National 12 class at the 75th North West Norfolk Week

This year was the final edition of North West Norfolk Week in its current format - with the future to be decided over the next few weeks. The week was a fantastic success with 13 National 12s taking part over the week, with 10 sailing for at least five of the days and nine entered for the whole week.

The week had incredibly competitive sailing although unusually all the trophies were won by one team - Ian & Alex Gore, in N3525. This hasn't happened since 1953!

Day 1 - Snettisham Beach Sailing Club, 18.30 Start

Race 1 - 12kts breeze

The fleet of 11 N12s launched ready for the first race of the week, with the course set as 3 laps of a triangle. Clean start with the inevitable sight of Ian & Alex Gore (N3525) and Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531) reaching the windward mark first. Just behind was George Finch & Toby Hunt (N3513) and then the remaining 8 N12s.

A low & slow reach down to the gybe mark, with occasional waves to enjoy. First rounding was a bit 'wobbly' for a few, with many thinking "it's been a while since we gybed at sea"! Bernard & Ellie Clark (N3494) weren't phased and snuck into 3rd place on the tighter reach towards the line, with George & Toby (N3513) managing to gain the place back upwind and then hold it for the remaining lap. Plenty of close racing in the fleet and a special mention to Kevin & George Iles (N3527) for completing their first Norfolk Week race!

R1 Results:
Ian & Alex Gore (N3525)
Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531)
George Finch & Toby Hunt (N3513, no T-Foil)
Bernard & Ellie Clark (N3494)

Race 2 finally got under way after a General Recall from the N12s & Handicap fleets at about 20:00. Similar wind, if a bit lighter but now with an ebbing tide and course set as a windward/leeward. After 2 laps it was Ian & Alex Gore (N3525) 1st, with Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531) 2nd followed by George Finch & Toby Hunt (N3513). Behind the top 3, it was incredibly close with just inches separating the boats downwind.

North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Neil Foster / www.wfyachting.com

Day 2 - Snettisham Beach Sailing Club, 07.30 Start

After yesterday evening's breezy sail at Snettisham Beach, 10 hours later the N12 fleet were back on the water in very different conditions.

The 7.30 a.m.start saw 13 12's play snakes and ladders with a very tricky first beat. Rob and Harley Ford managed to effortlessly round the mark in first place with Stevie and Jo Sallis in second. However the wind died and shifted and the rest of the 12s were then engulfed by the Allcomer Fleet which had started 3 mins after the 12s. A bit of chaos ensued which included Bernard and Ellie Clarke capsizing at the mark. John Sears broke the pack and moved up to third.

Luckily the wind filled in again which benefited the 12s at the back of the fleet. The first three boats stayed in the same order to complete just one lap. Paul and Caroline Watson were looking good for 4th place but Ian and Alex Gore pipped them to the post.

There were doubts as to whether a second race would take place. But a slightly stronger breeze saw a glimmer of hope. This time a sausage course, Ian and Alex Gore had a great start and led around the windward mark with a good lead. A very close battle ensued behind between Paul & Caroline Watson, George Finch & Toby Hunt, Kevin & George Iles and Stevie & Jo Sallis.

The wind was dying but with the first lap only 15 minutes for the leaders, the fleet set off for another. Luckily the wind just about held for the 12 class to complete a second lap, which unfortunately wasn't the case for the majority of the Allcomer Fleet. The Gores led to the finish with Kevin and a very happy George (9) in 2nd. Stevie and Jo pipped George & Toby for 3rd with Paul and Caroline in 5th.

