ANEYC day 1 - Ripon

Twenty five boats took part in the Ripon SC National 12 meeting held on 7 October, which was sailed for in some of the windiest conditions the Northern fleet have seen this year.

Race one saw much of the fleet taking a bath – the gusts not only hit hard, but generally came with sufficient change of direction to catch the unwary(see below for the capsize gallery). The Camms were the first casualties, with a spectacular capsize right by the clubhouse. Bernard Clark/Philip Benn were early race leaders, hotly pursued by Philip and Helen David who seized the lead when Clark and Benn went in on the gybe. The Camms pulled back to second, and took the lead when the Davids sailed into the only windless patch on the whole lake and could only watch as the Camms planed up to them. The Camms took first place, with the Clark/Benn coming through to 2nd and the Davids in 3rd. John and Alison Cheetham, back in Rebel after their sail in a double bottomed boat at the Inlands, took 4th place. In the Vintage fleet Brian and George Kitching and Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson showed that the old boats can still be competitive, and are capable of some blistering speed in the right conditions.

Despite the wind being forecast to drop off during the afternoon race 2 and 3 were sailed in equally squally conditions. The Camms showed a clean pair of heels in race 2, with Clark/Benn and the Davids battling it out behind them. Howard Steavenson, crewed by Katie McInnes, showed how quickly the double bottomed boats drain out, with a spectacular capsize in full view of the spectators and a remarkably quick turn around to get back in contention again. In the AC fleet Terry and Barbara Spence showed just how long it takes to drain out a Cheshire Cat in heavy weather but managed to finish the race despite being rather low in the water. The Camms took first place, with the Davids second, Clark/Benn third and Nigel Playford/Gail Kaye fourth. ‘Vortex boys’ Ian Escritt and Phil Whitehead, back in the class for the day and sailing Howard Chadwick’s Big Issue clearly enjoyed their return and finished 5th.

Race 3 saw no let up in the wind, and the number of starters had reduced somewhat as people decided that it might be more fun to watch the swimming than take part. The Camms took first place with Mark and Emma Simpson hitting form to finish second. Clark/Benn were 3rd, with the Davids 4th. Escritt/Whitehead finished 5th again.

In order to continue the celebrations of the N12’s 70th birthday year, after sailing the sailors were joined by past members of the class association, with over 100 people sitting down to supper followed by a slide show courtesy of Howard Steavenson.

Results:

1st Graham and Zoe Camm, Burghfield SC, N3492
2nd Bernard Clark and Philip Benn, Yorkshire Ouse and Ripon SC’s, N3447
3rd Philip and Helen David, Yorkshire Ouse SC, N3217
4th Mark and Emma Simpson, Scaling Dam SC, N3472

The first vintage boat was N2266, sailed by Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson.

Capsize Gallery: can you identify the unlucky victims?