National 12 open meeting and club racing at Solway Yacht Club
by Ian Purkis 15 Jul 15:02 BST
Leaders in close company - National 12 open at Solway © Margaret Purkis
With hot Mediterranean conditions beckoning, several visiting crews arrived in Kippford on Friday night with the promise of a weekend of close racing in almost tropical heat. Before the boats were even rigged, all were in for a treat as Phil Wherry presented the hosts and visitors with the National 12 cake, made by his wife Sarah who, unable to join the party, had decided it was just what was needed to launch the event.
Saturday and the incoming tide had the fleet rigged and ready along with a great turnout of other crews from both the home club and nearby Annandale SC, many of them young sailors getting race practice in ahead of the Solway YC Cadet Week.
Race 1 and with only a light Southerly breeze, Race Officer Chris Nurney set a long course out into the bay. The N12s were away first without the N12 home Club crews, Ian and Margaret Purkis, and Jane and Katie Gascoigne, unfortunate non-starters. The Saturday series Club fleet followed but as the leaders reached the windward mark, just off Almorness Point, the light wind dropped even lighter, barely keeping the boats moving as they headed North to complete one long lap.
Of the N12s Tim and Chris Hampshire got the win but going really well in his much older vintage boat, Angus Beyts and Phil Wherry got a well-deserved second. The Club fleet was led home by Scott Train and crew Anne Stewart with Steve Gaughan and crew Paul second over the finish.
Race 2 and with a much shorter course set, the order was reversed for the N12s and now it was Philip David and crew Mike Adlen who took the win but again, Angus and Phil got a strong second, the vintage boat going better than ever. This resulted in a three-way points tie for the lead going into day 2. In the club fleet and after handicap corrections, Finn Harris had won the day in is ILCA 6.
For Saturday evening, Social Secretary Liz Train had lined up another of the Club's famous barbecues, courtesy of chief barbecue chef Willie Patterson! Complimented by salads, desserts and a busy bar, it rounded off a great club day.
Sunday dawned with the promise of another scorcher but with more wind forecast it was looking good. However, the wind direction had changed to North Easterly making for tricky decisions by the Race Committee.
With no choice but to set a less-than-ideal course, race 3 for the N12s got under way followed by the Club Sunday series. This time the Hampshire crew reestablished their previous place at the front, winning with the David/Adlen crew second. In the Club race, Train and Stewart took another win from Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne, both crews sailing Flying Fifteens
The final race had a third win in the N12s for the Hampshires, giving them the open meeting win overall with the David/Adlen crew second. The second Club race had a great win for current Cadet and Club Champion Toby Iglehart in his ILCA6, back in the fray after holiday absence. Younger sister Ida was also showing many the way in her Topper, leading several of the ILCA6s on the water for much of the race.
Rounding off the day, prizes for the N12s were presented by Margaret Purkis, wife of N12 Class Chair, Ian with a special guest and former N12 sailor Simon Martin from Craster,
Northumberland, who promised to bring kippers for prizes next year! The club races count towards overall series results so more to sail for next time.
National 12 Results:
1st N3502 Tim and Chris Hampshire (Ripon Sailing Club)
2nd N3499 Philip David and Mike Adlen (Yorkshire Ouse and Annandale Sailing Clubs)
3rd N2153 Angus Beyts and Phil Wherry (Newburgh and Teesdale Sailing Clubs)
Non-Starters: N1483 Ian and Margaret Purkis, and N1620 Jane and Katie Gascoigne (Solway Yacht Club)
Club racing Saturday series after two races:
1st Finn Harris (ILCA6)
2nd Scott Train and Anne Stewart (Flying Fifteen)
3rd Simon Wilson (ILCA6)
4th Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)
5th Finlay Train (ILCA6)
6th Murray Wilson (ILCA6)
7th Stewart Biggar (ILCA4)
8th Lucy Leyshon (ILCA4)
9th Katie Bishop and Nicola McColm (RS400)
10th Katie Brown (ILCA4)
11th Steve Gaughan and crew Paul (Osprey)
12th Anastasia Yaoyao (ILCA6)
13th Jess Brown (ILCA4)
14th Unidentified helm (ILCA6)
15th James Bishop and crew Noa (Fireball)
Club racing Sunday series after two races:
1st Scott Train and Anne Stewart (Flying Fifteen)
2nd Finn Harris (ILCA6)
3rd Colin Filer and Jamie Gascoigne (Flying Fifteen)
4th Toby Iglehart (ILCA6)
5th Stewart Biggar (ILCA4)
6th Lucy Leyshon (ILCA4)
7th Ida Iglehart (Topper)
8th Murray Wilson (ILCA6)
9th John Broadbent and Oliver Wilson (GP14)
10th Katie Brown (ILCA4)
11th Anastasia Yaoyao (ILCA6)
12th Steve Gaughan and crew Paul (Osprey)
13th Jess Brown (ILCA4)