Gill UK National 12 Series at Northampton Sailing Club

Posted on 11/11/2009 in Team Gill

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Gill UK National 12 Series at Northampton Sailing Club

In glorious sunshine and with 12 knots of breeze blowing straight down the lake, 35 National Twelves gathered at Northampton Sailing Club on 7 November for the finale of the 2009 GILL Series. With Steve & Jo Sallis tied on points with Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne at the head of the leader board and Tom Stewart & Liz Ross also able to win if other results went their way there was all to play for. With Zoe gracefully retired for the season on the grounds of pregnancy, Graham had Pip Jefferies up front pulling the strings for him.

In the first race Stewart & Ross put a marker down leading around the first mark, but they were overhauled by Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart who went on to win from Stewart & Ross with Steve Norbury & Andy Hill chasing, despite the odd customary wobble, in third and the Sallises fourth.

Race 2 looked like business as usual for Stewart & Ross who led around the windward mark as the Sallis family headed for the wrong mark. Stewart & Ross then extended to a comfortable victory ahead of Chris Mayhew and Mandy Thornton. Camm & Jefferies picked up a third place with Ibbotson & Stewart fourth.

With all to be won and lost in the final race is was no surprise that an eager fleet caused a general recall. Starting again, this time under black flag, Stewart & Ross again mastered the first beat to lead around the first mark, but this time with the Sallis family in close attendance. National Champions Jo Richards and Sophie Mackley had spent most of the day visiting various parts of the fleet, but they were much better placed this time and showed great pace on the tight reach. On the final lap they finally got into the lead and won from the Sallis family who were closely covering Stewart and Ross with John & Katy Meadowcroft in fourth.

Stewart & Ross had done enough to win the meeting, but the second place in the final race was enough for Steve and Jo Sallis to take third overall in the final event. This third place was sufficient to win the 2009 GILL Series by one point from Stewart & Ross, with Camm and his various crews across the season taking third place.

One of the specific objectives of the GILL Series has been to encourage more family sailing in the Class and it is particular pleasing for the father / daughter team of Steve and Jo to win the overall competition. They are highly popular winners in their 11 seasons old Feeling Foolish.
In the Admirals Cup competition, event winners were Phil David and Anthony Copsey, whilst Chris Troth and Rebecca Butler picked up the U21 prize, and, the Sallises won the Family Prize.

Overall Results:
1st N3513, Tom Stewart & Liz Ross, Feeling Foolish, 3pts
2nd N3494, Jon Ibbotson & Charlotte Stewart, Feeling Foolish, 5pts
3rd N3436, Steve & Jo Sallis, Feeling Foolish, 6pts
4th N3519, Jo Richards & Sophie Mackley, Dead Cat Bounce, 7pts
5th N3516, Steve Norbury & Andy Hill, Feeling Foolish, 9pts
6th N3523, John & Katy Meadowcroft, Paradigm 2, 9pts