The final round of the National 12 Gill series was held at Grafham Water  Sailing Club on the 28^th October.

 

66 sailors travelled from clubs as far afield as Penzance and Scaling Dam for three blustery races. With two boats able to win the main fleet prize and at least three able to take the Admirals Cup prize (pre -double bottom boats) there was lots to play for as well as the glory of winning the day's meeting.

 

John and Katy Meadowcroft (N3473) won the committee boat end of the line and dominated the first beat. They were quickly rolled on the first reach by National Champions Tom Stewart and Liz Ross (N3501), who extended their lead to win comfortably.  Behind the leaders there was a lot going on. On lap two a big puff arrived at the gybe mark at the same time as the chasing pack catching out at least six of the top ten including potential and previous Gill series champions Graham Camm and Zoë Ballantyne (N3492). The Meadowcrofts held it together to finish second. In the Admirals Cup division John and Alison Cheetham (N3209) were racing with the double bottom boats and finished four places ahead of rivals Jerry and Margaret Garner (N3365).

 

Race 2 was held in the afternoon and if anything the wind had increased. Tom and Liz got the first beat right and led the Meadowcrofts round the windward mark; they then escaped the pack and extended their lead to the end of the race. Behind them a great battle ensued. Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley (N3431) came out on top from Dave Peacock and Tricia Wood (N3502) who steadily climbed up the fleet throughout the race.

Race 3 went to Tom and Liz again. The Meadowcrofts and Antony and Jo Gifford (3484) were leading down the first reach only to be rolled by Tom and Liz as well as Frances and Sophie both of whom had gone high and picked up a good puff to take them down to the gybe mark. On the run the leading boats were subject to a mighty gust, which saw some spectacular simultaneous capsizing. Graham and Zoë sailed calmly through to claim second place. John Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart (N3494) survived a wobbly gybe at the start of the run and pulled through to third. In the Admirals Cup Division John and Alison Cheetham were keeping it steady and finished ahead of the Garners in both races 2 and 3.

 

GWSC Gill series National 12 Results

1^st Tom Stewart & Liz Ross N3501      (Feeling Foolish)      2 points

2^nd Frances Gifford & Sophie Mackley (Feeling Foolish)      5 points

3^rd Graham Camm & Zoë Ballantyne    (Numinous)              6 points

4^th David Peacock & Tricia Wood         (Big Issue)                7 points

5^th John & Katy Meadowcroft               (Final Chapter)         8 points

6^th Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart      (Feeling Foolish)     8 points

 

GWSC Gill series National 12 Admirals Cup Results.

1^st John & Alison Cheetham                           (Crusader)  30 points

2^nd Jerry and Margaret Garner                               (Design 8)  35 points

3^rd Mike and Alex Storey                                       (Crusader)  35 points

4^th Felix Newall-Smith & Natalie Mitchell (Baggy Trousers)

 

Photo credits: Lesley and Kevin Iles