Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart won the National 12 Gill Series at Salcombe SC. A strong fleet of 25 Twelves collected at Salcombe for the second event in the 2008 Gill Series. For the first race the competitors faced a brisk and shifty NE to Easterly breeze.
Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley opted to risk the chance of lighter winds on the more sheltered shore and took a comfortable lead. The key race decision was when and how often to cross the channel on the run. Antony & Jo Gifford judged this correctly to take the lead just at the final leeward mark and take the race from Frances and Sophie.
In race 2 the Giffords were early leaders, chased by Gavin and Sabrina Willis and Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart. As the fleet bunched up and the wind died completely, Jon and Char managed to find a zephyr nobody else caught and built up an unchallenged lead. The wind disappeared for race 3 and the key tactic proved to be hugging the shore which Jon and Char did persistently and they again built an unchallenged lead.
It was all to play for going into the final race. Jon and Char had a narrow lead over the Giffords with Frances and Sophie still capable of overhauling the Giffords. In much more lively conditions, Frances & Sophie made a clean start. Jon and Char were left well back after doing turns on the start line, so the podium places were wide open.
Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne sailed consistently in the varying breeze to eat away at Frances and Sophie’s and claim line honours whilst Jon and Char gradually got themselves back into the race and eventually overhauled the Giffords to take control of the event.
National 12 - Leading Overall positions
1. N3494 - Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart 2. N3514 – Antony & Jo Gifford 3. N3431 – Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley 4. N3492 – Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne
Admirals Cup 1st N3361 Patrick Hamilton & Tom Ballantine
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