29 Twelves gathered at Hunstanton SC for the 5th round of the 2008 Gill Series on 26 & 27 July which was also the first weekend of North West Norfolk Week.

The first of two races on Saturday in light winds and glorious weather was led from start to finish by Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne.  Tom Stewart & Adele Cameron challenged initially but on the final lap Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart got ahead of them to take second.

The second race of the day was a comprehensive win for Paul & Freya Pelling who comfortably picked a right hand shift on the first beat to earn a significant lead at the first mark which they never relinquished.  The remainder of the fleet played cat and mouse for a lap or two before Steve & Joanne Sallis emerged to take second place.

The sun was shining again on Sunday with a force 3-4 blowing.  Excellent racing conditions for all competitors.  Paul Pelling now crewed by eldest daughter Hester again led round the first mark of race 3, but it was John & Katy Meadowcroft who were the shock leaders at the end of the first lap showing surprising amounts of offwind speed in their new Paradigm 2 design.  Camm & Ballantyne continued their battle with Ibbotson & Stewart, and when the Meadowcroft's day ended prematurely when the rudder assembly gave up the ghost it was Camm & Ballantyne who went on to win.  Gavin & Sabrina Willis took third.

With the wind still building it was time for Frances Gifford & Sophie Mackley to set the pace in race 4.  Ibbotson & Stewart were not to be deterred and they gained the upper hand to win the final race, but while this was sufficient to earn them the Sunday trophy this was not enough to take the meeting away from Camm & Ballantyne.  Steve & Jo Sallis did enough to earn themselves the Gill prizes for this event having managed to miss out on them at the last event due to a failed toe strap on the final beat of the final race...

Having won the last three events after a stuttering start to the Series Camm & Ballantyne have a slender lead over Ibbotson & Stewart with three more meetings to come.  The Class now looks forward to Burton Week at Teignmouth in August where Camm & Ballantyne will seek to defend their National Champion title.

Overall results
1st N3492, Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Burghfield SC
2nd  N3494, Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart, Royal Harwich YC
3rd N3436, Steve & Joanne Sallis, Hykeham SC
4th N3514, Antony & Jo Gifford, Aldeburgh YC
5th N3513, Tom Stewart & Adele Cameron, Northampton SC
6thN3512, Kevin & Lindsey Iles, Thorpe Bay YC
 
 

1st Admirals Cup boat, N3287, Gerry Ledger & Alayne Seymour, Up River YC