More Ribbed National 12 Racing at Yeadon

The fleet of ‘ribbed’ construction National 12s met up again at Yeadon SC on Sunday 19 July for the second gathering of the season (see the earlier blog for the report of the meeting in May). These boats are the oldest in the National 12 class, built long before the days of epoxy and carbon fibre and now lovingly restored and cherished by their owners.
With 5 boats present, Tessa (N1183) being a welcome addition to the fleet, and 5 teams of helms and crews, racing got underway promptly at 11am with Race Officers John and Cathy Cheetham setting the fleet a course which allowed them to enjoy most of the tarn. A total of 5 races were sailed, with helms/crews swapping boats for each race. Sadly the sunny conditions which had prevailed for the first meeting were missing for the morning of this meeting – the fleet sailed in light drizzle which developed into heavy rain before lunch. The two races sailed after lunch did however get underway in sunshine and a freshening breeze, which made for some enjoyable and at times very close racing.
The results were worked out on the basis of those from the May meeting and this later meeting and this year’s ‘Ribbie Champions’ are Howard Chadwick and Sarah Chadwick/Helen Nicholson. Brian Herring and Ros Stevenson were 2nd overall, with Bernard and Ellie Clark 3rd, Ian and Margaret Purkis 4th and Tim Gatti and Tace Morgan 5th.

Thanks to Jennie Clark for the report and the photo, John and Cathy for being OODs and to Howard and Tim for their efforts organising the event.

Certainly in the sunshine the boats looked spendid !

STOP PRESS – ADAM WINS YHYSA SERIES

Adam Simms wins the Yorkshire and Humberside Youth Sailing Association Series!!!
This is a series of eleven regattas from April to July and attracts junior sailors from all over Yorkshire. This is one of the best attended junior series in the country and Paul Goodison, Olympic gold medallist, has been a previous winner of the series.
Going in to the final event, the title was in the balance - either Ollie Wright from Rotherham on 16 points, Adam on 17 points or Matt Vellamail from Ulley on 18 points, could end up as Series Winner. Ollie and Adam were both looking to discard a 6th. All three needed to win to guarantee the series, but otherwise beating the other two was the main aim. We knew that Adam had to finish 5th or better, and beat Ollie, as Adam had a better countback score in the Series (3 event wins to Ollie's 1).
The racing, as could be expected, was tight all day and was tense for competitors and spectators alike. In the first race Adam finished in 2nd, Matt in 3rd and Ollie 7th, then in the next race Adam was 3rd, Matt 5th and Ollie 7th again. John and Adam had worked out by then that Adam had probably done enough even if Ollie won the last race (which he did), he couldn't beat Adam on the day. So for the Ripon event Adam finished 2nd at with Ollie finishing in 3rd place. This meant that they were both on equal points at the end of the Series with 13 points and so Adam won on countback. It really couldn't have been much closer !!!

Couple of pictures - Adam and Ollie battling it out in the last race - and Adam receiving the Series Trophy from Roy Goodison (Father of Olympic champion Paul - who won the series in 1994, 95 & 96)

Well done Adam!

Yorkshire Raiders

While most of us were enjoying the Commodore’s Weekend a determined bunch headed North to take on the Scots on their home territory. They were almost thwarted on the border by a seized wheel bearing but the AA came to their rescue and allowed them to continue northwards.
The picturesque Loch Ard was where they were heading and the Scottish Mirror Championship was the target for the Lulham Robinson’s and their Arctic Donkeez.

After 2 days of sailing in beautiful surroundings Yorkshire emerged victorious, taking the Scottish Championship Shield away from the determined more local sailors before heading the many miles back over the border and home into Yorkshire.

Well done boys, and good luck for two weeks time when you take on the rest of the World at the Mirror World Championships at Pwllheli, North Wales.
Have a really good time, enjoy the experience and we’ll be watching for the results with interest !!!

Fun and Games

A selection of photographs to capture the spirit of the weekend - from the calm of the evening sailing and the midnight race to the excitement of the canoe and bottle races.

Thanks to John, Jane, Adam and Amy for a great weekend.