A fleet of 22 National 12s gathered at Ripon Sailing Club on 6 October
for the second visit to the club this year. With very fickle and
light winds for the first race the OOD faced considerable challenges in
setting a suitable line and course. The wind did its worst,
changing direction right at the last minute resulting in the fleet
having an unusual running start! Howard Chadwick and Helen
Nicholson (Yeadon/Ripon SC) sailed N2266 extremely well in the
conditions, pulling out a considerable lead and claiming first place.
Mark and Kiera Fearnley (N3497, South Windermere SC) proved that the
winds suited both the vintage and double bottomed boats and finished
second. Brian Herring and Gail Kaye (N2468, Winsford Flash SC)
were third.
Race 2 got underway with a much more conventional start and Ken and
Andrew Mitchell (N3245, Helensburgh YC/CCC) pulled out a considerable
lead only to lose it when they sailed the wrong course. They
battled back to contention but their mistake allowed Philip and Helen
David (N3217, Yorkshire Ouse SC) to take first place, with Andrew and
Trudie Wilkinson (N3499, Ripon SC) having a great race to claim 2nd
place. Vince and Alexander Phillips (N2531, Yorkshire Ouse SC)
were 3rd.
The final race was sailed in some of the best wind of the day, and
Philip Benn and Terry Spence (N3447, Ripon SC) led from the first lap.
A nail biting final 2 legs saw the Davids closing up on them but Benn
and Spence held their cool to take first place, with the Davids in
second place and Chadwick and Nicolson in third.
Final results:
1st Philip and Helen
David, N3217, Yorkshire Ouse SC
2nd Howard Chadwick and Helen
Nicholson, N2266, Yeadon SC
3rd Philip Benn and Terry
Spence, N3447, Ripon SC
4th Mark and Kiera Fearnley,
N3497, South Windermere SC
The first vintage boat was N2266, sailed by Howard Chadwick and Helen
Nicholson.
Photos: Jennie Clark
