Ripon open meeting

& Gill series # 7

 

With Hykeham SC suffering weed problems, the penultimate meeting of the 2012 Gill series for National Twelves was hosted by Ripon SC on 6 and 7 October.  The meeting also incorporated Ripon’s own N12 meeting and the one due to be held at Yeadon SC – where blue green algae had resulted in the water being closed. Light winds were the order of the day on Saturday, and the 19 boats enjoyed some very close racing with places changing frequently and often as the result of wind shadow or sudden and inexplicable changes in wind direction! 

 

Race 1 saw Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart (Dead Cat Bounce) take first place, with Philip David and Josh Cowley (Feeling Foolish) just getting past Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson (Starfish) in the final yards of the race to take 2nd place.  A similar battle for 4th saw Bernard and Ellie Clark (Design 8) get past John and Alison Cheetham (FF) just a few yards from the line.  

 

Race 2 saw Jon and Charlotte again claiming line honours, with Philip and Josh in 2nd and Bernard and Ellie in 3rd.  Tom, now crewed by Nick Copsey was 4th.   The conditions removed the advantage normally held by the very fast modern designs and Vince and Daniel Phillips sailed their Whisper into 5th place with Howard and Helen in 6th place. 

 

The third race was once again Jon and Charlotte’s but they didn’t have it all their own way and were chased hard throughout the race.  Bernard and Ellie had a good battle with Tom and Nick and came out on top to take 2nd place. Tom and Nick were 3rd and 4th went to Philip and Josh who had spent a good part of the race perfecting their pirouetting techniques!  Fifth place went to Ed and Tom Storey in their Crusader.   Saturday evening saw competitors enjoying some fine food, beer and wine in the clubhouse, and battling their wits in a fearsome quiz. 

 

Sunday dawned windless and whilst the photographers marveled at the mist on the lake the sailors took their time over breakfast. Despite a lot of prayers being offered for the wind to build, in the end it was not possible to sail the final 2 races of the event and the places were decided on the basis of the 3 races sailed on Saturday.  It was interesting to note that all 4 classes of boat featured in the top 5!  

 

Overall results

1st – Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart  (1st foiling)

2nd – Philip David and Josh Cowley  (1st double bottomed)

3rd – Bernard and Ellie Clark (1st Admirals Cup)

4th – Tom Stewart and Robbie Stewart/Nick Copsey

5th – Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson (1st Vintage)