A triangular course at sea, off Tynemouth Priory, was set for the 56th Tynemouth Bailer for National Twelves on Sunday June 25th. A Force 3 North Easterly breeze had kicked up a lumpy, confused sea over the previous night which prevailed throughout the three back to back races. Remarkably there was an exact repeat of the 1995 results (a 'flat water' affair inside the harbour!) wherein the first three helms finished in the same overall positions, with almost identical race results, albeit each with different crews. Mark Simpson again demonstrated his impressive boatspeed to win all three races, chased by Howard and Philip Steavenson in two races and Philip David and Thea Armstrong in the other. Further back Bernard Clarke and James Brookes were pipped at the post (on countback) for fourth place by Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson.

Modern National Twelves do not have a reputation of being the most stable craft, so bearing that in mind, most of the 11 entries coped admirably with the very steep and irregular wave pattern, despite an isolated case of seasickness!

This result gives Mark Simpson and Alan Jenson a commanding lead in the Northern traveller series.

Overall Results:

1st 3472 Mark Simpson and Alan Jenson (Scaling Dam SC) 2pts;

2nd 3479 Howard Steavenson and Philip Steavenson (Tynemouth SC) 4pts;

3rd 3217 Philip David and Thea Armstrong (Yorkshire Ouse SC) 5pts;

4th 3489 Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson (Yeadon SC) 7pts;

5th 3447 Bernard Clarke and James Brookes (Yorkshire Ouse SC) 7pts.