Lairwell Trophy Event, 15th/16th September 2012
The weekend of the 15th and 16th September saw the second National 12
event in the Scottish 2012 season. It was held in the beautiful setting
of Loch Tummel Sailing Club as part of the Club’s Autumn Regatta.
The forecast promised lots of wind for the entire weekend (F5-6), and
the early arrivals on Saturday morning found the forecast possibly an
underestimate! The Loch was a mass of white water...the screeching wind
had whipped the Loch into a frenzy of angry white capped waves, the
larger ones of which had their crests blown off and white spray streaked
the Loch. With the violent clanking and clattering of rigging in the
dinghy park the chat from the nervous onlookers was not about who would
dare to go out but whether racing would actually be held at all.
Racing did go ahead as planned. The N12’s were competing in the Main
Handicap fleet (there was only Class racing for Optimists) comprising a
variety of classes including RS200’s and 400’s, Tasar’s, Enterprise’s,
Laser’s, Europe’s, a Fireball and a 29er.
Two Twelves took to the water for Race 1. Angus Beyts and his crew in
N2153 and Ed Willett and Rosie Beskaby in N1833. With boats being blown
flat in the gusts up the first beat, Angus wisely chose to retire
shortly after the start as the conditions were overly challenging with a
novice crew. With upturned hulls all round the course the rescue boats
were working overtime, and the carnage at the gybe mark was
considerable! Ed and Rosie tacked safely round and weaved through the
bodies and boats after a screaming first reach to find the second reach
of the triangle even more extreme than the first. The speed and
exhileration was quite phenomenal...but sadly it all ended rather
suddenly...following an ominous “crack” Rosies helm disappeared over the
transom holding the remains of the tiller! Race over, Day one over for
N1833. On the positive side a successful bouyancy test was
undertaken!
Mark and Emma Simpson arrived just in time for Race 2 with N3462 and
kept the N12 flag flying high despite a gybe mark swim in race 3 they
finished well up the handicap fleet in both races. Mark reflected
afterwards that he had only ever gone as fast as that once before, and
that was this years Burton at Hayling Island. Ie it really was very
windy!
Thoughts for the day....you don’t need a modern boat to go very
fast....but old boats are possibly more likely to break! You also don’t
need three sails to go very fast...as Mark and Emma demonstrated by
matching and overtaking the RS200 and 400 offwind, who were flying their
kites (brave people!)
Day Two was forecast to have even more wind, but in fact the opposite
was the case and (thankfully) proceedings commenced in a relatively
gentle breeze that steadily increased through the day. The OOD had set a
long upwind/downwind course which provided the Classes with asymetrics
lots of reaching opportunities but for the single handers and boats
without spinnakers the course was essentially a sausage. In race 4 the
N12 ‘s again showed their colours with Ed and Rosie (with hastily
repaired tiller) rounding the first windward mark just behind the 29er
of father and son team (and ex-Nat12 sailor) Iain and Jamie Calder. Mark
and Emma were just behind and the two National 12’s led the majority of
the Handicap fleet down the long first run. Mark and Emma slowly pulled
away and finished amongst the asymmetric fleet whilst Ed and Rosie
battled on in the midst of a pack of Lasers, Europes and a Tasar.
Race 5 was sailed back to back on the same course in a now fresh breeze
which provided for a long hard beat and at times rather wobbly and hair
raising antics on the run especially at the gybe mark. Again Mark and
Emma were first National 12 ahead of Ed and Rosie.
After a fantastic lunch, in Race 6, as the wind continued to pick up
Mark swapped Emma for Angus and went out to take second over the line in
the fleet.
Overall, whilst one may view the turnout of three as poor, in fact the
N12’s were numerically the second most well represented Class behind the
Laser’s, and some fantastic sailing was enjoyed in testing conditions;
in beautiful countryside. The Twelves attracted much interest and
commentary in the dinghy park so also a successful marketing effort!
Mark and Emma deservedly retained the Lairwell Trophy for being the best
National 12 on the day and our thanks to them for supporting the
Scottish Area. Thanks also to Loch Tummel SC for hosting a fantastic
weekend!
