GILL SERIES 2: TRENT VALLEY

Saturday the 6^th of May 2006 at Trent Valley Sailing Club saw a very special gathering of twenty one National 12 dinghies to mark the 70^th anniversary of the National 12 class. This was the first river venue in the history of the Gill Series, at a club which was one of the very first to adopt the National Twelve Class. For all races the fleet was seeded into 6 fixed groups and for each race, two flights were formed from a changing mixture of groups.

The first race got underway in bright, warm sunshine and very light winds. Passing through the doldrums located at the local Cub Scout’s headquarters proved challenging in the swirling airflow. In the first flight, Dave Peacock and Tricia Wood took the lead round the first mark and could not be overtaken. In the second flight it was former local John Sears & Lydia Wood who crossed the finish in first place.

The second race was started in damp conditions with winds approaching force 2 and both flights got away unhindered.  As the wind eased again, it was obvious that as the wind died away it would be necessary to finish the boats on a line further upstream.  So, ankle deep in water, in a RIB with a small leak, the Race Officer rushed up the course and concluded the racing for the day. The winners in flight 1 were Gavin Willis sailing with daughter Jasmine, while Jon Ibbotson sailing with local crew Ann Britton took the gun in the second flight.

On the Saturday evening, former Midlands area expert Tony Edwards gave a talk on river sailing and this was followed by an amusing fancy dress supper with the theme “What you were wearing when the ship went down”, with outfits ranging from pirates to a bath towel and pearls.

On the Sunday morning the wind was very light. In the first race Paul Turner and Shirley Dooley took an early lead of the first flight, but eventually David Wilkins and Susie Sallis took the lead. By the second lap, there was no longer any clear water between the fleets and the leaders of the second flight, Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne caught up a number of the boats from the first flight, whilst continuing to maintain a comfortable lead ahead of John Sears & Lydia Wood.

With the wind increasing slightly the Race Officer set a full course for the 4^th race. From a tight bunch at the start of Flight 1, Michael Day and Anne Murch established a clear lead which they held to the end. Second were David Wilkins and Susie Sallis. Flight 2 was dominated by Camm and Ballantyne, followed by Jon Ibbotson and Ann Britton.

For the final race, a short beat and run course at the top end of the river was set. The first flight was again won comfortably by Camm and Ballantyne, followed again by Ibbotson and Britton. For the second flight, Jon Cheetham and his daughter drew ahead of the pack and finished ahead of Wilkins and Sallis.

Overall Results:

 1.      N.3492  Babel Fish, Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, TVSC

2.      N.3496  Flipside, Michael Day & Anne Murch, St Catherines

3.      N.3494  Monkey Business, Jon Ibbotson & Ann Britton, OCSS

4.      N.3502  Carbonara, David Peacock & Tricia Wood, TVSC

5.      N.3481  Cooked to Perfection, David Wilkins & Susie Sallis, Spinnaker SC

 Admirals Cup

 1.      N.3217  Wendy Windblows, Philip & Helen David, YOSC

2.      N.3209  Rebel, John and Alison Cheetham, Yeadon SC

 First Under 21

 1. N.3493   Loki, Nathan Harding & Lucy Horsley, Sheffield Hallam USC

Photos: David Eberlin, Yvonne McInnes, Zoe Ballantyne