National 12 Open at Ranelagh Sailing Club
by Graham Camm 24 Jan 2012 19:31 GMT
22 January 2012
Breezy conditions for the Twelves on the Thames © Nick Price
The breezy forecast didn't put off 8 Twelves hitting the Thames for the Royal Thames open meeting hosted at Ranelagh Sailing Club.
With a strong tide behind them the fleet were cautious not to be over at the start. Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne in the Very Hungry Caterpillar were neck and neck with Jon Ibbotson & Char Stewart in Blue Kangaroo until a nasty shift changed the balance giving the advantage to Blue Kangaroo. Mike & Alex Storey in Electric Prune took the outside line and the stronger tide in the middle of the river helped them take the lead momentarily but Blue Kangaroo fought back to round the windward mark first. The Very Hungry Caterpillar jostled with Blue Kangaroo on the reach and run with place changes going both ways. The Very Hungry Caterpillar snuck ahead at the leeward mark and extended their lead over the next few laps to win the race and the first meeting in the 2012 Thames Area series. Back in the rest of the fleet the gusty conditions caused many capsizes with 5 boats finishing.
Whilst the race was on the Twelve fleet kids were enjoying their Thames Area series kids lunch. And after the race the sailors enjoyed their Thames Area series 2011 lunch and prize giving to make a very sociable afternoon.
Overall Results:
1st Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Very Hungry Caterpillar
2nd Jon Ibbotson & Char Stewart, Blue Kangaroo
3rd Mike & Alex Storey, Electric Prune