National 12 Burton Week 2012 - Form Guide

Action from National 12 Burton Week 2011 © Jeremy Carey

National 12 Burton Week is being held at Hayling Island SC over the coming Jubilee Weekend. 2011 Champion Tom Stewart will be out to defend his title and also the Burton Cup, this year crewed by Andrea Ralph. Tom and Andrea will be sailing Alice the Camel, Tom's Championship winning Jo Richards' designed Dead Cat Bounce - built by the Boatyard at Beer and expertly fitted out by P&B. Tom has been experimenting with a Selden rig in recent weeks although has latterly reverted to his tried and tested Superspar. Rig development is the heart of what P&B do and it will be interesting to see what gear he turns up with. A third place at the recent Glyn Charles pursuit race saw Tom testing out the waters at Hayling.

Arguably the strongest competition is likely to come from Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne who have shown early season form winning the GILL series events at Spinnaker and Salcombe with some dominant performances. Sailing the Very Hungry Caterpillar, also a DCB, and using P&B sails but on an Angell Mast.

Steve and Jo Sallis took Stewart to the final race at the 2011 Championships at Brightlingsea and Steve, sailing with Tanya Copsey has already won the Scottish Championships in 2011. Steve' crew for Burton Week is the well known "TBA" who also appears to be crewing in at least one other boat!

The top five in 2011 was rounded off by Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart also in a DCB and John & Katy Meadowcroft in a Paradigm 2. Ibbotson has a new boat for 2012, and has joined those with a trim tab centerboard. The Meadowcrofts have barely sailed in the last six months and will be hoping to benefit further from the rig changes made last year which has made them surprisingly quick offwind for a heavy combination.

Former Merlin Rocket Champion William Warren crewed by former Burton Week winner Sophie Mackley makes a formidable combination, and William will be keen to improve on 6th place last year, with Sophie ready to show him the way round the course. Sailing the original Dead Cat Bounce, William and Sophie have been spotted practicing with a new Goacher sails rig

Burton Week first timers include leading RS200 sailor Chris Catt crewed by familiar 12 face Ellie Martin in a borrowed DCB.

Looking further afield, Gavin Willis and Rosie White have made further developments to their Paradigm 3. The canting rig will be left in Bristol this year, but the latest incarnation of the winged rudder is a rebirth of the "fat" rudder blade section first seen 20 years ago, but now equipped with two of the largest wings that you may have ever seen...

In the youngsters, expect a shoot out between Nick Copsey and the evergreen TBA from Ely SC and Tom Ballantine and Nikki Bass from Salcombe YC. Both are getting quicker and quicker. Tom may have the edge this year as his mum is coming along to make sure he gets at least one early night! Tom's younger brother Peter has persuaded Mary Henderson to show him round Hayling in Tom Stewart's first Twelve N3003, a Bouncer design built with one of the few daggerboards before they were banned more than 30 years ago. Now also equipped with a double floor and a home built winged rudder, Peter and Mary will fancy getting the Admirals Cup for older boats.

In the old boys Dave and Charlie Peacock dominated last year in their Paradigm 2. This will no doubt have caused a lot of consternation for others and I expect this division to be particularly hardly fought. The Peacocks were seen practicing at Hayling yesterday – which frankly many of their opposition will consider to be ungentlemanly! They got a taste of the top 10 last year and look like they want more.

We also have a small group of clinker built vintage 12 joining us again for Burton Week and the competition within this group will again be fierce!

The Class will hold its AGM at Hayling with a special vote on a proposed rule change to limit the size of the rudder in future. 76 years young and with a lot more fun to be had the Twelves will have a good Jubilee weekend.

Burton Week is fortunate to be sponsored by Gill, P&B and Fuller's Brewery.

www.national12.org/burtonweek/2012