Heavy rain did not deter a good fleet of National Twelves from
launching for the Yeadon Sailing Club Open Meeting this weekend despite
some crews talking about garden centres and other less wet distractions.
Race one got underway in a North Easterly shifty breeze, two boats were
recalled but local crew Neil and Katie McInnes made a clean break in
N3216 to reach the first mark in the lead hotly pursued by John and
Allison Cheetham (N3468) also drawing on their local knowledge then,
Brian Kitching and Gale Kaye sailing N3356. Philip and Helen David
in N2545 having recovered from being over the line powered their way up
to the leaders and as the breeze died and returned the fleet positions
were constantly changing, John and Alison were the winners with
Philip and Helen close behind followed by Brian and Gale.
With the bad weather race 2 was due to run back to back with race one
however the bad weather turned into horrendous weather with heavy
squalls, bouncing rain and the wind doing circuits and bumps! A
start was made as soon as the weather settled slightly and Brian and
Gail were first to the first mark but after more major wind shifts and
some confusion about the course the race was abandoned in favour of
lunch.
Race 2 restarted after lunch with the wind still very light and
constantly shifting direction so race officer Bill Wilson and his team
opted for a shorter course and the hope that at least one leg would be a
beat. Howard Chadwick made a good start on port with John and
Philip further down the line but in more wind a strategy that paid off
well as John took the lead. At the second mark however John
stumbled during the gybe and capsized creating a hazard against the mark
and allowing Howard to re take the lead closely followed by Brian and
Philip. Philip took the lead for a while but John was soon back in
the hunt and as Philip chose a backing shift John pulled through to lead
with Howard in second, positions which they held to the end.
In race 3 John headed for an early shower with two wins in the bag and
the rest of the fleet, now down to five boats went out again to yet
another wind direction and another course. Neil got another
excellent start and was first at the first mark with Philip second and
Howard third. Philip however managed to break through and pull
away leaving Neil and Howard to fight it out, seldom more than two boat
lengths apart. On the last lap Howard and Vanessa managed to get
an overlap on Neil and Katie at the start of the last beat and they held
this position to the end.
A great days racing in atrocious conditions! Thanks are due to the
race team for making the best of the constant wind changes, David Hinks
for his notes for this report and especially to the catering team who
kept us going with hot food and didn’t complain when we dripped water
all over the clubhouse floor!
Overall Results
1st N3468
Pillow Fight John and Allison Cheetham
2nd N2545
Little Meg Philip and Helen David
(Also 1st Vintage)
3rd N2266
Triarda
Howard Chadwick and Vanessa Kennedy
4th N3356
Squidgy Bits Brian Kitching and Gale Kaye
5th N3216
Twice Shy Neil and Katie McInnes
6th N2359
Shotgun Angus
Beyts and Patrick Gaunt
Locals Denis and Jo Beard finished a creditable seventh place in their
first ever National Twelve Open Meeting having borrowed an ageing Paper
Dart N2769 Barrow Boy.
Furthest travelled prize went to Angus Beyts who had come down from
Scotland picking up his borrowed boat in Derbyshire and returning it
before going home to Scotland, runner up was Brian Kitching who only
came from Bristol.
Photo by Brian Herring “John Cheetham giving the fleet a chance”
Howard Chadwick 4-10-2010
