Yorkshire Ouse Sailing Club hosted ir
longstanding Open over weekend of 5
th & 6th June and as
fleet of mostly vintage 12s arrived, usual light, early June
conditions, loved by some, load by ors were surprisingly missing.
Instead a brisk gusty wind promised exciting sailing in tight river
situation.
OD for Race 1, with its 4pm Saturday afternoon
start time, had set a long course, up to old railway swing bridge
before a long run down to Lock. Immediately Philip and Helen David
(making a welcome return to front of N2545 “Little Meg”) established
a lead y never lost, stretching it to several hundred yards by
finish, demonstrating ir mastery of blustery river conditions.
Past winner of “Paddle”, Bernard Clark, crewed by daughter Ellie
were a distant second with rest of fleet well spaced by
finish.
usual YOSC summer barbecue followed but
balmy conditions of previous years was missing, replaced by a chill that
had most retreating into snug of Clubhouse lounge. yarns and
excuses went on well into night with many former 12 sailors joining
for a great social.
Sunday morning dawned bright but still blustery
when first of 2 back to back races got underway. Again Davids
were quickly leading fleet and although not by such a margin were
comfortable winners. Notable was very welcome return of Brian Miatt,
crewed by his longstanding former crew Margaret Overend in N2589 “Mary
Deare”. Sailing very competitively y were a strong 5
th,
showing Brian had lost none of his competitive edge. At back of
fleet, Ian Purkis, crewed by Emily Overend (+ ors) in her first ever competitive
sail, progressed up fleet, first passing capsized Brian Herring
and Ros Stevenson, before catching and passing Paul Turner and Christine
Marshall, “Starfish N2020 ” apparently securely anchored in a hole
upstream from lock. After a brief tacking battle, Paul
re-established normal order, but it was a great introduction to best
of Vintage National 12 sailing for enthusiastic Emily.
Race 3 was anor David win, again followed by
Clark crew, before a fine lunch courtesy of YOSC Enterprise and
Handicap fleets.
For final race, not even combined efforts
of or YOSC regulars could catch Philip and Helen, making it a
clean sweep with everyone else left in ir wake. Popular winners as
always, with words of encouragement and advice for less expert, y
collected “ Paddle”, before packing up with this special trophy now
in its 6
th decade.
