A fleet of twenty National 12s enjoyed an excellent Easter weekend of

racing at Waldringfield Sailing Club. The first race, in light winds on

Saturday afternoon, was led from the start by Mike Hoyle and Natalie

Jobling. They were never caught by the chasing group, winning comfortably.

Tom Stewart and Liz Ross emerged from the pack to take second, with Antony

Gifford and Rich Bailey third.

Conditions were again light on Sunday, with dramatic movements both up and

down the fleet possible as puffs of the shifting wind played with the

fleet. It was Gifford and Bailey who took best advantage of the conditions,

or their luck depending on your point of view, to win both races. Hoyle

and Jobling chased hard, often taking the lead, but were never able to be

ahead at the point when it matters, finishing a very close second on both

occasions.

On Monday the wind finally chose to join in the fun. In the stronger

breeze a few new faces arrived near the front of the fleet. Jon and

Charlotte Ibbotson led the early stages of the morning race, pursued by Jon

Brown and Jane Jones. A luffing match let Stewart and Ross through, only

for them to find themselves planing in to two feet of water with both foils

up and no tiller extension. The resulting muddy walk left hem out of

contention. A three way battle between Steve and Alison Sallis, Brown and

Jones and Gifford and Bailey continued for the remainder of the race.

Gifford and Bailey finally broke through in a tense taking battle

approaching the finish to take another win. This win sealed overall

victory with a race to spare, in a Final Chapter design that was borrowed

at the last minute for the weekend. The next three places overall were

filled by Feeling Foolish designs.

The final race was won by Stewart and Ross after a close battle with Brown

and Jones in excellent conditions on the top of the tide.

1st Antony Gifford & Rich Bailey, N3421, Aldeburgh YC

2nd Mike Hoyle & Natalie Jobling, N3438, Royal Harwich YC

3rd Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, N3446, RHYC