC

Can there be any conditions less appealing than rain and no wind? This was the scenario that greeted the12 fleet for the 5th Gill Series event of the year. After sheltering in the club house for a hour or so, wondering if all the water was going to disappear before any sailing got done, a slight breeze started to blow.

Race 1 saw Gavin and Jasmine Willis round the windward mark first, however it was Geoff Camm and Amelia Hall who led at the finish, closely followed by Ian and Alex Gore. In the Admirals cup Richard and James King had an excellent race and led the old boats home.

For race 2 the rain finally abated but unfortunately so did most of the wind. Geoff and Amelia proved their sniddling credentials by winning again, while places chopped and changed as the fleet spread out across the river on an agonising last run against the tide. David Wilkins and Sue Sallis took second with Ian and Alex in third.

Sunday dawned with more rain, but thankfully a force 2 from the north. By start of racing the rain had stopped and the breeze picked up to provide some exciting reaches. Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne got away well on the first start and led until deciding to round the leeward mark in the opposite direction to the rest of the fleet. In the confusion Ian and Alex were able to get ahead and kept a good lead for the remainder of the race while Team Bristol, aka Chris Bishop/Pip Jefferies and Gavin and Jasmine, secured second and third respectively.

Race 4 again saw Ian and Alex at the top with Chris and Pip keeping ahead of Graham and Zoe.

The final race saw most of the fleet underestimating the tide, allowing Nigel and Hannah May and Crispin Taylor sailing with Richard Higston to both port tack the fleet. However neither was able to capitalise on their start and it was again Ian and Alex, pursued by
the brothers Camm, at the head of the fleet. On the next beat Tim Laws and Sam Game were able to work right of the top three and draw out a reasonable lead which they held to the finish, while Graham and Zoe this time held off a late charge from Chris and Pip to
claim second.

Overall Results:
1st Ian & Alex Gore N3441 Up-River YC
2nd Geoff Camm & Amelia Hall N3488 RYA
3rd Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne N3492 Burghfield SC

1st Admirals Cup
Crispin Taylor & Richard Higston N3378 Starcross YC