The 12 crews who turned up at the National 12 open meeting at Thorpe Bay YC on Saturday 25 May were greeted with strong breeze that forced the postponement of the racing.

However, after one hour’s delay, eight intrepid crews took to the water, although the wind was such that three of those failed to make the start.  Of the remainder, Chris Mayhew and Charlotte Ibbotson were first around the windward mark with Team Aardvark, Mike Cooke and Smilie John in second.  Cooke chased hard down the first reach but then capsized at the gybe leaving Mayhew well clear.  Moving up to second place were Geoff Camm and Amelia Hall with Ian Gore, sailing with brand-new wife, Alex, just behind. The Gores moved up to second on the run and then, with the wind now blowing over 30 knots, started catching Mayhew.  On the final short beat, the Gores crossed Mayhew and looked to have won the race, however they just touched the finishing mark, letting Mayhew take the race, with Camm close behind in third.  There were no other finishers.

On the Sunday, with the waves breaking over the seawall onto the road, racing was cancelled, giving Mayhew and Ibbotson a well-deserved overall victory.