A total of 19 National 12s sailors travelled to Salcombe for the third event in the 2007 South West series last weekend. The first race saw Salcombe virgins Sam and Fiona Mettam starting first. Not believing that the second leg could really be three miles back up the estuary they lost their bearings. Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne were over the line at the start but still managed to be the clear leaders by the second mark and held firm to win.

Sunday dawned much windier, but still shifty. Camm and Ballantyne had a clear lead down the first run. There were several swimmers and much grief at the second mark as five boats rounded together. Finally Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley showed enough initiative to keep their rig above their boat and claimed second place.

After lunch on the beach, the first run saw the 12s cross through a fleet of starting Salcombe Yawls and amazingly got through unscathed, Gifford and Mackley completing a double ‘centreboard and rudder up’ gybe in very shallow water to use up one of their nine lives. This time it was Gifford and Jefferies who sailed off into the sunset.

Monday was even windier and the final race was sensibly cancelled.

Overall Results
1st 3492 Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne, Burghfield SC, 2pts
2nd 3443 John and Mandy Thornton, Henley SC, 5pts
3rd 3431 Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley, Aldeburgh YC, 6pts
4th 3484 Antony Gifford and Pip Jefferies, Aldeburgh YC, 7pts
5th 3473 John and Katy Meadowcroft, Henley SC, 7pts