In glorious sunshine and with 12 knots of breeze blowing straight
down lake, 35 National Twelves gared at Northampton SC on 7
November for finale of 2009 GILL Series. With Steve & Jo
Sallis tied on points with Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne at head of
leader board and Tom Stewart & Liz Ross also able to win if or
results went ir way re was all to play for. With Zoe
gracefully retired for season on grounds of pregnancy, Graham
had Pip Jefferies up front pulling strings for him.
In first race Stewart & Ross put a marker down leading around
first mark, but y were overhauled by Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart
who went on to win from Stewart & Ross with Steve Norbury & Andy Hill
chasing, despite odd customary wobble, in third and Sallises
fourth.
Race 2 looked like business as usual for Stewart & Ross who led around
windward mark as Sallis family headed for wrong mark.
Stewart & Ross n extended to a comfortable victory ahead of Chris
Mayhew and Mandy Thornton. Camm & Jefferies picked up a third
place with Ibbotson & Stewart fourth.
With all to be won and lost in final race is was no surprise that an
eager fleet caused a general recall. Starting again, this time
under black flag, Stewart & Ross again mastered first beat to lead
around first mark, but this time with Sallis family in close
attendance. National Champions Jo Richards and Sophie Mackley had
spent most of day visiting various parts of fleet, but y were
much better placed this time and showed great pace on tight reach.
On final lap y finally got into lead and won from Sallis
family who were closely covering Stewart and Ross with John & Katy
Meadowcroft in fourth.
Stewart & Ross had done enough to win meeting, but second place
in final race was enough for Steve and Jo Sallis to take third
overall in final event. This third place was sufficient to win
2009 GILL Series by one point from Stewart & Ross, with Camm and his
various crews across season taking third place.
One of specific objectives of GILL Series has been to encourage
more family sailing in Class and it is particular pleasing for
far / daughter team of Steve and Jo to win overall competition.
y are highly popular winners in ir 11 seasons old Feeling Foolish.
In Admirals Cup competition, event winners were Phil David and
Anthony Copsey, whilst Chris Troth and Rebecca Butler picked up U21
prize, and, Sallises won Family Prize.
Results
1 N3513, Tom
Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling Foolish, 3pts
2 N3494, Jon
Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart, Feeling Foolish, 5pts
3 N3436, Steve &
Jo Sallis, Feeling Foolish, 6pts
4 N3519, Jo
Richards & Sophie Mackley, Dead Cat Bounce, 7pts
5 N3516, Steve
Norbury & Andy Hill, Feeling Foolish, 9pts
6 N3523, John &
Katy Meadowcroft, Paradigm 2, 9pts
