A grey day greeted the ten entries on Sat 14th October for the Leogh on Sea National 12 Open meeting, this meeting also forming the final event of the Eastern Area and Thames Area series. A light, variable, and shifty wind made for interesting beats and on the olympic courses.
In race one Patrick Elcombe and Carol Shore led from National Champions Tom Stewart and Liz Ross, however they were soon overhauled and Tom & Liz went on to win, in the later stages being chased hard by Ian Gore and Penny Harris who had also got passed Patrick who held on for third ahead of Andy Pickerill & Jonathon. In the second race places were reversed with Ian & Penny pulling out a copmfortable lead over Tom and Liz. Frances Gifford and Neil Ravenscroft came third and Andy and Jonathon came a consistent fourth.
Sunday dawned sunny with a slightly stronger breeze filling in from the North East which made it very shifty as it came off the shore. Two more entries turned up for the sunday racing and both made their mark. In the first race, Ian & Penny led initally but an interesting tussle ensued with Bruce Johnson sailing with son Henry. Bruce eventualy pulled through to win, and the other sunday entrant Richard Williams sailing with Rebecca Johnson came in third. Frances & Neil maintained their from to come in fourth. The last race provided the biggest test of tactics with the strong outgoing tide and big shifts making it very hard to keep ones place. Bruce again showed his mastery of the conditions to pull away to win, follwed by Frances in second and Ian in third which he discarded to win the Open meeting. Ian Gore's consistent sailing both on the sea and inland also meant he clinched the Thames Area trophy, a worthy Thames Area champion.
N12 Leigh on Sea Open Results
1. N3441, Matilda, Ian Gore &
Penny Harris, 2, 1, 2, 3; 5pts
2. N2448, Steady Tiger, Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, 1, 2, 9, 5;
8 pts
3. N3431, Zippy, Frances Gifford & Neil Ravenscroft, 5, 3,
4, 2; 9 pts
4. N3409, The Right Trousers, Andy Pickerill & Jonathon White,
4, 4, 6, 6; 14 pts
5. N3423, Texas Flood, Bruce & Henry Johnson, DNS, DNS, 1,
1; 15pts
6. N3410, Feeling Foolish, Bim Daser & Charlotte Ibbotson,
7, 8, 7, 4; 18 pts
7. N3419, How Ace Are Aardvarks, Mike Cooke & Eleanor Martin,
Dsq, 5, 5, 9; 19 pts
8. N3429, Fools Gold, John & Katy Meadowcroft, 6, 6, 8, 8;
20 pts
9. N3450, Carbon 12, Richard Williams & Rebecca Johnson, Dns,
Dns, 3, 7; 23 pts
10. N3432, Crazy Jayne, Steve Le Grys & Sue Morris, 8, 7,
10, 10; 25 pts
11. N3394, Annie Oaklie, Patrick Elcombe & Carol Shore, 3,
9, Dns, Dns; 27 pts
12. N3197, Miss Prism, Graham & Linsay Iles, 9, Dns, 11, Rtd;
32 pts.