GILL SERIES 1: BRISTOL

The first event in the N12 Gill Series 2006 was held at Bristol Corinthian Y.C. on April 1^st and 2^nd. The weather forecasters called it right with the breeze building throughout the weekend and some mighty gusts thrown into the mix.

Before race one, Dave Peacock and Tricia Wood christened their new 12 "Carbonara" (3502)with bubbly. 

Tom Stewart and Liz Ross tacked early off the line and got into the groove and led from first mark to the finish. Spiky Uncle Jonno crewed by Katy Meadowcroft, worked hard around the Olympic course to round the last leeward mark in second place only to fail to do the reach to the finish, giving Graham Camm and Zoë Ballantyne an early wedding present.

Race Two started in a similar vein to the first with Tom and Liz first out of the blocks, however this time they had the wobbles and tipped it in at the second gybe mark. Up the next beat one of the forecasters’ gusts came in, and in style, 30kts.  Fortunately the fleet was going up wind at the time. Dave and Trish’s new boat auto reefed with main halyard failure. It was still honking on the reach and the gybe mark was carnage. Alex and Ian Gore got away cleanly as did Kevin and Lindsey Iles. The Gores led to the end with the dad and daughter Iles team finishing second with Tom and Liz recovering well (despite notching up another swim) getting a handy third.

All retired to the bar for noshing and a great talk on helm / crew relations from former Championship winner Lesley Iles. This was followed by some lagers, which were followed by more lagers followed by…

Luckily it was breezy enough on Sunday to blow away any hangovers.

Tom and Liz led from the start again only to tip it in again on lap two.  As the breeze built, local stars Chris Bishop and Mega Rachel pulled out a monster lead only to join the ranks of the swimmers twenty yards from the finish line. Graham and Zoë, steady and fast, took full advantage and took the gun. Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley sailed a solid no swimming race and finished third.

The last two races were held back to back and the breeze was still building. Down wind it was definitely bum 12’6” from the bow weather.  Ian and Alex Gore led at the top mark but Tom and Liz wound them in, only to tip it in again.  The Gores took the gun this time with Graham and Zoë second.

Race five was a war of attrition. Seriously breezy. Only seven boats took up the challenge. Tom and Liz took the lead again. This time they pulled out enough of a lead to tip it in whilst tacking around at the gybe and get it up still in the lead. It was now truly howling and it was a matter of how to get downwind rather than racing. The Gores put in a mighty pitch pole and a long swim. The Bishop’s mast exploded and most took a swim. The PRO sent the fleet on for another lap (obviously). Tom and Liz took another swim on the run but scraped across the line ahead of Fran and Sophie who were showing classy skills to get around the course dry.

Our thanks to BCYC for a top event held in serious breeze but made safe by some very competent rescue boat driving.

1^st Tom Stewart and Liz Ross N3501 (Feeling Foolish)

2^nd Graham Camm and Zoë Ballantyne N3492 (Numinous)

3^rd Ian and Alex Gore N3441  (Feeling Foolish)

4^th Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley N3431 (Feeling Foolish)