National 12s action

Nottingham and Trent Valley meets

Twelves at Nottingham SC (David WIlkins)

9th May saw a small gathering of N12s from around the country enjoying exciting sailing at Nottingham SC in the very shifty breeze, touching force 6 in the frequent gusts.

Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne took an early lead in the first race followed by David Wilkins & Suzie May. Graham & Zoe teased the following boats with a swift capsize towards the end of the first beat but a lightning quick recovery ensured that they lost no places. Mike Cook & Emma Wilkins in their Big Issue 2 took up second place as an errant tiller extension in the Wilkins/May craft made for a very slow and wet tack. Patrick Elcombe also took advantage of the incident to take 3rd place.

The second race was postponed to allow the wind to drop sufficiently to make rigging and launching possible. David & Suzie took the early lead but could not hold back the challenge from Graham & Zoe who soon built up a substantial lead. John Sears and Sue Jones took 3rd place.

The call of an excellent supper at Trent Valley SC and the windy conditions determined that the fleet packed up for the day, foregoing the third race.

1st 3492 Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne - Burghfield SC
2nd 3469 John Sears & Sue Jones/ Lindsey Ogden - Trent Valley SC
3rd 3481 David Wilkins & Suzie May - Spinnaker Club


Trent Valley Open meeting - 8th May (Zoe Ballantyne)

12 boats filled the river for the N12 open and with gusty and shifty conditions it was a challenging day. In race one there was a battle up the bank with many cries of "Water" and "Starboard". Eventually Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne in "Babel Fish" managed to escape the pack and pulled out a clear lead just as it began to hail violently, with David Peacock and Trisha Wood in "Purple Pants" taking second place.

In race 2, the beat up the river off the start line was frantic (see photo). Babel Fish retired after an incident leaving David Wilkins and Suzie May in the lead for much of the second lap. However, David Peacock gradually ate into their lead and just squeezed into first with a photo finish. John Sears & Lydia Wood had an anxious time after a canal boat got rather close while they were capsized but no damage was done.

In race 3, Paul Turner, sailing the only vintage boat in the fleet, had a great start. David Peacock overtook him to take the lead, but after some tricky shifts and multiple tacking, Babel Fish and John & Lydia managed to overtake.

Results:
1) Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Babel Fish
2)David Peacock & Trisha Wood, Purple Pants
3) David Wilkins & Suzie May, Cooked to Perfection