A fresh breeze, sunshine and showers greeted fifteen boats at this year's National Twelve Open at Trent Valley Sailing Club on Sunday 7th May. The race officer organized the boats into two flights for three rounds of excellent racing.

In race one, Stewart Miatt and Christine Marshall led the first flight, taking a good mid-river position for the start of the downstream beat. All the others jostled for position, with Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne coming out second, and Michael and Angela Cooke soon catching up. Camm overtook Miatt on the run back up the river and went on to win. The Cookes soon followed suit to take second place, with Miatt third.

In the second flight John Sears and Lydia Wood led off the line and went on to win comfortably, with Nick Gill and Pip Basford second, Bernard Clarke and James Shipley taking third place.

In race two, Michael Cooke took revenge and led the first flight from the start, going on to win. Stewart Miatt was second, and Nick Gill third. The second flight was again led by John Sears from the start, but as the fleet bunched up on the run, Martin and Lewis Hurst took advantage of clear air despite the current in the middle of the river, and snatched the lead. Sears retook the lead at the leeward mark going on to take first place. Camm then overtook the Hursts on the beat, pushing them into third place at the finish.

Following a classic TVSC lunch, the third race started with Nigel May, crewed by Mrs May, taking the first flight start with a port flyer. John Sears fought back to take the lead at the windward mark, retaining his position to win a third successive race. Michael Cooke came second and the Mays third. The second flight saw a close tacking battle between the whole fleet with Nick Gill taking the lead half way up the first beat. However, in the notorious doldrums, Graham Camm stole the lead and went on to claim another first place. Gill was second, with Dave and Charlie Peacock coming in third.

Overall results:

1st John Sears and Lydia Wood - TVSC (2957); 
2nd Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne - Burghfield SC (3005); 
3rd Michael Cooke and Angela Cooke - Nottingham SC (3419); 
4th Nick Gill and Pip Basford - TVSC (3287); 
5th Stewart Miatt and Christine Marshall - TVSC (3350)