Tom Stewart and Liz Ross win National 12s

by Zoe Ballantyne on 2 Apr 2008 The annual National 12 Easter event at Waldringfield was shortened to one very cold day. Saturday was wisely called off by the race team due to silly amounts of breeze.

On Sunday, after clearing the snow from the boats the fleet launched for three races back to back.

Ex Mirror world Champion and P&B sailmaker Ross Kearney crewed by Charlotte Stewart(3494) led around the top mark in his first ever N12 race. Unfortunately it all went wrong at the leeward mark when tide and boat handling issues helped to let Antony and Jo Gifford(3514) as well as Tom Stewart and Liz Ross(3513) through. Antony and Jo decided that the plummeting temperature and the snow settling on the decks was all a bit daft and went home, allowing Tom and Liz to win.

The second race was led throughout by Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley(3431) who despite four tacking duels and some hard covering downwind fromTom and Liz won easily.

The sailors had just begun to defrost a little by now, but the rescue crews were suffering and the PRO sensibly decided to call it a day.

National 12 - Leading scores

1st Tom Stewart and Liz Ross Northampton S.C.
2nd Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley Aldeburgh Y.C.
3rd Ross Kearney and Charlotte Stewart Northampton S.C.