John and Katie Meadowcroft clinched overall victory at the National 12 open meeting at Spinnaker Club on 6 October by narrowly beating Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne in the last minute of the final race. A shifty and violently gusty wind of up to Force 6 provided plenty of entertainment for those on the shore, particularly given a course which included three gybe marks. Four races were sailed with the best three to count. A forecast of gales, rain, hail and thunder meant that only the keenest turned out, however, the fleet of nine enjoyed, what some were heard to say, the best day’s racing of the season.

The day was not without it’s casualties however, Simon Liddington’s mast found one of the gusts too powerful and David Wilkins sailing the Adshead’s double bottomed Chapter suffered a seriously damaged reputation at the club with around five year’s worth of capsizes in a single day!

Overall Results

1 3429, John and Katie Meadowcroft, Henley SC

2 3469, Graham Camm and Zoe Ballentyne, Burghfield SC

3 3461, David Greening and Brother in Law, Chichester SC

4 3468, John and Mandy Thornton, Henley SC