Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S-Series LEADERBOARD

National 12 Northern Series at Ripon Sailing Club

by Tim & Ali Hampshire 11 Oct 2023 07:27 UTC 7 October 2023
National 12 Northern Series at Ripon © Alison Hampshire

Alan Mason & Phil Gibson were the first in the dinghy park, getting the Sparklet 2066 rigged while the race team sorted out the rescue boats. As the rest of the sailors arrived the wind was whistling through the rigging and the clouds lowering. However, by the time of the briefing the wind had calmed and the day remained dry.

Ian & Alex Gore were in Freak Out 3406 borrowed from Bernard Clark rather than their own Dead Cat Bounce, it’s a while since they were in a single bottom boat. With a long beat to the windward mark and gusting conditions, close racing ensued in the first race. Ian & Alex made it to the windward mark first, followed by Tim & Em Hampshire in Big Issue 2 3502 and then Philip & Rosie in Feeling Foolish 3499. After a few nose dives the positions had reversed and Philip took the first win.

Further back in the fleet John Cheetham & Ali Stoyles went for a swim in their Numinous 3468, however they managed to recover and stay ahead of Neil McInnes & Chris Hampshire in Baggy Trousers 3216, who were recovering from a bad start.

After lunch the wind had abated slightly but Ripon was still full of its usual gusts and hollows. A change of course was required due to local issues (fishermen and their sensitivities) and the windward mark provided some entertainment. Ian & Alex managed to round it in the wrong direction, while Philip & Rosie and John & Ali tacked short and were held off the mark by Neil & Chris, all 3 of them having to bear round and try again. Neil & Chris rounded first followed by Tim & Em who finally passed them on the run back.

Ian & Alex fought their way to the lead and managed to open out a convincing win with Philip and Rosie second. John & Ali couldn’t make it past Neil & Chris despite a close battle.

Carrying on their battle into the last race Chris & Neil (having swapped duties) pushed John & Ali over the line. Tim & Em made a clean start and looked to be making progress away from the fleet until a series of unforced errors (also known as falling over repeatedly) allowed first Ian & Alex past and then Philip & Rosie past. They got their act back together and were closing Ian & Alex down but ran out of time, coming in second with Philip and & Rosie third.

The race between John & Ali and Chris & Neil was close all the way through until the remnants of the summer’s weed caught the Baggy Trousers’ centreboard, allowing the Numinous to pull away. Alan & Phil made the most of the lighter winds in the third race to put the Sparklet to good use, catching up before the gusts allowed the newer designs to pull away.

As this is the last event of the Northern Series, The Old Spice Trophy was awarded. Following close racing at Annandale, Yorkshire Ouse, East Lothian, Yorkshire Dales, Solway and Ripon, Philip David was the clear winner with new crew Jacqui Massie.

As the boats were being packed away the wind started to whistle through the rigging in the dinghy park again.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClub
1st3406Ian GoreAlex GoreUp River Yacht Club
2nd3499Philip DavidRosie GoreYorkshire Ouse & Up River Yacht Club
5th3502Tim HampshireEm HampshireRipon Sailing Club
4th3468John CheethamAlison StoylesYeadon Sailing Club
5th3216Neil McInnesChris HampshireYeadon & Ripon Sailing Club
6th2066Alan MasonJohnathan BradleyRedesmere Sailing Club

Related Articles

Craftinsure National 12 Inlands at Northampton
Drizzly forecast fails to dampen enthusiasm in the National 12 fleet What a great event at Northampton Sailing Club. Despite the light and drizzly forecast, 24 boats travelled from as far as Loch Tummel in the North, Salcombe in the South and Ipswich in the East - no dampening of enthusiasm in the National 12 fleet. Posted today at 5:22 am
Yeadon National 12 Open
Short Beats and Wind Shadows The forecast for National 12 Open Meeting on 6th October at Yeadon Sailing Club didn't offer much SE winds - 8 to 23mph, 10 deg C and overcast/grey. Posted on 9 Oct
Yorkshire Dales National 12 Open
Cloudy in the hills, but visibility was actually better at 'sea level' The cloud was down as I drove over the tops to Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club for the National 12 Open but as we have found before the reservoir sits in a bit of a hollow so visibility was actually better at 'sea level'. Posted on 17 Sep
Ripon National 12 and Singlehander Open preview
All welcome, plus it's a Vintage and Northern Series event for the N12s Ripon Sailing Club will be hosting its annual open meeting for National 12s and Single Handers on Saturday 5th October. Posted on 14 Sep
Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024
The club prove again they are experts in providing a top notch championship event It was the National 12's turn to visit Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club in Suffolk again for a National Championship this year, following on from a very successful N12 Nationals at FFSC in 2022 and the Firefly Nationals in 2023. Posted on 26 Aug
National 12 Burton Week 2024 Runners & Riders
Less than a week until the event at Felixstowe Ferry There is now less than one week until the pinnacle of National 12 sailing is about to unfold at Burton Week – the National 12 National Championship. This year's edition of Burton Week takes place from 18th to 21st August 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry SC. Posted on 14 Aug
National 12 Dinghy Shack Series at Royal Harwich
Smugglers' Trophy includes too much rain and some strong gusts The N12 fleet once again joined in the annual Smugglers' Trophy at Royal Harwich Yacht Club over the weekend of 6th & 7th July. Posted on 12 Jul
100 Years of Jack Chippendale
One of the greats behind the golden era of the UK's domestic dinghy scene Regular readers will hopefully have enjoyed the recent 'Fine Lines' series of photos, times to coincide with the centenary of one of the greats behind the golden era of the UK's domestic dinghy scene, Jack Chippendale. Posted on 13 May
'Fine Lines' Top Ten part 10
With a full history of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale This, the tenth and final Fine Lines in this series ends up with a real example of what the thinking is all about, that near perfect fusion of style and function. Plus a more detailed look at Jack's life and his boats. Posted on 1 May
N12s in 2024 - Time for the Mid-Fleet to Shine
A new change to the famous 'Sir William Burton Cup' Race The mid-fleet of any dinghy class are crucial in creating a 'critical mass' to bolster numbers at open meetings. It is with this in mind that today the National 12 class are announcing a new change to the famous 'Sir William Burton Cup' Race. Posted on 1 Apr
Savvy Navvy 2024Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER