The sixth event of the Gill N12 series and Inland Championship was hosted by Datchet Water SC on 6 & 7 September. The 48 boats arrived on Saturday to find a good breeze blowing across the top of the wall. Unfortunately, London has been drinking a lot of water in the heatwave, and the racing was held in light conditions thirty foot beneath the edge of the wall. Following a general recall caused by a brief squall as some dark clouds passed overhead, the wind once again died and the class’ well practised light wind skills were once again called on. Will and Arthur Henderson, followed by Mike Hoyle and Chloe Willis made best use of the conditions to win a race in which people gained and lost 10 places a leg.
The majority of the fleet voted with their
feet against a second race, only for the wind to fill in once race officer,
Mike Jackson had abandoned sailing for the day. Henley SC hosted the evening’s
social with a seminar by Geoff Camm on Rules at Marks and an excellent Sausage
Sizzle.
Sunday dawned completely windless, but
following a lengthy postponement two races were sailed. A number of people
decided that the conditions weren’t for them and went home early. Graham Camm
and Zoe Ballantyne followed by Chris Bishop and Pippa Jeffries pulled out a
lead from the rest of the fleet to finish in that order, with Caroline Martin
and Lesley Iles taking third from Mike Hoyle and Chloe Willis in the closing
stages of the race.
Race three was held in better conditions with a consistent wind blowing across the lake. Camm and Ballantyne comfortably won the race from the Hendersons, who were a distance in front of John Whitehead and Lydia Wood.
Overall Results:
1st N3469 “Thanks For All The Fish”, Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne,
2nd N3418 “New Isabelle”, Will
Henderson & Arthur Henderson
3rd N3438 “Lola”, Mike Hoyle
& Chloe Willis
4th N3455 “Bart”, Caroline Martin & Lesley Iles
5th N3477 “Clandestine” John
Whitehead & Lydia Wood
Admirals Cup:
1st N3389 “Not Another Bill”,
Gavin Willis & Hasmine Willis
2nd N3209 “Rebel”, John Cheetham
& Alison Cheetham
3rd N3365 “Jemima”, Jerry Garner
& Margaret Garner
5th N3385 “Wild Front Ear”, Mark
Hoffman & James Hoffman
The highest placed junior was Chris Bishop
& Pippa Jeffries. Will & Arthur Henderson were highest placed in the
Family Cup.
Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne have taken
the lead of the Gill N12 Series from the new Lightning National Champion Ian
& Alex Gore after 6 events. Almost 100 boats have taken part in the Series
to date and the final event on November 1st looks to be highly
competitive, with many contenders fighting for the top spot in each of the four
trophies.
Graham Iles
National Twelve Owners Association.