Burghfield open meeting - GUL #1

Sprint sailing at Burghfield

The 2015 National 12 Gul Series kicked off at Burghfield SC on 28th March with one day of 'Sprint' races. 10 races held, each over one lap, with winds gusting well over 20mph, this was an excellent early season test for the 13 crews entered.

Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne dominated winning four out of five of the morning races, with Nick Copsey and Katy Meadowcroft often snapping at their heels and picking up one race win for their troubles. 

After lunch everyone was tempted back out, but Camm and Ballantyne still dominated, again winning 4 from 5. Copsey and Meadowcroft took a string of seconds and another race win. Jeremy and Luke Hartley were fast downwind, and kept coming through the fleet but rarely in good enough positions at the first mark in order to capitalise on this speed. Overall Camm and Ballantyne came out winners with Copsey and Meadowcroft second and the Hartleys third. In the Admirals Cup division for older boats Neal Lillywhite and Ollie Meadowcroft came out on top, ahead of Alan Beaton and Helen Barry.

The meeting was also notable for the Tom Lee's home built boat N3545 being launched. A fantastic effort over the last two winters, built in strip cedar to the Dead Cat Bounce design. 

Overall results

1st Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne
2nd Nick Copsey & Katy Meadowcroft
3rd Jeremy Hartley & Luke Hartley
4th Geoff Camm & Henry Camm