National 12 Gul Inland Championships

 
The National 12 Inland Championships sponsored by Gul were held weekend of 9 and 10 November at Northampton Sailing Club and incorporated the final event of the 2013 Gul series on the Saturday.
 
A cool and wet day greeted the competitors on Saturday morning, fortunately race officer Chris Bowen not only had some great courses in mind, but he’d also organised the weather to improve by the time the first of Saturday’s 3 races started at 12.30pm. 

Twenty six boats enjoyed close racing throughout the fleet, Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne won the first two races on Saturday but did not have it all their own way, being narrowly beaten in the final race of the day by Tom Stewart and Andrea Ralph in a dying breeze.
 
Sunday was brighter, warmer and with more breeze with a few planning gusts. Chris Bowen mixed up the courses giving the fleet a fine tour of the beautiful Pitsford Reservoir. Graham and Zoe won the first race to ensure overall victory, at which point Graham handed the tiller to Zoe to helm the fifth and final race.
 
Pete Ballantine and Theo Harris had ventured away from Salcombe for the first time this year and sailing a Feeling Foolish with home built winged rudder were always in the mix, finishing third overall.

 
Mention must be made of the great performance  shown by John Meadowcroft and 9 year old son Oliver, who showed some great bursts of speed throughout the weekend, particularly on Sunday, to finish 4th overall.  Oliver intends to be helming a 12 by the time he is 12.
 
The first Admiral’s cup boat for competitors sailing single bottomed boat were the father and daughter team of Neal and Freya Lilywhite who held off the challenge from the talented midland team of Ian Smith and Jenny Chen.  Finally, well done to Angus Beyts – first vintage boat and a fantastic commitment in travelling from Forfar to join us in Northampton for the weekend.

Overall results