National 12 Open Meeting 9th September 2012
Trent Valley Sailing Club
I woke for the event with not a sign of any wind but glorious sunshine.
Ok, so I live south of the river and local conditions can be peculiar.
However, by the time our Race Officer (Commodore of Trent Valley John
Richardson) got the briefing underway, we had a reasonable breeze and
still glorious sunshine for the 14 competitors who had dared to take
their boats along the treacherous access road. I had advised an
extra 15 minutes’ travelling time for this but I think one or two hadn’t
believed me (had they Brian!). This event has grown from being a Vintage
& 4-plank event to a mixed MAAT, 4-plank and Vintage event, and a full
representation of those elements of the class were present, such as
David Peacock (Trent Valley) enthusiastically crewed by Jayden Wood in
Paradigm Buster, Jonathan Twite (crewed by his dad from Nottingham
SC) in 4-planker Goosehunter and Fraser Goldsmith crewed by Niamh Wright
in Quill.
Anyway, to the sailing, a good start for a traditional Trent Valley
course of up the river to the top mark and back down to the bottom for a
few laps. One could call it a sausage but due to the bends in the
river it would be an interesting sausage. Due to the wind
direction there wasn’t much of a beat, so river sailors who could fine
reach did have a bit of an advantage. Phillip David, crewed by
Caroline Hunter, in Out of the Blue from Yorks Ouse led the way having
declared that it was good to sail on ‘open water’; compared to Naburn it
probably is. Tom White, with Matt Smith (son of regular MAAT helm
Ian Smith) came second and of course followed by Ian Smith with Jenny
Chen capably crewing as always.
Second race was run back-to-back, or near enough, so we travelled the
same course. A lot of fine reaching and a lot of twitching by the
crews to keep boats in best optimal balance and gibs in best setting.
How wonderful it must be to helm a Starfish, ie armchair, does Howard’s
crew know how hard she worked? Of course at this point I must
point out amongst the Vintage fleet was Alun Brunton, crewed by Tricia
Wood, helming Smuggler (part of the Paul Turner collection) who showed
us all how to sail a 12 without reference to speedskins, neoprene boots
and possibly buoyancy aids. Alun is a long-time member of Trent Valley
and had coincided a significant birthday celebration with this event and
was eager to show us all he had not lost his feeling for the flow of the
Trent.
After a very pleasant lunch break, the wind was picking up but still the
sun shone – how good is that for September? So we all were briefed
on a new course – ever heard of the Goddard Chicane? Well it made
a reappearance to try to add a proper beat. The start of the race
saw interesting things happen with the wind picking up nicely to a Force
3/4 – Paul Turner lost a shroud, well what do you expect when
taking out THE China Doll for her first time in 25 years and John Sears,
ably crewed by Catherine Sears, somehow filled up with water – both
retired gracefully. Another of Paul’s boats – Microclipper –
was out for a test-drive and crew Fenny Monteiro, helmed by Ben Arlett,
was heard to say it got ‘a bit interesting’. Apart from that there
were no other incidents.
All-round a very good day of sailing, with lovely wind conditions and a
full day of sunshine. Trent Valley at it’s very best, although I
say it myself. Furthest travelled to attend goes to Brian Kitching
for bringing Just Lucky crewed by Thea Armstrong (his bestest Burton
week crew), closely followed by Howard Chadwick and Cathy Lawson from
Yeadon SC, Phillip David and Caroline Clarke from Yorks Ouse, and Ben
Arlett and Fenny Monteiro from Blakeney SC.
I think all would agree with me we had a great day’s sailing. So my many
thanks to our Race Officer John Richardson and team and to Guy Browne
who handled our safety craft but was not needed.
Added Vintage Report
Sunday 9th September 2012 with six vintage boats competing, was also an
auspicious occasion for several other reasons:
1. Both Smuggler N1650 and China Doll N2403 from the Turner Collection
were re-launched after various repairs and restoration; both boats were
entered for the open meeting Allen Brunton crewed by Tricia Wood in
Smuggler and Paul Turner with Christine Preston in China Doll. (Photos
follow)
2. It was heartening to welcome teenager Fraser Goldsworth (crewed by
Niamh Wright) is his vintage Squid N2042 to the TVSC fleet - and his
father has subsequently acquired N2289!
3. After racing Allen held his 70th birthday tea party at the club and
guests included a number of former N12 sailors - Karen (of course!),
John and Barbara Royce, Sue Harkins, Rosanne Royce and John Sears. Mr
Royce was heard to exclaim, as Paul went forward at the prize giving to
collect the vintage pot “You’re still winning prizes at your age?” J
Overall results
1st MAAT and 4-plank, Tom White and Matt Smith, Midland SC
2nd MAAT, Dave Peacock and Jayden Wood, Trent Valley SC
3rd MAAT, Phillip David and Caroline Clarke, Yorks Ouse SC
2nd 4-plank, John Sears and Catherine Sears, Notts County SC
1st Vintage, Paul Turner and Christine Preston,Trent Valley SC
2nd Vintage, Howard Chadwick and Cathy Lawson,Yeadon SC
|
Boat
|
Helm
|
Crew
|
Boat name
|
Design
|
Club
|
Points
|
Position
|
Vintage & MAAT vintage
|
MAAT
|
|
2765
|
Tom White
|
Matt Smith
|
Le Shed
|
4P China Doll
|
Olton Mere
|
3
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
3524
|
Dave Peacock
|
Jayden Wood
|
Paradigm Buster
|
Paradigm 2
|
TVSC
|
3
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
3499
|
Philip David
|
Caroline Clark
|
Out of the blue
|
Foolish
|
Yorkshire Ouse
|
3
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
3316
|
Ian Smith
|
Jenny Chen
|
What more pudding?
|
Crusader
|
Midland
|
7
|
4
|
|
4
|
|
2957
|
John Sears
|
Catherine Sears
|
Punkawallah
|
Pipedream
|
Notts County
|
7
|
5
|
|
5
|
|
2403
|
Paul Turner
|
Christine Preston
|
China Doll
|
-
|
TVSC
|
10
|
6
|
1
|
|
|
3192
|
Ally Britton
|
Ann Britton
|
Alley Cat
|
Tigress
|
TVSC
|
11
|
7
|
|
6
|
|
2266
|
Howard Chadwick
|
Cathy Lawson
|
Triada
|
Starfish
|
Yeadon
|
14
|
8
|
2
|
|
|
1650
|
Allen Brunton
|
Tricia Wood
|
Smuggler
|
-
|
TVSC
|
16
|
9
|
3
|
|
|
2359
|
James Clark
|
Rosie Allen
|
Shotgun
|
-
|
TVSC
|
17
|
10
|
4
|
|
|
3157
|
Ben Arlett
|
Fanny Monteiro
|
Perfect Kiss
|
Microclipper
|
Blakeney
|
20
|
11
|
|
7
|
|
1657
|
Brian Kitching
|
Thea Armstrong
|
Just Lucky
|
Chimp
|
FOS
|
20
|
12
|
5
|
|
|
2042
|
Fraser Goldsworth
|
Naimh Wright
|
Quill
|
Squid
|
TVSC
|
25
|
13
|
6
|
|
|
2709
|
Jonathan Twite
|
Geoff Twite
|
Goosehunter
|
Paper Dart
|
Nottingham
|
27
|
14
|
|
8
|
Trent Valley Sailing Club - River
sailing at its best – a bit like sea-sailing but not as lumpy and
the tide only goes one way.
Report by Christine Preston & Paul Turner
N12 Class rep Trent Valley Sailing Club
Photographs courtesy of Pete Browne, Trent Valley member
