National 12 Open at Annandale Sailing Club

Mark and Emma Simpson lead the way at the Annandale National 12 open © Alan Henderson / www.fotoboat.com

Frequent drifting conditions at the Annandale National 12 open © Alan Thompson

The Annanadale National 12 open meeting was run at Castle Loch, Lochmaben on Sunday 18 April in conjunction with the GP14 Scottish Championship. In contrast to the previous days storms, which capsized every GP14 in the fleet, Sunday’s races were sailed in light shifty winds with frequent drifting conditions.

In the first race, Mark & Emma Simpson took the port side of the course and an early lead, risking the wind shadow of the island, but gaining from the wind bend around it. Second round the windward mark were Bernard Clark & Jamie Kerslake. The early order held until the closing stages of the race by which time the N12 and GP14 fleets were mixed together. On the last reach, Annandale members John Hugo & Adam Firby took a windward course to slip past Bernard and round the penultimate mark in second place. Unfortunately both boats rounded the mark to starboard instead of port and had to return to round correctly. Bernard regained second place, Brian Herring & Ros Stevenson were third, and Alan & Carol Thomson fourth.

After lunch, the second race started in hazy sunshine, but virtually no wind. John Hugo was over the line at the start but soon caught up, taking advantage of a slight breeze filling in from behind which turned the beat into a run. By the first mark, Mark & Emma had edged two boat lengths clear of the fleet leaving six boats behind in line abreast & many calls for water. The tail end GP14s added to the confusion and Alan Doyle & Lewis Thomson were unlucky to touch the mark, to their severe disadvantage. On the second lap of the triangular course, Mark & Emma were overtaken by Bernard & Jamie who steered a more fortuitous line through the GP14s to take first place. Brian & Ros were again third.

The third race was sailed back-to-back in slightly more wind, but still very light. This time Bernard was first to the windward mark with Mark, Brian & John not far behind. Again the GP14 fleet played a part in the final stages, the N12s catching up with the main pack of a dozen or so boats on the last lap. From a leading position on the penultimate reach, Bernard chose to luff for clear wind taking a course far out to starboard. Mark followed but without the same commitment. John & Brian chose the much shorter direct line which in a steadying breeze paid off handsomely. John slipped past Bernard & Mark into first place and Brian overtook Mark for third place. John held the lead to the finish, despite pressure from Bernard in second, both closely followed by Brian third and Mark fourth.

With three different winners from three races and all results to count, the Open meeting winners were Bernard & Jamie. Mark & Emma were second and in third place Brian & Ros, with a consistent three thirds.

Overall Results: