National 12 Open at Trent Valley Sailing Club
by Paul Turner 14 May 2025 06:32 BST
11 May 2025
Fleet on the run during the Trent Valley National 12 Open © Kevan Bloor
The Met Office were spot on with their wind forecast, 7 gusting 25, and we had lovely sunshine and very few barges and gin-palaces on the river at Trent Lock.
Following last year's experiment, club racing continued with the N12s starting 5 minutes after the club handicap starts at 2,3, and 5.
The first race saw a beat to the bottom mark and then reaching/running the full length of the course up to the top mark. All arrived fairly close together at the top mark but then it was soon clear that the battle for the front would be between Graham and John. Paul overtook David just before the buoy and managed to hold him off through the sail downstream via the "Goddard Chicane" to the finish. There were some "interesting" gusts!
The second race was started before the club boats, but the change had not, unfortunately, been heard by John who started several minutes late. However, he had soon caught up before the "Doldrums". The top mark had been moved to below the Billystones in order to have three shorter laps (and better viewing for the spectators). The wind picked up and Paul & Kay retired but the breeze dropped off towards the end of the third lap, with the finishing order being Graham, John and David close behind.
The third race, after tea, saw a quite variable breeze sometimes dropping off to a drift. Again, the order was Graham, John (close behind) and David (not far away!).
It was great to see various spectators, including Kevan & Janet Bloor (I think Kevan may have some photos for us!), Tim & Wendy Gray (Tim promises to have N3203 Skylark (the first Crusader built by Gerry Ledger he tells me) ready for next year's open), and Mr & Mrs Camm Snr. And we much appreciated Graham & Blue, and David Harris traveling so far to support us.
Many thanks to Race Officer Roger Britton ably assisted by his wife Ann, plus Andy Hunter and Simon Stead on rescue and launching, and to Brian Wilmot stepping in to crew for David Harris.
Overall Results:
1st - Graham Camm* and daughter Blue sailing N2359 Shotgun
2nd - John Sears* (Notts County) and Andrea (Murf) Murphy* (Attenborough) sailing N1903 Slick Chick (practicing for the Vintage Champs and North West Norfolk!)
3rd (and 1st AC) - David Harris (Whitefriars) and Brian Wilmot (TVSC) sailing N3290
4th - Paul Turner and Kay Ash (TVSC) sailing (the) China Doll N2403
* former TVSC members