Messing about on the river

Four visitors joined seven home boats for the penultimate round of the National Twelve Thames Area Aggregate Trophy at Henley SC on 23 September.   

In race one Matt Stiles and his son in their first 12 open meeting stormed off the line into a big lead.  The pack caught them on the long run as they sat in a hole and by the second windward mark John & Mandy Thornton were in the lead and they then extended this all the way to the finish.  David Wilkins & Adele Cameron took second place with the Stiles in third.  Mike Hoyle & Duncan Mackay took a notable swim whilst they perfected their roll tacking technique.  Local sailor Steve Gent said he laughed so much he almost pissed in his wetsuit. 

Race two saw the arrival of 2006 Burton Cup winners Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne.  As ever demonstrating fantastic light wind speed they sailed away from the fleet, pursued initially by Hoyle and Mackay, and then latterly by Wilkins and Cameron who took second ahead of the Thorntons who had started poorly.

It was all up for grabs in the final race with anyone of three boats able to win.  John & Katy Meadowcroft made a good start but were lacking in speed and competence and were soon overtaken by Mike Day.  Wilkins and Cameron were looking pretty tasty with the Thorntons starting in the third rank again whilst Camm & Ballantyne took a 720.  However, it was Camm & Ballantyne who came charging through the fleet though with the Thorntons breaking their tiller extension in the ensuing drama.  Day then took a swim in precisely no wind whatsoever just to add to the excitement.  Camm & Ballantyne won the race and the event.

As ever a super tea was then enjoyed by all on the Club lawn.  The Thames Area Aggregate Series concludes at Twickenham YC on 15 October.

Results

Pos	Helm & Crew	Sail No.	Design	Club	R1	R2	R3	Points
1	Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne	N3492	Numinous	Burghfield SC	12	1	1	2
2	John & Mandy Thornton	N3148	Tigress	Henley SC	1	3	12	4
3	David Wilkins & Adele Cameron	N3481	Feeling Foolish	Spinnaker Club	2	2	3	4