National 12 Burton Week at Herne Bay Sailing Club - Day 3

National 12 Burton Week at Herne Bay © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

The competitors were welcomed to Herne Bay to his morning by torrential rain. Damp but not discouraged, the race team set out to sea and with a bit of encouragement, the fleet followed.

Once on the water, it was apparent that a cracking race was in the offing.

Race 1

Nick Copsey, crewed by the lovely Penny Yarwood, nailed the start and came out of the left to lead at the top mark just ahead gaggle of DCBs and the Meadowcrofts in their Hi-Jack design. By the leeward mark, the Meadowcrofts had skilfully worked through to second with Tom Stewart and Andrea Downham hot on their transom. Nick and Penny sailed a masterful second beat to hold their narrow lead. On the run, the heavens opened and the breeze arrived, unfortunately the visibility went, leading the race team to shorten at the leeward mark. Nick and Penny got their well-deserved first championship win.

Paul Turner and Christine Preston arrived at the last windward mark in the teeth of a gale. Paul showed his solid seaman's skills and dropped the main and sailed the run under jib alone, appearing to the waiting fleet as a spectre out of a squall! The first time I have seen this in a 12 race since 1985.

Race 2

After waiting for the visibility to return and the wind to settle, the second race of the day was started.

A large right shift on the first beat saw the championship leaders, Graham and Zoe Camm lead at the top mark followed by their closest rivals, Tom Stewart and Andrea Downham. The second reach was tight and the wind dying, much to the delight of the lighter teams. Jeremy Hartley and Luke were on a roll and came up to Tom and Andrea's stern. With the wind swinging and dying, the next beat looked to be a starboard fetch but with random very hard rain showers and huge holes, anything was possible. The Camms and Hartleys sailed serenely through, whilst others chased patches of wind only to discover they were yet more rain. The wind swung hard to the left and the run became a reach to the finish. The victory has put the Camms in the boss seat for a last day showdown.

The most dramatic event of the day was a whirlwind that twisted its way through the fleet as they drifted towards the shore. Dave Peacock who saw it coming, was halfway through dropping his mainsail and had to turn through 360 degrees to stay head to wind and which ended badly with a capsize and a tow home.

What will Herne bay throw at us tomorrow?

Results after Day 3: (top ten)

www.national12.org/burtonweek/2015