Results for today's racing overall was:
1st Ian & Alex Gore 3525
2nd Steve & Joanne Sallis 3531
3rd Kevin & George Iles 3527
4th Paul & Caroline Watson

Final results for the weekend kindly sponsored by Craftinsure were:
1st Ian & Alex Gore 3525
2nd Steve & Joanne Sallis 3531
3rd George Finch & Toby Hunt 3513
4th Rob & Harley Ford 3459
5th Bernard & Ellie Clarke 3494

North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Neil Foster / www.wfyachting.com

Day 3 - Ouse Amateur Sailing Club, 11.00 Start

9 National 12s launched to a lovely breeze and glorious sunshine. A clean start the fleet were split between those who went for the pressure on the left of the bank, those who went for height on the right and those who didn't get to the start on time! Ian & Alex Gore ended up first to the windward mark followed closely by Stevie & Jo Sallis. The rest of the fleet were close behind, changing places constantly as the wind became lighter and very, very shifty.

A particularly fickle moment saw Stevie & Jo spat to the back with Kevin & George Iles, Tim & Em Hampshire and John Sears & Andrea Murphy all jostling for a place at the front. The wind then filled in from behind and Stevie & Jo steamed back up to the front, behind Ian & Alex who were continually trying but failing to extend their lead.

The shorten course signal was a delightful sound to the hot sailors.

The finish order was:
Ian & Alex Gore 3525
Stevie & Jo Sallis 3531
Kevin & George Iles 3527
John Sears and Andrea Murphy 2957

The course remained the same for the second race, despite wishing that 'No. 7' in the doldrums was taken out. As it was so hot, Steve LeGrys and Sabrina Ireland decided to take a swim just after the 5 minute gun, just to make sure they were cool for the next race.

Rob and Harley Ford had a fantastic start as did Philip David and Rosie Gore. A tacking duel just before the windward mark saw Phil and Rosie round in pole position. Unfortunately this didn't last for long because Ian and Alex and Kevin & George nipped past them just before the next mark. Again, positions continously changed, too many times for anyone to remember.

One moment saw 5 12's abreast tustling to round mark number 3 in a space between the mark and the bank designed for 3 12s! Unfortunately Stevie and Jo got the short straw and ended up in the reeds. Kevin and George sailed around the outside of the pack on the last run to take the lead rounding the last mark, but were just pipped to the finishing line by Ian and Alex.

Overall a great days racing, despite the challenging conditions. Everyone enjoyed the close racing and it was lovely to see boats old and new being equally competitive. Thanks to Ouse Amateur S.C. for a great event and keeping us very well fed and watered.

Results Race 2:
Ian & Alex Gore 3525
Kevin & George Iles 3527
Tim and Em Hampshire 3502
Paul & Caroline Watson 3461

Overall Results for 2 races:
1st - Ian & Alex Gore 3525
2nd - Kevin & George Iles 3527
3rd - Tim and Em Hampshire 3502
4th - John Sears and Andrea Murphy 2957

North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Neil Foster / www.wfyachting.com

Day 4 - Blakeney Sailing Club, 09.00 Start

The 12 strong fleet arrived to minimal wind but plenty of warm morning sun. As the fleet rigged up the wind arrived to a constant 8kts and after a lengthy briefing we all launched.

The course as displayed on the committee boat contained more marks than a phone number so we were set for a tour of the harbour. A clean start with a beat with the last of the flooding tide saw George & Lucy Finch (N3513) round the windward mark first, with some very close manoeuvres that saw Ian & Alex Gore (N3525) doing turns (!).

Then downwind to the next mark, where George and Lucy (N3513) maintained their 1st place although a large N12 fleet was closing in behind them! With no overlaps they led the gybing fleet onto a reach across the channel where the evergreen Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531) and consistent Ian & Alex Gore (N3525) made use of their T-foils to overtake George & Lucy (N3513) at the mark, where the course continued to a beat.

Philip David & Rosie Gore (N3499) went right on the short beat and promptly moved into 3rd place, before the downwind leg visiting two marks towards the Harbour entrance. Here with slightly increasing wind and minimal tide the fleet compressed with 4 N12s in a row at one point! Kevin & George Iles (N3527) slipped ahead into 4th and Rob & Harley Ford (N3459) into 5th.

Paul & Caroline Watson (N3461) made excellent progress only to throw it away by nearly heading the wrong way around the marsh beacons, and George & Lucy Finch (N3513) climbed back into 5th at the downwind mark before a beat back into the middle of the harbour.

