19 National Twelve's met at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club on Sunday 16th
September for the penultimate Gill Series Event. A late tide meant a
relaxed 1pm start for 3 races which were held back to back with the wind
gradually increasing throughout the day.
In the 1st race, the start line had some port bias into the South
Westerly wind, but significant shifts were there for the taking.
Andy Bayliss and Vicky Woods sailing N3445 (Purple Turtle) was 1st to
the windward mark, followed by Richard Williams and Lindsey Iles in
N3450 (Carbon Twelve) and Kevin Iles and Jane Wade in N3373. Places were
generally held down 2 fast reaches with most of the fleet surviving the
gibe mark. The shifts up the next beat saw Carbon 12 make it to
the front, a lead which he held to the finish despite capsizing at the
final wing mark. John and Mandy Thornton in N3443 (The Full Monty) and
Ian Gore sailing with Frankie Turley in N3441 (Tabitha Musto)
continually made progress through the fleet to make it into 2nd and 3rd
places respectively. In the admirals cup, Gerry Ledger sailing
with Elisabeth Ross in N3287 took the gun from Matt and Joe Stiles in
N3143.
The 2nd race saw the arrival of John Meadowcroft and Caroline Martin
sailing N3473 (Max Factor) and the wind continuing to increase.
The Full Monty made it to the windward mark first followed by Max Factor
and Carbon 12. A poor gybe mark by the Full Monty allowed Max
Factor to get past on the following reach. More shifts and good
boat handling on the 2nd beat saw Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne in
N3492 (Babel Fish) get through into 2nd place, but by the end of the run
the front four boats had closed up again. Max Factor managed to
hold Babel Fish, The Full Monty and Carbon 12 with these boats all
finishing within 5 seconds of each other. Gerry Ledger again
dominated the admirals cup fleet with Simon and Matt Hopkins (N3230)
coming in just behind.
A reduced field started the last race with the wind further
strengthening to an average of 25 mph with significant gusts and large
waves. Max Factor showed great upwind speed (and perhaps fresher
legs) to establish a good lead by the windward mark. Carbon 12
rounded 2nd with the Full Monty in 3rd. Carnage at the gybe mark and a
sensible wear round by Max Factor allowed Fran Gifford and Sophie
Mackley in N3431 (Zippy) to take 2nd with The Full Monty 3rd. A very
windy 2nd beat raised hopes of a shortened course. The 3 leaders
all wore round on the run with The Full Monty and Carbon 12 managing to
overtake Zippy. Those 4 boats were the only finishers in that
order.
The final standings were calculated with no discards so Max Factors 2
1sts were unrewarded leaving the Thorntons to win the meeting. Simon and
Matt Hopkins were the only Admirals cup boat to start the last race,
winning them the prize for the first Admiral's cup boat.
Overall results
1st John and Mandy Thornton, N3443, Henley SC, 7 pts
2nd Richard Williams and Lindsey Iles, N3450, Royal Harwich YC, 8pts
3rd Ian Gore and Frankie Turley, N3441, Up River YC, 18 pts
4th Antony and Jo Gifford, N3484, Aldeburgh, 20 pts
5th Andy Bayliss and Vicky Woods, N3445, Hykeham SC, 21 pts
6th John Meadowcroft and Caroline Martin, N3473, Henley SC, 22 pts
Admirals Cup
1st Simon and Matt Hopkins, N3230, Up River YC, 31 pts
2nd Gerry Ledger and Elisabeth Ross, N3287, Up River YC, 39 pts
More photos on Paul Clarke's Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjclarke_tbyc/sets/72157602057848187/
