Tim Gatti our Yeadon Class Captain was sailing with Yvonne McInnes and Howard Chadwick was sailing with his niece Liz Wady and both were competing in the vintage fleet in clinker Twelves built over 40 years ago. A total of 7 vintage boats had joined a total entry of 80 boats to compete in the best supported National Championships for many years. John Cheetham was sailing his double bottomed boat with a crew from the host club.
Saturday racing was held in light winds and bright sunshine all day with two races scheduled. In Race 1 we had two general recalls and an abandonment before racing finally got under way. Race 2 was sailed in even lighter winds and only 16 boats managed to finish within the time limit with the fleet just making it back before the water disappeared completely with the strong outgoing tide. The venue was fantastic with the dinghy park in front of the club and camping between the two. A BBQ on the Saturday evening at the club was enjoyed by all and despite the excellent turnout the club coped well with the numbers.
Photo of Tim and Howard just off the beach.
Sunday racing was held in again in bright sunshine but this time we had a pleasant force 3 and again excellent close racing in the vintage fleet although it has to be said very much towards the back of the overall fleet! At the end of race 4 Brian Kitching was leading the vintage points followed by Tim then Howard. John Cheetham finished a creditable 35th and 43rd respectively. Racing was followed by a dress as a 12 fancy dress party and live band which was excellent but no rest for the Yeadon sailors who maintained standards by dancing through till the end.
Monday morning dawned slightly grey and with a fresh offshore breeze and this was Burton Cup Day so one race only but the rules prevent it being shortened, it must be a triangular course a mile offshore and covers a distance of 13.5 miles. As the fleet sailed out to the start the wind freshened dramatically and by the start was at Force 6 (some reports say F7!) with the sea littered with upturned boats. Many boats headed in and some started intending to review the conditions at the windward mark which was nearest the club! John Cheetham sailing with a local crew he was not used to decided to come in, our two vintage representatives however were determined to finish and battled on after the first two laps the wind thankfully started to drop and Tim and Howard were the only surviving vintage boats and were in close contention throughout despite the conditions and positions changed constantly with Howard getting through Tim on the penultimate beat. Tim however was catching up again in the last lap and Howard had to defend his position 100 yards from the finish with a lee bow tactic. Howard finished less than a boat length clear after 13.5 miles of close racing to take first vintage in the Burton Cup Race. At the end of this race the overall points for the vintage trophy were separated by only one point in favour of Tim and Yvonne.
Tuesday was the final day with two races scheduled and sunshine and a stiff breeze blowing at F5 to F6, conditions that prevailed all day. John went out to the start but again though discretion the better part of valour with his young and inexperienced crew. The first race again saw close racing but with Tim and Yvonne slightly ahead Howard and Liz did a nose dive into wave and capsized to windward at the penultimate mark and although a mile offshore got the mast top stuck in the bottom and needed assistance to pull the boat free as the wind and tide were against them. Howard decided at that point to return to shore whilst Tim having managed to finish. Tim and Yvonne started the final race only to retire after they capsized a couple of times however with Howard ashore they had won the overall vintage points trophy. 
Photo of Tim and Yvonne with their handy size trophy !
Other Northern boats in the running were Philip David of Yorkshire Ouse Sailing Club sailing with another local crew. They finished 23rd and were the first single bottomed twelve in the points series. Mark and Emma Simpson from Scaling Dam also sailed very well to finish 16th overall in the very difficult conditions.
Also held at the championships was the class AGM where Tim Gatti was elected as the Class Association Chairman with Howard as Vice Chairman, Tim has been on the committee for a year and Howard has been on the committee (this time) for two years as the Vintage Wing Representative so Yeadon members will continue to support the class and promote Yeadon Sailing Club on the regional and national scene for a few years yet.
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