National 12 Rivers and Ponds Series at Welland Yacht Club
by Andy Prior 13 Jul 2009 22:22 BST
12 July 2009
7 National 12s visited Welland Yacht Club on Sunday (12th July) as the club played host to the 3rd round of the Midlands ‘Rivers and Ponds N12 series’. Perfect conditions greeted the visiting boats with sun, a nice 15 mph wind blowing straight up the river, high water levels and weed free.
The first race saw all boats get away cleanly but with some very close quarter action as the lead boats traded tack for tack. Gerald Copsey and Nick Copsey, who had come straight from competing in a 24hr race without any sleep, managed to pull out a small lead by the time the boats turned at the top mark for the last time only to have this eaten up by the chasing pack of Paul Turner, Andy Prior & Martin Clark as the boats ran downwind back to the clubhouse. Martin Clark, coming from 4th just nudged into the lead as the boats got within yards of the last mark but unfortunately capsized as he tried to gybe prior to the Mark. This left Copsey to round first followed by Turner and Prior. Copsey won but Prior managed to pip Turner right on the line to take second place.
The wind had increased marginally for the second race so the OOD extended the course to include a couple of long reaches but still starting with a beat. A very tight start again saw the first beat closely fought by all boats. Paul Turner managed to take the lead closely followed by Copsey with Brian Cob in third. These positions remained for much of the race but with Copsey just taking Turner on the second beat to secure first from Turner with Cobb taking third.
With the trophy won Copsey chose to sleep in the clubhouse during the third race which left Prior battling with Turner for the race and second place overall. Prior managed to lead out of the starting gate but Turners vast experience of river sailing enabled him to creep along the river bank that little bit further to pull out a slight lead by the end of the first beat, Prior managed to close this up on the long reach that was now part of the course but could never get within striking distance. This pattern remained throughout the race with Turner securing line honours and second place overall.
Competitors agreed the race was a welcome and well organised addition to the series and an enjoyable if somewhat challenging venue.
Overall Results:
1st Gerald Copsey & Nick Copsey, 3411 (St Edmundsbury SC)
2nd Paul Turner & Christine Marshall, 3157 (Trent Valley SC)
3rd Andy Prior & Tom Bell, 3465 (Welland Yacht Club)
4th Brian Cobb & Roz Nichols, 3271 (Hykeham SC)
5th D Borrett & L Borrett, 3102 (Trent SC)
6th Martin & Matt Clarke, 3458 (Hykeham SC)
7th John Nixon & S Howe, 3469