2016 Fixtures

Burton Week 2016
 
The highlight of each year is of course our Burton Week where competitors challenge to be recognised as the top 12 sailor of the year. This year’s National Championship will be held at Brightlingsea Sailing Club, who also hosted the event in 2011. The four-day event will take place 20^th-23^rd August and will include the Burton Cup race. As well as excellent racing, we know Brightlingsea also provide a friendly welcome alongside superb food and drink. There is a campsite next to the club as well as other local accommodation options.
 
 
GUL Series 2016
 
The GUL series consists of 8 unique events across the country. First up the 12s will be visiting Burghfield Sailing Club on 19^th March for the sprint champs; this is quick fire racing keeping crews on their toes. Following this, we take a trip to the beautiful Salcombe Estuary over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. From the beaches and pasties of the south west coast we then move up to the east coast. The class will be taking part in the Royal Harwich Yacht Club Regatta 21^st-22^nd May and will include a Pursuit Race. The pre championships line up finishes at Sunderland Yacht Club 9-10^th July. The Saturday sees the 12s racing on the sea, whilst on the Sunday the event is combined with the ANEYC Northern Championships with harbour and river racing.
 
Our late summer events this year will take place in Solway and Stokes Bay. The idyllic Solway Firth will host the 2016 Scottish Championships on September 17^th and 18^th whilst the GUL Series visits Stokes Bay Sailing Club for the first time on 24^th September.  Finally for 2016 we are being welcomed back to Northampton Sailing Club where the Inland Championships will be held on 5^th-6^th November. The Saturday will be the finale of the GUL Series with the series  prize giving after racing to be followed by the club’s bonfire night celebrations and firework display.
 
As any one who has attended a GUL event will know the prizes from our sponsors are simply amazing and we thank them for their continued sponsorship in 2016.
 
 
Vintage Championships and Summer Fun
 
The 2016 Vintage Championships will be once again hosted by Burton Sailing Club. There will be handicap racing for our older boats along with of course the much sought after prize for the best looking craft.
 
After a successful family focussed 12 Fest in 2015 the younger members of the fleet (both in terms of crafts and crews) will be joining the Vintage boats at Burton to enjoy some coaching, racing and fun in the sun!
 
 
In your region…
 
On top of the Championships and the GUL Series, there are also numerous events taking place at clubs across the country.  We have events and prizes to be won in all our regions: Scottish, Northern, Midland, Thames and South West. From week long regattas in Salcombe and North West Norfolk, to one day opens in Hykeham and Olton Mere; from Cramond to Ely and Tynemouth to Twickenham there will be something near you.
 
To look at all the events on the calendar click here.

GUL Series 2015 Results

The GUL Series 2015 was rounded off with a windy day's sailing at Northampton SC. Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart won the day and the overall weekend to be crowned inland champions. You can read the full weekend write up here.

Overall in the GUL Series, Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne took the title with a string of open meeting wins. First non-foiler in the series was Patrick Hamilton with a range of crews. As usual the Admiral's Cup fleet was closely contested with Neal and Freya Lillywhite coming out on top. Angus Beyts was not only the most travelled 12 sailor in 2015 but also won the Vintage fleet, came second in the Admiral's Cup and finished in the top 10 overall. Nick Copsey won the junior prize. 

2015 saw the 12 class focus on family sailing, not only with the popular 12 Fest event in the summer but also throughout the GUL Series. Competition in the family category has been really hotting up recently. Jeremy and Luke Hartley were deserved winners, with a consistent set of results and always hiking hard!

You can find all the results including the subsidiary categories here.

Winter Events & Projects

There's plenty of sailing on offer over the winter with the SailJuice series, always popular with 12 sailors - check out the dates on the 12 website home page. There is also the South West Winter Series starting with the Starcross Steamer on 17th January.

If you don't fancy sailing over the winter you might fancy a winter project. If you have been inspired by Tom Lee's home built Dead Cat Bounce launched earlier in the year, you may want to have a look at the latest home build design, Insidious - you can find the details here.

If you're looking for a new 12 for 2016, but don't want to build your own, then keep an eye on the for sale list on the 12 website.

Finally not really an "upcoming" event but excitingly we're planning to return to Carnac but you'll have to wait until 2017. The brilliant multi-class event from last year will be back on 27th-30th May 2017. DO NOT MISS IT!

Dates for your diary

• Burghfield SC 19th March - GUL Series #1 and Sprint Champs
• Salcombe YC 30th April - 2nd May - GUL Series #2
• Royal Harwich YC 21st-22nd May - GUL Series #3
• Burton SC 25th-26th June - Vintage Championships
• Sunderland YC 9th-10th July - GUL Series #4
• Brightlingsea SC 20th-23rd August - Burton Week and GUL Series #5
• Solway YC 17th-18th September - GUL Series #6 and Scottish Champs
• Stokes Bay SC 24th-25th September - GUL Series #7
• Northampton SC 5th-6th November - GUL Series Finale and Inland Championships

• Yacht Club de Carnac 2017 - 27th-30th May 2017

A full list of fixtures for 2016 can be found on the N12 website.

Welcome to New Members

Finally, we'd like to give a warm welcome to all the recent new members of the NTOA. We hope you enjoy your 12 sailing as much as we do.

Matt Rutter of Reading, Berkshire with N3214

Christopher King of Belper, Derbyshire with N2743

Mark Prue of Elburton, Plymouth with N3218

Nancy Gudgeon of Stirchley, Birmingham with N2606

Simon Hopkins of Rochford, Essex with N3252 (a welcome return)

I hope you enjoyed The Latest Chapter and wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year. 

Chris Day
N3526