Twickenham Open Meeting

Four visitors joined three home boats for a fine day's sailing at Twickenham YC on 30th September in light force 1-2 easterly.  Fran Gifford and Sophie Mackley led away from the line in race 1 with Mike Day and Anne Murch running aground twice before coming through to second.  Ben and George Deverson were third, leading the Admirals Cup boats.  

 

The fleet were joined in the afternoon by John and Mandy Thornton.  Fran and Sophie led around the windward mark but were overtaken on the run by John and Mandy and Mike and Anne.  An infringement at the leeward mark led to turns for John and Mandy, leaving Mike and Anne to sail into a decent lead.  Gradually, however, John and Mandy pulled through to take the lead on the last run to win by a few yards from Mike and Anne with Fran and Sophie third.  

 

With all to play for in the last race, Mike and Anne led around the windward mark from Fran and Sophie.  By the leeward mark they had swapped places, but Mike and Anne were back in front again by the next windward mark.  With the wind dying away, John and Mandy caught up and all three drifted up the river together until John and Mandy's morning devotions were rewarded with a private zephyr and they pulled away to take the race and the meeting.  Ben and George Deverson sailed consistently well to win the Admiral's Cup prize.  

 

u-Tube Footage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Lk-3ware0

 

Results

1st N3443 John and Mandy Thornton

2nd N3431 Fran Gifford and Sophie Mackley

3rd N3496 Mike Day and Anne Murch

4td N2789 Ben and George Deverson