Gul Series 2019
The GUL Series is the family friendly nationwide series for all National 12 sailors. Join us at a Gul Series event for competitive racing on the water and fun off the water at a brilliant range of venues across the UK.You don't need to be an expert racer or to have the latest design to take part - there are prizes to compete for in all sections of the fleet. This year, we're going to award a prize for the winner under the class handicap system (which adjusts for different ages and designs of N12) at most GUL events so there's even more reason to bring along your Admiral's Cup or vintage design.
We're planning in a coaching session for each GUL event, so not only will you get great racing, you might just learn something new. Some of the top sailors in the class will be sharing their knowledge on varied topics such as sea sailing, rig tuning and how to navigate the notorious Salcombe estuary while keeping your sense of humour intact.
Off the water we've also planned in plenty of entertainment, from crews' races to team games, so come along and join in the fun!
The Events
This year the Gul series will feature 8 events across the country. First up the 12s will be visiting Burghfield Sailing Club on 16th March. We'll start off with a rig tuning session to get everyone ready for the coming season, and then sharpen up starting tactics by running 8 short sprint races. Next we travel south west to Salcombe over the early May Bank Holiday weekend (4th to 6th May). The tactics of racing in this steep sided ria with strong tides, variable winds, rocks, sandy beaches and muddy creeks have driven many a sailor to despair, but we'll aim to demystify its secrets. Heading east from Salcombe, the next event is at Shoreham. This will be the venue for Burton Week in 2020 so it's a chance to get a sneak preview of the racing area and get some top tips on sailing your 12 on the sea. Then it's classic 12 sailing at Harwich Yacht Club on 20th and 21st July, including the traditional Sunday morning pursuit race and a chance to quiz the top crews in the class on how to get the dangly pole trimmed correctly and stop your helm from jamming the tiller extension in your lifejacket.
The highlight of the Gul Series is of course Burton Week at Pevensey Bay in August, the national championships. The four-day event will take place over the bank holiday weekend of 24th to 27th August (only one day's annual leave required) and will include the unique long distance Burton Cup race and Burton Dinner. Pevensey is a very friendly venue and has hosted the 12s many times, so understand what the class wants in a championship. Excellent racing, socialising and fun and games are guaranteed!
On September 8th the Gul series visits Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club, high up in the beautiful surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales. The racing rules will be under discussion, so bring along any tricky scenarios you've come across for an interactive discussion. The series stays in the northern area for the seventh event at Ripon SC on the 5th Oct. This will also be a special vintage event so we'll be talking vintage tuning. The series then rounds off at Northampton Sailing Club where Saturday 2nd November will be the finale of the Gul Series with the series prizegiving after racing to be followed by the club's bonfire night celebrations and firework display.
Gul Series events will be sailed under the requirements of the respective Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for the open meeting and for the Gul Series per this notice.
Series Scoring
The Low Point System of scoring in RRS Appendix A will apply.
All references in Appendix A to race or races shall mean event
or events.
The number of events to count will be determined by the number
of events completed, as detailed in the table below:
| Events Completed | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Events to Count | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
This modifies RRS A2.
Ties will initially be broken in accordance with RRS A8.1. If a tie remains between two boats, the tie will be broken in favour of the boat with the best score in the last event in which the tied boats raced and scored differently. This modifies RRS A8 and replaces A8.2.
Points will be awarded to a helmsperson, regardless of boat sailed within the series. No change of boat is allowed at individual events.
Prizes
Overall series prizes will be awarded after the Gul Series finale. Subsidiary prizes will be awarded for the following categories:
- Handicap - open to
any boat, winner to be decided based on the class issued PY
handicaps
- Non-foiling - open to the helm of any double floored (i.e. self draining) boat that does not use a wing foiled rudder
- Vintage - open to the helm of any wooden boat of clinker construction, built prior to 1975 (Vintage boats) and wooden clinker boats subsequently built to designs issued before that year and not using a wing foiled rudder
- Junior - open to any helm under 21 years on 1st January 2019
- Family - open to any boat with helm and crew of the same family with at least one junior under 21 years on 1st January 2019
Series trophies are provided by the NTOA and funded by a contribution to the series of £1 for each event entry.
Discretionary Gul prizes will be awarded at each of the events in the series, and overall, generously provided by our sponsors, Gul.
Gul bow stickers must be displayed when provided at Gul Series events.
For more information on the Gul Series, email
gulseries@national12.org
www.national12.org - www.gul.com
Programme summary
| # | Event location | Date |
| 1 | Burghfield | 16th March |
| 2 | Salcombe | 4th - 6th May |
| 3 | Shoreham | 15th - 16th June |
| 4 | Royal Harwich | 20th - 21st July |
| 5 | Pevensey | 24th - 27th Aug |
| 6 | Yorkshire Dales | 8th Sep |
| 7 | Ripon | 5th Oct |
| 8 | Northampton | 2nd Nov |
* 4 to qualify
| Overall series results |
| Overall fleet |
| Non foilers |
| Vintage |
| Family |
| Junior |