Staunton Harold open meeting

Saturday 19th May 2012

Midland Area meeting #2

Those who didn’t attend SHSC’s first N12 missed a very pleasant day’s sailing with a steady breeze, interesting wind shifts,  excellent courses, efficient organisation, good food and a picturesque pond to sail on! The surprise attendees were Mark & Emma Simpson who had travelled all the way from the far north, plus Steve Sallis had ventured from darkest Lincolnshire to meet up with Nix Middleton-Stewart for their first sail together.

Race one – there was the predicted running order at the first mark being DCB (Steve Sallis), Foolish (Mark Simpson), Foolish (John Nixon), Crusader (Ian Smith) and vintage China Doll (Paul Turner). Mark kept a beady eye on Steve in front on him for the whole race (“snapping” at his heels?), whilst Paul and local crew Cora had a very pleasant sail watching a battle royal unfold in front of them between John and Ian. Ian got just ahead of John on a couple of occasions for John to fight back until a “technical problem” at the last leeward mark meant that John couldn’t cover Ian, who took a long starboard tack out to the club side to beat John to the line.

Race two after lunch saw the same order at the first mark, through to the end of the race except that Ian retired with a broken tiller allowing Paul a fourth place.

Race three saw a total change of order at the first mark; Mark got there first with Steve, Ian and Paul in very close pursuit, John having investigated the wrong of the line, following at some distance behind. Normal service was resumed as the race unfolded with Steve overtaking Mark and John catching Paul after a lap.

Sincere thanks to SHSC, and race officers Grahame Newton and Mark Stevens (who hoped to see double the number of N12s next year!)

Overall results