Gul National 12 National Championships at Brightlingsea - Preview
by Gerald Copsey 19 Aug 2016 15:52 BST
20-23 August 2016
N12 Burton Week 2011 © Jeremy Carey
The National 12 is celebrating it's 80th year and the Championships are being held at Brightlingsea Sailing Club from Saturday 20th August – Tuesday 23rd August.
We had a great time at Brightlingsea in 2011 and very much look forward to some great sailing and socializing. It looks like we are going to have the largest entry for a few years with entries exceeding 40 boats.
It promises to be an interesting event and picking a winner is difficult but last year's winner Tom Stewart, having just won Salcombe regatta is clearly in form and sailing with son Robert this year will be hoping for a light winds regatta.
Graham Camm sailing with Zoe Ballantyne are favourites, having just won North West Norfolk week are also showing good speed.
Between them these two helms have won every Championship this century bar one, the only other winner being Jo Richards crewed by Sophie Mackley when the Dead Cat Bounce design made it's first appearance.
Steve Sallis is always a threat and having sailed with Katy Meadowcroft for the first time at last year's Championships their teamwork will be stronger this year.
Proving what a great boat this this for families there are two more father/son combinations in the hunt. Jeremy and Luke Hartley finished 4th last year and John and Ollie Meadowcroft finished 6th. With both crews now a year older and more experienced they can only be stronger this year.
There are other helms who will be a threat but I have limited this to the top six finishers in 2015.
Dave Peacock is coming to defend the Admirals Cup Trophy for older boats and with former Championship winning crew Lesley Iles in the boat will take some catching.
More entries in the self-build category is encouraging for the class. Dare Barry has just finished his new Hijack and will resume his annual battle with Gavin Willis. They will be joined by Tom Lee who built his new Dead Cat design last year and Nick Copsey who has just finished his new Hijack.
Steve Carver is a month too old to defend his under 21 trophy and is teaming up with Nick Copsey this year so who will be this years under 21 champion?