Gill Series #1 @ Burghfield

 
The first event in the 2010 N12 Gill series was held at Burghfield Sailing Club on Saturday 27th March.
 
The first race was held in light conditions.  John  and Katy Meadowcroft (N3523) benefited from a port shift off the start line but Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart (3494) were first to the top mark, however, local stars Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne (3492) ground them down and won the race.  The battle for second place continued to the last beat, with Jon and Charlotte managing to keep ahead of Steve Norbury and Andy Hill (N 3516) and Caroline Martin and Andrew Douglas.

 

 
There was more breeze in race 2 and Tom Stewart and Liz Ross (3526) in their production Dead Cat Bounce design managed to avoid the islands to lead around the top mark and sail away into a big lead with Graham and Zoe finishing second, just holding off the second production Dead Cat Bounce sailed by Kevin Iles and Jane Wade(3527).
 
The third race was to be the decider. Tom and Liz messed up the start but had enough speed to pull through the fleet.   Steve Norbury and Andy Hill (3516) sailing their Feeling Foolish design with retro fitted winged rudder got them back downwind and held off Tom and Liz in a tacking duel to the finish line.
 
Tom White and Maria Gidley (2765) won the Admirals cup division by 2 points from Nick Copsey and Luke Lazell (3411).
 
The family prize went to Mike and Alex Storey (3491) and the Junior prize to Arthur Henderson crewed by mother Mandy (3418).