Allen National 12 Burton Week 2023 at Brixham Yacht Club - Day 3

Allen N12 Burton Week 2023 Day 3 © George Finch

Allen N12 Burton Week 2023 Day 3 © George Finch

The penultimate day of Allen Sailing Burton Week for 2023 saw the fleet launch into lighter airs than yesterday and wall to wall sunshine. It was Bank Holiday Brixham at its best!

Race 1 - Course C (Trapezoid) Wind 10-15 kts

The first start saw a general recall as the fleet were very eager. Better behaviour on the second start saw a clean getaway for the whole fleet. Left had generally paid over the last few days, would this be the case today?

In the lighter air and short chop the right tended to pay and first to the windward mark was Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531), followed by Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) and the rest of the family followed with Robbie & Char Stewart (N3501) rounding 3rd.

The real place changes happened on the 2nd beat where if you went right, it was quick and if you didn't it was slow.

On the penultimate reach John Meadowcroft & Lyla Jacobs (N3473) had a dramatic wobble, which they saved, only for their rudder to then snap and then inevitably capsize and unfortunately that ended their fun for the day.

Ollie Meadowcroft & Cally Terkelsen (N3543) enjoyed a brief moment in the lead during this race but were overhauled upwind by Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) who dominated the majority of the race to win. Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531) took the 3rd position on the podium. Ian & Alex Gore (N3513) finished a very credible 8th in their borrowed Feeling Foolish without a T-Foil rudder.

Race 2 - Course D (Sausage/Triangle) Wind 12-20 kts

The breeze was up at the start of today's 2nd race and getting clean air in the chop was important. The middle tended to pay off, with Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) rounding first, followed closely by Ollie Meadowcroft & Cally Terkelsen (N3543). Behind, the next 10 boats were incredibly close and George Finch & Toby Hunt (N3551) enjoyed their moment at the front, rounding in 5th.

With the first downwind leg keeping the fleet together, choosing when to gybe became very important, as did having mark room. For the 2nd beat, the 'main pack' of 12s went right, which paid off and the top 9 boats separated from the remainder of the fleet, although the top two were very much ahead of the rest.

Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531) started their campaign to sail back to the front of the fleet, firstly overhauling Jeremy & Luke Hartley (N3537) on the 1st reach and then gybing inside George Finch & Toby Hunt (N3551) at that mark. They took no prisoners during the rest of the race, sailing into 3rd place by the end of the 4th lap.

The wind began to drop for the 2nd half of the race. This kept the fleet together and places were constantly changing (as long as you weren't 1st or 2nd, that is). Mark & Jonathan Addison (N3449) decided during the 2nd reach to provide some entertainment with a spectacular capsize.

As the race began to conclude during the 4th lap, James & Rory Gifford (N3484) were going right and playing shifts well to sneak into 9th, only to be overhauled by Graham & Anya Camm (N3530) on the final leg. The excitement didn't stop there, as the Brixham to Torquay Tourist Rib then shot across Graham & Anya's bow just before the finish!

It really was competitive to the very end with places 3rd to 16th ultimately decided on the final lap on the race and Everyone came ashore smiling and commenting how enjoyable and competitive the racing was!

In a league of their own, Tom & Isobel Stewart took their 2nd race win of the day, with Ollie Meadowcroft & Cally Terkelsen (N3543) taking their 2nd second place, and the evergreen Steve & Jo Sallis taking their 2nd third place of the day!

The younger side of the fleet then headed off to play adventure golf, whilst the National Twelve Owners' Association AGM started at 17.30.

Results after Day 3: