National 12 Burton Week at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

by National 12 Class Association 31 May 2009 16:25 BST 23-26 May 2009

Racing during National 12 Burton Week at Thorpe Bay © Richard Janulewicz / www.fotoboat.com

Burton Week, the national championship of the National 12 class, was this year held at Thorpe Bay Y.C. from 23rd – 26th May, the first time it has visited this venue since 1965. Sponsorship from Aardspars, Alverbanks Sails, Chaucer Syndicates, Designs42, Fuller’s Brewery, Fotoboat, Gill, Pinnell & Bax, and Southend Borough Council, allied with the switch from a traditional week long event in August to 4 days over the Bank Holiday weekend, contributed to this being an outstanding success.

The crews for the eighty boat entry, the largest for 15 years, ranged in experience from two teams of Thorpe Bay youngsters sailing their first Burton Week in boats loaned to them with money raised by the class association, to eight former champions and an Olympic medallist. In turn the boats ranged from a closely contested vintage section with 8 entries, the oldest of which first sailed in 1958, through to class chairman Dare Barry’s latest homebuilt “Pudding” design and the latest “Paradigm 2” offering from Rondar Boats, which hit the water for the first time for the first race on Saturday scoring a creditable 15th in the hands of John and Mandy Thornton.

Saturday’s opening race was subject to a number of general recalls due to the over enthusiastic starting of the fleet and an abandonment immediately following the first valid start due to a sixty degree windshift. However, when it did eventually get away cleanly under a black flag in a force 2, it was 2008 champions Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne who quickly established a good lead which they held to the finish. Behind them, Jo Richards and Sophie Mackley sailing Dead Cat Bounce, which features a number of innovative features such as a winged rudder, centreboard with trim tab, and completely new thinking on the underwater shape, scored a solid second followed by Tom Stewart and Elisabeth Ross in third. First Admiral’s Cup (single bottom) boat was sailed By Gerry Ledger and Alex Gore in 17th, whilst the Vintage section was headed by the oldest boat entered in the capable hands of Brian Kitching and local Thorpe Bay cadet Finley Cullender.

Race two quickly followed and this time it was Richards/Mackley who established a lead to win comfortably in the dying breeze from Stewart/Ross in second with father and son team Kerri and Thoe Harris filling third spot. Unfortunately the disappearance of the wind meant that only 18 boats finished this race within the time limit which expired only narrowly ahead of the water disappearing completely.

Saturday evening saw the competitors enjoy a free barbeque laid on by the club caterers aFORDERble Catering with the only complaint being that the portions were too large for a few of the more weight sensitive crews.

Sunday saw perfect Champagne sailing with brilliant sunshine and a steady force 3 breeze all day. Race officer Phil Crawford took the decision to go straight for the black flag which enabled all the races for the rest of the event to get away first time. The trapezoid course with its long run parallel to the shore made a great spectacle and warmed up the crowds for the Southend Airshow, which started as the sailing finished for the day. Something of a pattern began to emerge with Richards/Mackley taking both races having been pushed very hard in each by husband and wife team Antony and Jo Gifford. Another husband and wife team, John and Katy Meadowcroft took third in the third race, whilst brother and sister Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart filled that slot in race four. The Admiral’s Cup section was headed in both races by Phil David and Antony Copsey with two results in the twenties showing up many in newer double bottomed boats. The Vintage wing was again headed by Kitching/Cullender although they were pushed hard by their rivals in the latter race.

Sunday evening saw the fleet dancing to local 60’s band Larry and the Streamers whilst in various guises as the “Dress as a 12” fancy dress party was in full swing. The sight of Michael Douglas’s “Shiny Disco Balls” will stick in the mind for a long time!

Monday was Burton Cup day after which the event takes its name. By the terms of the deed of gift for this trophy, donated in 1937 by Sir William Burton, the race must be sailed around a course that cannot be shortened but consists of four triangles, with each leg being at least one mile long, followed by a final beat. The day dawned with a little more breeze which gradually built as the fleet launched. By the appointed start time it had reached force 6. These conditions proved to be to the liking of Kevin Iles and Jane Wade from the home club who narrowly led at the first mark from Steve Norbury and Andy Hill. However, by the end of the first lap it was Stewart and Ross who had a good lead of over 200 yards from Richards/Mackley. Over the next couple for hours the wind slowly dropped to little more than a force 1 at the finish and Richards/Mackley relentlessly ground away at Stewart/Ross to pass them just before the final leeward mark to go on and take their fourth win of the series. Third place was taken by the Giffords. The Admiral’s Cup and Vintage sections each saw new winners with Graham Iles and Kai Louden finishing 21st to take the former, and Howard Chadwick and Liz Wady sneaking across the line one place ahead of incoming class chairman Tim Gatti crewed by Yvonne McInnes to take the latter. With the Red Arrows performing overhead just as the last competitors came ashore, the 250,000 people who came to watch this classic event were then entertained by day two of the Airshow.

Monday night saw 130 people squeeze into the main bar of the clubhouse for a sit down dinner. The free wine ensured the tales of the day became more unbelievable as the evening progressed and resulted in a few sore heads emerging from tent city the next morning.

Tuesday, the final day saw the winds return with a constant force 5 to 6. Race 6 saw Richards/Mackley and Stewart/Ross again at the front with the former eventually establishing a commanding lead to win the race and with it the championship. Third place was taken by Iles/Wade who, with the assistance of many of their rivals – a great example of the camaraderie in this class – had replaced their slot gasket after it had fallen off the previous day. The Admiral’s Cup saw Ledger/Gore return to the front, while in the Vintage wing Gatti/McInnes finally came to the fore.

In an excellent display of sportsmanship (or maybe they were just enjoying themselves so much), Richards/Mackley decided to take part in the final race even though they had no need to and promptly romped away with it to record their 6th win out of seven races. Behind them, Iles/Wade relentlessly progressed from 10th at the first mark to pass Stewart/Ross on the penultimate leg and just hold off Ibbotson/Stewart at the finish. In the Admiral’s Cup, David/Copsey finished in 17th position, their best result of the event. Sadly, the wind strength meant that no Vintage boats competed in the final race as doubts over the strength of 50 year old glue meant that discretion was the better part of valour.

The class would like to thank all its sponsors and Thorpe Bay YC for hosting a fantastic Burton Week(end). The convenient location of the venue, excellent organisation and on-site camping (courtesy of special permission from Southend council) all conspired to make this an outstanding success and the class sincerely hopes it will be less than 44 years before it returns to Southend again.

Overall Results:
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Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Boat Name	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts
1	3519	JO RICHARDS	SOPHIE MACKLEY	DEAD CAT BOUNCE	GURNARD S C	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	6
2	3513	TOM STEWART	ELIZABETH ROSS	SILVER LINING	NORTHAMPTON S C	3	2	12	9	2	2	6	24
3	3514	ANTONY GIFFORD	JO GIFFORD	ELISE	ALDEBURGH Y C	12	14	2	2	3	4	9	32
4	3512	KEVIN ILES	JANE WADE	ALPHA MALE	THORPE BAY Y C	9	9	6	13	7	3	2	36
5	3494	JON IBBOTSON	CHARLOTTE STEWART	MONKEY BUSINESS	OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE S S	14	15	7	3	5	5	3	37
6	3436	STEVE SALLIS	JOANNE SALLIS	DILBERT	HYKEHAM S C	8	4	4	7	17	7	78	47
7	3492	GRAHAM CAMM	ZOE BALLANTYNE	BABEL FISH	BURGHFIELD S C	1	6	11	8	11	11	16	48
8	3516	STEVE NORBURY	ANDY HILL	DYNAMITE STICK	BURGHFIELD S C	5	78	13	12	4	10	4	48
9	3441	IAN GORE	PENNY YARWOOD	TABITHA	UP RIVER Y C	34	7	10	14	6	8	8	53
10	3485	GAVIN WILLIS	SABRINA WILLIS	F’IN BOAT	BRISTOL CORINTHIAN Y C	4	5	8	6	18	22	78	63
11	3450	RICHARD WILLIAMS	LINDSEY ILES	CARBON 12	SHOTLEY S C	11	78	28	4	10	6	5	64
12	3515	JOHN MEADOWCROFT	KATY MEADOWCROFT	HAPPY HOUR	UPPER THAMES S C	37	11	3	5	8	31	10	68
13	3455	CAROLINE MARTIN	ANDY DOUGLAS	BART	BURGHFIELD S C	10	13	9	16	9	20	15	72
14	3483	JON BROWN	MAX DUCE	TONTO	UPPER THAMES S C	6	10	5	11	28	18	78	78
15	3501	KERI HARRIS	THEO HARRIS	SILVERFIN	SALCOMBE Y C	16	3	14	17	16	26	19	85
16	3472	MARK SIMPSON	EMMA SIMPSON	AARDVARK ISSUES	SCALING DAM S C	20	78	23	18	15	9	11	96
17	3466	ANDY MCKEE	CLARE HUNTER	MIFFY	BURGHFIELD S C	29	18	15	22	14	78	12	110
18	3481	ANDY BAYLISS	VICKY WOODS	COOKED TO PERFECTION	HYKEHAM S C	43	12	19	20	25	16	24	116
19	3505	ALAN KRAILING	HELEN KRAILING	CHUNKY MONKEY	WALDRINGFIELD S C	36	78	18	15	23	12	13	117
20	3518	DAVE PEACOCK	ROSIE WHITE	PARADIGM SHIFT	TRENT VALLEY S C	38	16	22	10	22	32	18	120
21	3421	HARRY PYNN	CHRIS VIDELO	LAST TANGO	WALDRINGFIELD S C	41	17	27	29	19	25	14	131
22	3475	CHRIS MARTIN	KATHARINE LOVERING	UN POCO LOCO	BURGHFIELD S C	27	78	33	33	24	13	7	137
23	3217	PHILIP DAVID	ANTONY COPSEY	WENDY WINDBLOWS	YORKSHIRE OUSE S C	28	78	29	21	27	21	17	143
24	3287	GERRY LEDGER	ALEX GORE	OTTO	UP RIVER Y C	17	78	37	35	29	19	25	162
25	3496	MIKE DAY	ANNE MURCH	FLIPSIDE	ST CATHERINES	31	8	30	28	33	34	78	164
26	3484	MATT STILES	JOE STILES	FATSO	ISLAND BARN R S C	22	78	17	23	20	28	78	188
27	3490	NIGEL WHITE	CHRIS WHITE	JAYSEAESS	BURGHFIELD S C	19	78	26	26	35	35	78	219
28	3500	JERRY GARNER	MARGARET GARNER	CRAZY DIAMOND	STOUR S C	47	78	48	45	34	29	26	229
29	3522	JOHN THORNTON	MANDY THORNTON	PARTY TIME	HENLEY S C	15	78	16	78	32	14	78	233
30	3491	MIKE STOREY	ALEX STOREY	ELECTRIC PRUNE	ISLAND BARN R S C	13	78	24	19	78	23	78	235
31	3432	STEVE LE GRYS	luke lazell	CRAZY JAYNE	THORPE BAY Y C	30	78	40	38	31	24	78	241
32	3311	MILES ODELL	MAX ODELL	TOO WET TO WOO	NORTHAMPTON S C	26	78	46	41	78	30	20	241
33	3521	DARE BARRY	EMILY ABBOTT	THE GINGER PUDDING	ROYAL VICTORIA Y C	7	78	25	34	78	27	78	249
34	3471	CHRIS EDWARDS	KATE EDWARDS	LARS PORSENA OF CLUSIUM	RANELAGH S C	18	78	20	27	30	78	78	251
35	3517	TERRY COOKE	PIP JEFFERIS	CARBON PAW PRINT	BRISTOL CORINTHIAN Y C	23	78	31	25	78	17	78	252
36	3438	BEN HARRIS	CLAIRE PICKETT	EMMA	UP RIVER Y C	48	78	41	40	78	39	21	267
37	3470	SIMON HOPKINS	MATT HOPKINS	RUN, FAT BOY, RUN	UP RIVER Y C	49	78	45	46	37	78	22	277
38	3423	HENRY JOHNSON	charlie shallow	TEXAS FLOOD	ROYAL HARWICH Y C	33	78	47	44	38	40	78	280
39	3362	SARAH EDWARDS	HANNAH WILKINSON	QUEEN OF PUDDINGS	RANELAGH S C	42	78	54	51	41	78	23	289
40	3444	JEREMY CAREY	GEORGE ROWLAND	TRICK CYCLIST	BURGHFIELD S C	25	78	21	24	78	78	78	304
41	3373	GRAHAM ILES	KAI LOUDON	SIXTH ELEMENT	ARMY SAILING ASSOC	52	78	36	39	21	78	78	304
42	3458	MARTIN CLARKE	MATTHEW CLARKE	WHITE HEAT	HYKEHAM S C	21	78	43	48	36	78	78	304
43	3377	CHRISTIAN DAY	SOPHIE RICHARDS	STUMPY	REDESMERE S C	40	78	49	42	39	78	78	326
44	3448	PETER MIATT	LESLEY ILES	STEADY TIGER	NOTTS COUNTY S C	24	78	38	36	78	78	78	332
45	3445	JIMMY WHITEHEAD	SAM CHILDS	PURPLE TURTLE	REDESMERE S C	44	78	34	30	78	78	78	342
46	3493	Michael Douglas	ADELE CAMERON	LOKI	P.S.Y.C	46	78	32	32	78	78	78	344
47	3468	JOHN CHEETHAM	WILLIAM THOMASON	PILLOW FIGHT	YEADON S C	32	78	35	43	78	78	78	344
48	3411	GERALD COPSEY	nicholas COPSEY	ESMERELDA	S E S C A	35	78	39	37	78	78	78	345
49	2255	TIM GATTI	YVONNE MCINNES	PURELY PLATONIC	YEADON S C	60	78	61	68	45	38	78	350
50	3502	STEVE LOUDON	jack LOUDON	CARBONARA	WEST OXFORDSHIRE S C	57	78	51	53	78	33	78	350
51	3489	ANDY RITCHIE	CAROLINE WATSON	RADICAL EDWARD	HYKEHAM S C	45	78	42	31	78	78	78	352
52	3389	ANDY HORSLEY	LUCY HORSLEY	NOT ANOTHER BILL	BILLY NO MATES YACHT CLUB	62	78	50	47	40	78	78	355
53	3361	PATRICK HAMILTON	JORDAN SWINDON	EMMA	BURWAIN S C	59	78	53	52	78	36	78	356
54	3469	JOHN NIXON	SUE HOWE	THANKS/ FOR ALL THE FISH	CARSINGTON S C	39	78	44	50	78	78	78	367
55	3244	CHRISTOPHER PALMER	BEN PALMER	WHY CAN’T YOU..?	REDESMERE S C	63	78	64	57	78	37	78	377
56	3222	PETER FERGUSON	CHARLOTTE DANIELS	WHY DON’T YOU	TRENT VALLEY S C	54	78	66	60	42	78	78	378
57	3171	KEVIN ROSE	MARIA GIDLEY	TOKEN GESTURE	OLTON MERE S C	65	78	56	56	46	78	78	379
58	3232	JOHN CHALKER	TOM CHALKER	RISING DAMP	ALDEBURGH Y C	53	78	52	49	78	78	78	388
59	2266	HOWARD CHADWICK	LIZ WADY	TRIARDA	YEADON S C	64	78	63	64	44	78	78	391
60	3412	CHRISTOPHER TROTH	NAOMI BILTON	MORE A TART THAN A PUDDING	OLTON MERE S C	50	78	55	55	78	78	78	394
61	3437	CHRIS MAYHEW	NICOLE mayhew	WORTH ITS WEIGHT	ROYAL HARWICH Y C	78	78	78	78	12	78	78	402
62	3457	PAUL PELLING	IAN SIMKINS	EBBA	ROYAL THAMES YC	78	78	78	78	13	78	78	403
63	3463	SUE PELLING	JANE PELLING	ZSA-ZSA	UP RIVER Y C	58	78	58	54	78	78	78	404
64	3477	BRUCE JOHNSON	CLARE JOHNSON		ROYAL HARWICH Y C	78	78	78	78	78	15	78	405
65	1657	BRIAN KITCHING	FINLEY CULLENDER	JUST LUCKY	FRAMPTON ON SEVERN S C	55	78	57	63	78	78	78	409
66	3292	ALEX FARRALL	ALEX HADLEY	PLEASE TURN OVER	THORPE BAY Y C	61	78	59	59	78	78	78	413
67	3418	WILL HENDERSON	MARY HENDERSON	NEW ISABELLE	SALCOMBE Y C	78	78	78	78	26	78	78	416
68	3384	IAN PURKIS	MARGARET PURKIS	CUNNING PLAN	YORKSHIRE OUSE S C	66	78	60	58	78	78	78	418
69	3246	ALEX DICK	MARTHA DICK	GRIMLEY FIENDISH	CHEW VALLEY S C	51	78	62	78	78	78	78	425
70	3271	BRIAN COBB	ROS NICKOLS	INDECISION	HYKEHAM S C	67	78	65	61	78	78	78	427
71	3274	STEPHEN BROWNE	GRAHAM RIVERS	REJUVENATOR	LEIGH ON SEA SC	78	78	78	78	43	78	78	433
72	2487	PAUL TURNER	CHRISTINE MARSHALL	DOLLY DAYDREAM	TRENT VALLEY S C	56	78	67	78	78	78	78	435
73	3255	TONY ELGAR	JACK ROTHERHAM	SORRY LADS-NO JEANS	WEYMOUTH SC	70	78	68	65	78	78	78	437
74	2020	ANGUS BEYTS	WILL SHIELDS	STARFISH	LOCH TUMMEL	68	78	69	66	78	78	78	437
75	3286	JONATHAN SNOW	ALEX GIBSON	SUSPECT DEVICE	THORPE BAY Y C	69	78	78	62	78	78	78	443
76	1719	JONATHAN REUBIN	various	AGITATO	BRIGHTINGSEA SC	78	78	70	67	78	78	78	449
77	2531	VINCE PHILLIPS	FIONA PHILLIPS	INVASION II	YORKSHIRE OUSE S C	78	78	78	78	78	78	78	468
78	2399	RICHARD WHITE	EMILY JESTY	MR JONES	CLEVEDON S C	78	78	78	78	78	78	78	468
79	3433	TOM HAYHOE	NATALIE JOBLING	CHILL OUT	RORC	78	78	78	78	78	78	78	468
80	3467	BEN WOODCRAFT	NED & PADDY WOODCRAFT	NELLO AN’BOO	ARDLEIGH SC	78	78	78	78	78	78	78	468