National 12 events 2005

Trent Valley Open meeting - 8th May

12 boats filled the river for the National 12 open meeting,with gusty and shifty conditions it proved to be a challenging day. In race one there was a battle up the bank with many cries of "Water" and "Starboard". Eventually Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne in "Babel Fish" managed to escape the pack and pulled out a clear lead just as it began to hail violently, with David Peacock and Trisha Wood in "Purple Pants" taking second place.

In race 2, the beat up the river off the start line was frantic (see photo). Babel Fish retired after an incident leaving David Wilkins and Suzie May in the lead for much of the second lap. However, David Peacock gradually ate into their lead and just squeezed into first with a photo finish. John Sears & Lydia Wood had an anxious time after a canal boat got rather close while they were capsized but no damage was done.

In race 3, Paul Turner, sailing the only vintage boat in the fleet, had a great start. David Peacock overtook him to take the lead, but after some tricky shifts and multiple tacking, Babel Fish and John & Lydia managed to overtake. A nasty squall came down the river just before the finish resulting in a couple of capsizes for David Peacock and Terry Cooke, leaving Babel Fish to take the meeting.

Results:

1) Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Babel Fish

2)David Peacock & Trisha Wood, Purple Pants

3) David Wilkins & Suzie May, Cooked to Perfection

First beat in the second race

Paul Turner & Anja Colley in "Dolly Daydream"