Continuing the tour across the harbour with a leg across then back again, saw the fleet complete their first lap. Kevin & George Iles (N3527) went right, noticing the tide was now ebbing and at the windward mark had jumped up a place into 3rd. The top 5 then remained in their positions until the end of the race, fighting the ebbing tide and allowing no room for error!

Further back there was fierce competition with constant place changing, but John Sears & Andrea Murphy (N2957) used John's 40+ year Norfolk Week experience to thread their needle into 6th by the end of the race, which was over an hour for the leading boat.

After racing, the N12 fleet and Norfolk Week friends walked out through the harbour to the sand dunes to scatter the late Dr Patrick Elcombe's ashes, a place that was close to Patrick's heart as he enjoyed many a Norfolk Week and spent many hours as a young boy playing in the dunes at Blakeney.

Final places:
1st - Ian & Alex Gore (N3525)
2nd - Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531)
3rd - Kevin & George Iles (N3527)
4th - Philip David & Rosie Gore (N3499)
5th - George & Lucy Finch (N3513)
6th - John Sears & Andrea Murphy (N2957)
7th - Steve LeGrys & Sabrina Ireland (N3432)

North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Neil Foster / www.wfyachting.com

Day 5 - Norfolk Week at Burnham Overy Staithe, 08.30 Start

No sailing as the wind failed to arrive before the tide disappeared!

Day 6 - Overy Staithe Sailing Club, 09.30 Start

Glorious sunshine and a Force 2 greeted the 12 fleet on Thursday. The plan was to have 2 races to make up for no sailing on Wednesday due to lack of wind. For those that know Overy Staithe, they'll appreciate it when I say it was a nice sail out to the start area!

The first race saw Kevin and George Iles just pipped to rounding the first mark in the lead by Ian and Alex Gore. The rest of the fleet were in a gaggle behind. Lots of fun ensued when going back out of the creek through the narrow space between the groynes as they met the Allcomer Fleet coming the other way! Rob and Harley Ford unfortunately found a shallow spot and were last to the mark. Philip David and Rosie Gore went for a quick dip after Phil missed his toe straps after a wobbly gybe.

The results after 2 laps were:
1 - Ian and Alex Gore
2 - Kevin and George Iles
3 - Stevie and Joanne Sallis
4 - Pete Miatt and Sam Harris
5 - Paul and Caroline Watson

The second race, which also included the traditional Jenny Lee race, saw the wind pick up and saw a few 12s retire home. Being a beautiful day the number of mobile obstacles (paddle boarders & pleasure craft) increased around the course to add to the fun! Stevie & Jo and Ian & Alex had a tight race from start to finish with the Gores beating the Sallis' by a coat of paint!

Pete and Sam, Paul and Caroline, Tim and Em and Philip and Rosie all enjoyed close racing, with Pete and Sam finding an extra gear to come 3rd.

Results:
1 - Ian and Alex Gore
2 - Stevie and Joanne Sallis
3 - Pete Miatt and Sam Harris
4 - Tim and Em Hampshire
5 - Philip David and Rosie Gore

North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Neil Foster / www.wfyachting.com

Days 7 & 8 - Snettisham Beach Sailing Club, 09.20 Start & 10.10 Start

Another glorious day greeted the fleet at Snettisham Beach on Friday. The light winds were welcomed by Paul Turner in his vintage 12, especially as he has missed the sailing at Overy Staithe after having a conversation with the 'Big White Telephone'!

The wind was so light that it was a struggle to reach the committee boat against the tide, so some of the fleet walked along the shore. The start was postponed but luckily the wind started to fill in - not by much - but enough to get the racing started. The first race was a triangle course and Ian & Alex and Stevie & Jo had a really close race with the Sallis' taking the bullet. Meanwhile behind there was another very close battle between Philip David & Rosie Gore, Paul & Caroline Watson and Rob & Harley Ford. They switched positions throughout the race but Philip and Rosie pulled away to secure 3rd just before the finish.

