Ripon open meeting

A large and competitive fleet of National12’s gathered at Ripon Sailing Club on 5 October for their annual visit to the club.  With nearby Yeadon SC hosting a meeting the following day and the promise of an evening meal in the clubhouse with friends this is always  well supported ‘end of season’ event and the 18 boat entry showed just how popular the venue is.   There was a good mix of boat designs ranging from ultra up to the minute double bottomed foiling designs to some of the oldest ‘Vintage’ designs.  There was also a wide range of ages competing, with some drawing their pensions and others only just at school!  

Tom Stewart, crewed by daughter Isobel, won the first race with a commanding lead established early on which was never challenged.  Ed Storey and Sarah Nicholas were 2nd and Philip David/Josh Cowley were 3rd.  Bernard Clark, crewed by Henry Rastrick, finished 4th – watched closely from the bank by Ellie Clark, who was recovering from having her appendix out and was most put out not to be able to sail! 

The afternoon race saw Tom in the lead again, this time crewed by son Robert.   David and Cowley were 2nd, and Clark and Rastrick 3rd.  There was a degree of inevitability about the winner of race 3, with the Stewarts romping home ahead of David and Cowley, with Patrick Hamilton and Charlotte Gatty taking 3rd place.  

After the prizegiving the fleet sat down to enjoy a very tasty 3 course BBQ meal, raising nearly £100 for the RNLI in the process.  Here’s to the 2014 meeting!  

Overall results

1st        Tom and Isobel/Robert Stewart, Northampton SC

2nd        Philip David and Josh Cowley, Ripon and Yorkshire Ouse SC’s

3rd        Bernard Clark and Henry Rastrick, Ripon SC

4th        Ed Storey and Sarah Nicholas, Ripon SC

5th        Patrick Hamilton and Charlotte Gatty, Burwain SC  

First Vintage boat was Brian Kitchin, crewed by Naomi Bilton.