National 12 Burton Week at Brixham Yacht Club - Overall

Race 6

The forecast was for a south westerly breeze of around 10 knots with a warm front passing over the race course mid day bringing grim weather. Luckily for the 12 fleet the breeze arrived after an hour postponement and the warm front stayed away meaning the fleet had a cracking sail in beaming sunshine.

The race officer decided to make full use of the solid breeze and set 3 laps of course A, meaning we would do three sets of triangle and sausages (7 beats in all). The wind was moving through some big swings so judging which end of the line to start was a challenge. In the end the pin end paid. Antony & Jo Gifford looked good starting at the pin end and crossed the fleet on port early on, following the port lift in the middle of the beat. Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart also looked good being more left than the Giffords. Tom Stewart & Liz Ross started at the committee boat end but sailed fast and pointed high to pull up to the top pack by the end of the beat. In the end staying left paid off and Bruce & Clare Johnson rounded the windward mark first.

There was a lot of luffing on the first reach and Tom & Liz overhauled the pack to take the lead which they were then never in any danger of losing. Antony & Jo pulled through into second and despite the fleet having six more beats to catch up they were never under any threat. More place changing happened lower down the fleet. Long marginal planing reaches and shifts, swings and holes in the wind on the beat enabled much overtaking. Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne worked their way up the fleet to take third by the finish. With Jon & Char and the Meadowcrofts close behind.

Race 6 Results:

1st Tom Stewart & Liz Ross
2nd Antony & Jo Gifford
3rd Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne
4th Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart
5th John & Katy Meadowcroft

Overall Results:

Graham & Zoe narrowly beat Tom & Liz in the overall series.

Paul & Guy Pelling won the Burton Cup.

Matt & Jo Stiles were first Admiral's Cupper in the Burton.

Royal Harwich won the team trophy just pipping team Burghfield.

Rick & Sarah Perkins won the new comers (Arrows).

Caroline Martin won the Grand Masters and was also top lady helm.

The Corrigan was hotly contested between Henry & Rebecca Johnson and Nathan Harding & Lucy Horsley. Henry won by a whisker - just 4 points ahead.

Overall Results: