A total of 11 National 12s arrived at the beautiful Solway YC at Kipford to be greeted with sunshine and occasional showers last weekend (7-8 September).

The was a wide range of boats, from number 1620 in the hands of C Purkis right up to 3475, the new Feeling Foolish of John Hugo. The competitors headed out against the tide to the starting area to find a Force 1-2. The fleet got away cleanly, with Geoff Camm and Amelia Hall in 3464 first to round the windward mark, closely followed by Jon and Jimmy Whitehead in 3458, and Mike Cooke and Kathryn Ingham in 3472. Those positions remained the same for the next lap, until the run where the wind dropped away to nothing. Mike Cooke managed to keep the momentum going through the calm patch to take the lead by the leeward mark, and holding it to the finish, with the Whiteheads in second and Camm and Hall in third.

The first Admirals Cup (non self draining) was Phil David and James Shipley in fourth place, sailing their baggy trousers design 3217.

Race two started in a much increased Force 3-4 with brilliant sunshine. Ken Wilson was a bit over enthusiastic and was recalled, with John Hugo being forced out at the pin. Whitehead was first to the windward mark, closely followed by 3208, in the capable hands of Andrew Greenhalgh in his first race in a National 12. A tight reach followed towards Castle Hill Point, where Bernard Clark in 3382 crewed by Richard Willatt snuck into second with Phil David hot on his heels. On the second reach Mike Cooke and Geoff Camm used their superior offwind speed to take second and third with the positions at the finish Whitehead, Camm and Cooke with Phil David, consistently in fourth.

The fleet awoke on Sunday morning to find no wind, and even less water. Fortunately when it was time to launch the wind and water had arrived. After a difficult beat to the start, where at least one of the fleet became very attached to one of the mooring bouys, the racing got underway in a steady Force 3-4. Geoff and Amelia led from start to finish, but ever cautious of Mike and Kathryn and their new found offwind abilities, with the Whiteheads in third, David in fourth and Bernard Clark in fifth, with Sue Jones and Sue Wright having their best race of the weekend in sixth.

Race four was sailed on a reversed course, providing a large run across the harbour, with Geoff and Amelia, he Whiteheads, and Cooke all claiming a 1,2,3 scoreline making it all to play for. Camm and Hall took the lead at the first mark, closely followed by the Whiteheads, and Cooke. The run saw no place changing within the lead pack, and the finishing order stayed the same, until David, taking a great shift up the final beat, took third place from Cooke.

Overall Results

1st 3464 – Transmogrifier – Geoff Camm and Amelia Hall – Shoreham SC

2nd 3458 – White Heat – John and Jimmy Whitehead – Redesmere SC

3rd 3472 – Aardvark Issues – Mike Cooke and Kathryn Ingham – Notts County SC

4th 3217 – Wendy Windblows – Phil David and James Shipley – Yorkshire Ouse SC

5th 3382 – Fat Cat – Bernard Clark and Richard Willatt – Yorkshire Ouse SC