One of the highlights of the National Twelve calendar is their second visit of the year to Salcombe to compete in the Yacht Club Regatta. With a civilised 14.10 hrs start time the highly competitive fleet enjoyed close racing throughout the week.

Sunday saw a superb sunny day with a good breeze that saw the fleet sailing out to 0, up to 5 followed 1 and 3 to the finish. Will and Mandy Henderson (N3418) showed that they haven't forgotten where to go in the Estuary, but they were pushed hard by David and Rosemary Croft (N2935) for the win. Bim Daser and Sarah Edwards (N3410) won a close battle for third from John and Mandy Thornton (N3393).

Monday saw the same course and conditions with the boats running close into Millbay and Smalls beaches avoiding the dorys and swimmers! Will and Mandy again won from David and Rosemary with John Murrell and Nicki Bass (N3444) showing excellent speed in their new Foolish, even managing to grab the lead from Will going past Snapes before frightening themselves and eventually finishing third.

Tuesday saw the boats racing 0,7,1,3, With an ebb tide under the fleet we shamed ourselves with a general recall! Fortunately the Lasers and Solo's followed suit, much to the race officers disgust! Again Will and Mandy took the bullet from Bim and Sarah with the Crofts in third and the Thorntons fourth

Wednesday, and with the wind coming from the East it rained; the morning fleets had only just finished by the time that we were due to start! It was enough to dampen a number of people's enthusiasm and there were only 9 starters who were reduced to 7 by the one-minute rule! The wind filled in as did the rain, and going through the Bag both John T and Bim showed fabulous turns of speed at the front, however at the finish Will and Mandy were in the front again with the Thorntons second and Bim third.

Thursday was brighter again and with the wind back where it should come from we were sent out to 1, followed by 7, 1 and 3. The sight of Gill Moore wading into the Estuary with a camera ensured that everyone kept into the edge on the run against the tide back from 1, hoping that she was standing up and wouldn't get the ultimate picture of a Twelve running aground - she didn't! Will did his usual best to disappear into the horizon, with Bim giving him a good run for the money before Malcolm Mackley and Rich Bailey (N3428) found the accelerator and pushed them hard into the finish. The battle for fourth was equally intense with John and Nicki getting there before Sophie Mackley and Caroline Taylor (N3357) who clocked up their third fifth place of the week!

To finish the week off it rained again! However there was a decent wind from the east. The fleet was sent off towards 4 and then up to 7.Bim and Will pulled out a good lead that almost evaporated at the bottom of the Bag, but found enough to keep going and keep ahead of Steve Conroy and Amanda Pickard (N3348) and the Thorntons. With the course being shortened when the wind died away the positions stayed in that order.

Results:

1st N3418 New Isabelle (Baggy 2) Will & Mandy Henderson Salcombe YC.

2nd N3410 Feeling Foolish (Feeling Foolish) Bim Daser & Sarah Edwards Ranalagh SC,

3rd N2935 Close to the Edge (Cheshire Cat) David & Rosemary Croft Henley SC,

4th N3393 GFFBFFG (Final Chapter) John & Mandy Thornton Henley SC,

5th N3444 Trick Cyclist (Feeling Foolish) John Murrell & Nicki Bass Salcombe YC,

6th N3428 Big Issue (Big Issue) Malcombe Mackley & Richard Bailey Salcombe YC.