Results Race 1:
1st - Stevie & Joanne Sallis
2nd - Ian & Alex Gore
3rd - Philip David & Rosie Gore
4th - Paul & Caroline Watson

The second race of the day was a windward leeward course. With the tide on the turn, the fleet had their first general recall of the week. After a clean second start, Ian and Stevie once again had a fantastic close race, this time with the added excitement of weaving through the Allcomer fleet. This time it was the Gore's turn to take line honours. Enjoying a slightly stronger breeze, Pete Miatt & Sam Harris and John Sears & Andrea Murphy joined in the tussle for 3rd place, but Philip & Rosie beat them to it once again. A special shout out to Paul Turner who completed both races!

Results Race 2:
1st - Ian & Alex Gore
2nd - Stevie & Joanne Sallis
3rd - Philip David & Rosie Gore
4th - Peter Miatt & Sam Harris

Saturday and the final day of NWNW saw a fresh offshore breeze for a very civilised 10.10 a.m. start. Kevin and grandson George Iles decided that it would be a bit too much for George who was competing in his first Norfolk Week. Their suspicions were confirmed when John Sears and Andrea Murphy, sailing Punkawallah, came back ashore before the race had started.

The force 4 had introduced a short chop so the conditions were completely different to yesterday. A triangular course with fantastic reaches saw The Gore's and the Sallis' once again having a remarkably close race with Stevie and Joanne winning by about a foot! Pete and Sam made use of the strong winds to find more boat speed to take third. Unfortunately, Paul and Caroline Watson had to retire as the conditions meant their rudder (which they'd damaged at Overy Staithe) wouldn't stay down.

Results Race 1:
1st - Stevie & Joanne Sallis
2nd - Ian & Alex Gore
3rd - Peter Miatt & Sam Harris
4th - Philip David & Rosie Gore

North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Neil Foster / www.wfyachting.com

The conditions for the second race were the same except the course was windward / leeward and the tide was on the turn. Stevie and Jo had a great start and flew up the beat to round the mark first. Ian and Alex managed to reduce their lead on the run and on the second beat managed to close the gap further. At the end of the third lap Ian and Alex rounded the leeward mark in pole position and then a very close race ensued for the last lap with the Gore's taking the win by a boat length!

The close racing continued in the pack behind with Philip & Rosie taking 3rd place. Rob and Harley Ford took advantage of Pete and Sam going for a swim to take third place to take 4th and Tim & Em Hampshire taking 5th.

Results Race 2:
1st - Ian & Alex Gore
2nd - Stevie & Joanne Sallis
3rd - Philip David & Rosie Gore
4th - Rob & Harley Ford
5th - Tim & Em Hampshire

The results were combined to see the Sallis' lose overall on last race result on both days which meant the Gore's won the infamous Snettisham Anchor trophy (an anchor on a large piece of driftwood) on Friday and the Snettisham Bowl on Saturday. In third place overall on both days was Philip and Rosie.

Friday & Saturday Overall Snettisham Results:
1st - Ian & Alex Gore
2nd - Stevie & Joanne Sallis
3rd - Philip David & Rosie Gore

N12 competitiors at North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Alex Gore

On The Shore

As usual there were plenty of on shore activities for the competitors to enjoy, including the annual N12 BBQ at the Gore/Miatt House on Thursday 14th, a whole North West Norfolk Week Fleet BBQ in Nina Plumbe's Field on Wednesday 13th, the traditional walk out into the Harbour at Brancaster Staithe, multiple trips to The Jolly Sailors in Brancaster Staithe as well as visits to North Norfolk's beautiful beaches at Brancaster, Wells-Next-The- Sea, Holkham, Golf at Fakenham and many many other activities!

N12 social at North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Alex Gore

Overall Results:

North West Norfolk Sailing Week 2025 - photo © Neil Foster / www.wfyachting.com