Ripon National 12 and Double Hander Weekend

The forecast for Storm Amy was winds in the high 20s and gusts in the high 30s, add that to a sailing venue known for shifty conditions and you would think it would put sailors off. It wasn't looking promising for Ripon Sailing Club's inaugural Double Hander Weekend. Should we cancel or hold on was the debate bouncing backwards and forwards all week. Well, we didn't cancel and the smiles throughout the weekend paid back all the effort.

Traditionally the National 12 Open is at RSC on the first Saturday of October, this year it was opened up to any other double hander sailors that wanted to join in and expanded to a two-day event. The plan was to keep the format loose to allow it to adapt to the turn out - it's challenging getting commitment and challenging for people to commit. On Saturday, if enough of any one fleet turned up then they would get a fleet start, if not then they can join in with the general double hander fleet, but either way individuals were guaranteed to get some good racing in over the weekend. On Sunday, everyone would join in with the morning pursuit race and sail in one double hander fleet for the afternoon races. Separate prizes for Saturday and Sunday.

Racing on Saturday during the Ripon National 12 and Double Hander Weekend - photo © Gail Jackson

The National 12s fielded 4 double bottom, 1 admiral's cup and 2 vintage boats for the weekend with sailor ages from 18 to happily retired. The harsh conditions kept the vintages ashore over the weekend. With the delayed start, two of the visiting boats decided to enjoy the racing from the comfort of Ripon club house. Bernard & Paula took to the water in a winged rudder Foolish, the only foiling boat this year although there are at least two boats planning to convert for next season. This weekend was not the best conditions to get to grips with the handling of a foiling boat, Philip & Em in a non-foiling Foolish showing Bernard (and everyone else) the way round in all 3 races. Tim & Steve in the Big Issue 2 had an early finish in the first race due to equipment failure but came back out to put in two solid seconds to finish behind Philip.

Philip & Sarah Wherry's first trip to Ripon resulted in a fair bit of swimming, but in between times they had good speed in the Final Chapter. The huge gusts, sudden lulls and big wind shifts proved challenging for Neil & Paul in the Baggy Trousers, a prolonged capsize putting them out of the first race, a 4th in the second race curtesy of Philip & Sarah retiring, and a prudent early shower by the 3rd race.

Enterprises on Saturday during the Ripon National 12 and Double Hander Weekend - photo © Gail Jackson

As there were insufficient boats to form a class fleet, two Enterprises, one Miracle and a Bosun started the double hander race as a combined fleet. This quickly developed into a 3-boat race when the rudder on the Bosun snapped in two, Chris & Dante managed to avert a capsize but were unable to keep competing. Club sailors, Ian & Lucy, challenged the two visiting Enterprises hard, only 7 seconds behind 2nd placed Callum & Owen. In the second race the order was reversed with previous winner Oli & Luke now 3rd and Ian & Lucy 1st and only 17 seconds on corrected time between them all and only 1 second between the two Enterprises. With no discards it was all down to the last race.

Chris & Dante rejoined in a club RS Vision for the last race, showing what they can do with some decent wind, racing hard up wind and plaining on the run back down without the spinnaker. In his second time out in a Vision, with a novice crew and club sails he still managed to push Ian & Lucy back to 3rd and was only 10 seconds behind Oli & Luke on corrected time. Although ahead on the water, Callum & Owen finished 4th on corrected time, giving him 3rd overall with Ian & Lucy 2nd and Oli & Luke a well-deserved 1st.

Chris and Dante on Sunday during the Ripon National 12 and Double Hander Weekend - photo © Gail Jackson

The day finished with a late lunch followed by the prize-giving before boats were packed up. Those staying for the weekend enjoyed a pleasant walk around the lake to build up an appetite for the double hander evening curry night provided by Ali.

The survivors from Saturday were joined by a handful of club single hander sailors, notably light on numbers for some inexplicable reason. With the wind having swung more Northerly, it was less shifty but had bigger swings and stronger sustained spells. All 3 Miracles headed out along with 2 National 12s and Chris & Dante in the club Vision to join the morning pursuit race. Chris was doing well until the first spinnaker hoist, with Dante's foot firmly planted on the sheet it was a quick capsize. Philip & Em managed to pass Ian & Lucy, but Wayne & Angela held them off to claim 1st.

Phil and Em on Sunday during the Ripon National 12 and Double Hander Weekend - photo © Gail Jackson

After lunch, two back-to-back races were completed with the full fleet back out. Philip & Em stretched out a good start in the first race to take the win but a miss-timed tack into a vicious header in the second race resulted in a capsize and retirement. The Miracles of Wayne & Angela and Graham & Helen battled it out through both races, Wayne & Angela managing to keep ahead in both.

Chris & Dante enjoyed playing with the asymmetric on the Vision but ultimately found it was slower round the course. They were close, but never quite managed to get the speed to beat either of the visiting Miracles. Ian had to switch crew for the afternoon, taking Frankie out for the first time in a Miracle before retiring out of the last race. Tim was also sailing with a new crew, Iole, making steady improvements through each race. The last race saw them first to the windward mark and hold 1st for most of the race with some great close racing against Philip & Em until their capsize. Alas Tim & Iole also succumbed to the same fate later and slipped from first to last but did manage to finish.

Miracle under spinnaker on Sunday during the Ripon National 12 and Double Hander Weekend - photo © Gail Jackson

Special mention must go to Dante and Iole. This was Dante's first experience of sailing, possibly not the best weekend to pick but youthful enthusiasm shone through. Iole has only recently completed her level 2 and it was her first experience of racing in a National 12, a very different proposition to the training boats she was used to. Both survived brutal gusts, massive headers and capsizes, and came off the water smiling and looking forward to the next event.

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