Over 45 boats arrived at Grafham Water SC on Saturday 1 November for the final deciding event in the Gill National 12 series 2003. At least three boats were in with a shot of winning the series and the other main prizes still to be decided.

Race one got underway in a good Force 3-4. Leading at the first mark was national champion Tom Stewart crewed by Liz Ross. After a couple of rounds of the trapezoid course the positions had evened out, allowing Jon Brown and Charlotte Ibbotson – sailing the new Bim Daser design to pick up the chase in second with Mike Cooke and Helen Hunt to take third. They kept these places to the finish, with Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne taking fourth place. Kevin Iles and Jane Jones took the first Admiral’s Cup postition in the fleet for boats without double floors.

Race two was sailed back to back with race one. After a clean start, Tom Stewart was again leading at the first mark, closely followed by Mike Cooke and Geoffrey Camm, sailing with Amelia Hall. At the end of the first round Mike had dropped out of the chase to 5th, allowing Steve Sallis sailing with Alayne Seymour to take third and Antony Gifford into 4th. Tom pulled out a small lead which he held to the finish, with Geoff coming in second and Mike pulling back to third with Steve taking fourth at the line.

After a pause for lunch to enjoy Grafham’s catering facilities race three was started in a lighter breeze, with an individual recall and several boats over the line. Tom Stewart again took the lead which he held to the finish, closely followed home by the chasing pack of Jon Brown and Steve Sallis. At the end of it all, Tom owed his last race win to a bit of a head start at the line and was judged OCS allowing Brown to take the win.

Overall Results

1st Tom Stewart and Liz Ross – 3476 – Feeling Foolish design – Northampton SC

2nd Jon Brown and Charlotte Ibbotson – 3483 – unnamed design – Royal Harwich YC

3rd Steve Sallis and Alayne Seymour – 3436 – Feeling Foolish design – Hykeham SC

4th Mike Cooke and Helen Hunt – 3472 – Big Issue design – Notts County SC

Admiral’s Cup

1st Kevin Iles and Jane Jones – 3373 – Baggy Trousers design – Thorpe Bay YC