Vintage National 12’s Come Out to Play at Ripon SC
Ripon SC hosted a Vintage National 12 meeting on Saturday 15 May, and
competitors were greeted with a brisk breeze and sunshine which promised
great sailing for those taking part and plenty for the spectators to
enjoy too.
The first race was sailed on ‘scratch handicaps’ and the RO team led by
Brian Miatt set the fleet a triangular course which kept them close
together and made excellent use of the lake and the wind direction.
The race was won by Philip David/James Devney in N2545. Brian
Kitching and Christine Marshall (N1657) fought hard to take second
place, racing ‘nip and tuck’ with Bernard and Ellie Clark (N2149) who
were third. The places throughout the fleet changed right up to
the last minute with everyone enjoying some close racing. The
fleet made the most of lunchtime – celebrating Brian Herring’s birthday
with cake and bubbly.
This being a ‘Derwent Handicap’ style event for the 12’s, the handicaps
were adjusted over lunchtime to take account of 1st race performance,
which saw David/Devney penalized with a 4 ½ minute delay on their start.
Clark and Kitching took a 3 minute penalty. Martin and Matt
Clarke, sailing the newly launched N2306, had missed much of the first
race through gear failure but showed great form to take the race from
Howard Chadwick/Helen Nicholson (N2266). Clark and Clark took 3rd
place. David/Devney chased hard but filling up at the gybe mark
was to cost them any chance of contention.
Handicaps were adjusted again for the final race, which saw Clark and
Clark overhaul the fleet to take a lead from halfway through the race
which was not challenged. Birthday boy Brian Herring and crew Ros
Stevenson (N2468) took 2nd place with David/Devney taking 3rd.
Final places (3 races sailed, 3 to count)
1st Bernard and Ellie
Clark, Ripon SC
2nd Howard Chadwick and Helen
Nicholson, Yeadon & Ripon SC
3rd Brian Herring and Ros
Stevenson, Winsford Flash SC
4th Philip David and James
Devney, Yorkshire Ouse SC
Photos courtesy: Jenny Clark
Burton week
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