National 12 events 2005

Derwent Vintage Open

The annual Open Meeting for Vintage National Twelve dinghies was held on Sept.3, in ideal, Force 3, planing breezes from the south-east. The meeting was a handicap event using the club's own, well-developed handicap system. In the first, scratch race, Peter Roe and Helen Bird, in Rum Runner, made a fine start but were gradually overhauled by Howard and Sarah Chadwick in Triarda and Paul Turner and Andrea Murphy in Dolly Daydream. Triarda finally squeezed past Dolly Daydream to take the gun.

The finishing times in Race 1 were used to set up the starting times for the two pursuit races which followed. In the second race, last boat in the previous race, Mock Turtle, sailed by Ian and Margaret Purkis, set off first and was never caught up by the pack behind, which finished within 30 seconds of each other. The final race was even closer with Mock Turtle again finishing first, by a narrow margin, and Dolly Daydream pipping Rum Runner by less than a metre. With all races to count, this gave Dolly Daydream three second places, a one point advantage over Mock Turtle.

Final Placings:
1. Dolly Daydream, N.2487 (China Doll) Paul Turner and Andrea Murphy, 6 points
2. Mock Turtle, N.1620 (Proctor Mk.6) Ian and Margaret Purkis, 7 points
3. Triarda, N.2266 (Starfish) Howard and Sarah Chadwick, 9 points

During the prizegiving, presentations were made to the host club's Towan and Jennifer Hancock, to mark 16 years to date that they have organised this highly regarded event.

The fleet approaching the gybe mark

Photo: Towan Hancock

Mock Turtle rounding ahead of the fleet

Photo: Towan Hancock