Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club

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. Once again, the weather delivered and the club proved they are experts in providing a top notch championship event at sea.

As the N12s and their sailors began to arrive in Felixstowe, one big question waiting to be answered was whether the younger generation were ready to step up and finally beat their parents (now the older generation). We also hoped, much like in 2022, that we'd seen the back of Covid, but unfortunately a few of the sailors were unable to sail the full event.

Sunday 18th August

On paper, the first day looked perfect, 12-15 knots predicted, a bright blue sea and so much sun it didn't feel a bit like sailing in the North Sea. In reality it was a pretty unstable breeze with the land & sea breeze fighting each other, allowing the N12 sailors to enjoy with big gains and then suffer huge losses, all around the race course.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

The first race was won by Graham & Blue Camm (N3530), followed closely by defending champions (for the 3rd time) Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) and the hotly tipped new combination & bookie's favourite of Ollie 'I've done a lot of sailing this summer' Meadowcroft and Helen Hilditch sailing Ollie's dad's Hijack (N3543). The theory was that Helen, the calm and very wise crew might just keep the youngster on track...). A notable mention to Tim & Chris Hampshire, sailing a Big Issue without T-Foil, who rounded the windward mark in the top 5 but then promptly parked themselves on it and capsized (perhaps Tim & Chris forgot there is a bit more tide at Felixstowe than their home club of Ripon...).

The second race followed a similar patten of huge gains and losses, with streaks of wind and often boats close by becalmed. Those who started at the committee boat end found a streak of breeze that kept increasing & lifting, but would it last forever? George Finch & Luke Lazell (N3551), Rob & Harley Ford (N3549) and Roland & Katie Whitehead (N3546) looked very favourable at one point, as they all 'banged the corner', sailing so far inland they could almost touch the beachuts along the front at Felixstowe. Alas, as they tacked and saw a clear path to the windward mark, the breeze dropped and their dreams of "pulling a blinder" slowly faded, quicker than the ice creams that were selling on the sea-front (which this group could see clearly). Nevertheless, they all rounded in the top 10.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

No one was more surprised to see Antony & Jo Gifford (N3529) lead round the windward mark as much as Antony & Jo Gifford themselves! Jo calmly picked all the best shifts and made the tricky beat look easy. With the ebbing tide, once Antony & Jo rounded, they were carried away from the rest of the fleet struggling against the tide, providing a comfortable lead that wasn't challenged at all. Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) were 2nd, with Graham & Blue Camm (N3530) completing the podium. Ollie Meadowcroft & Helen Hilditch (N3543) recovered to 6th, after a sibling rivalry "getting in the way" for much of the race with Zoe Meadowcroft & Zoe Ballantyne (N3471). It was clear that newcomers to the fleet, Nick & Rory Bubb (N3462) were quick, with Nick counting on his local knowledge, having grown up in the area and having Simon Hipkin install a T-Foil rudder fitted to their Feeling Foolish delivering them a 5th place in Race 2. The fleet then sailed in slowly against the ebbing tide of the Deben, expertly guided by the support boat crews of Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club.

Monday 19th August - The Burton Cup

The sailors all woke up to a spooky sea mist that took a while to clear. 10:00 arrived, but the wind didn't and the water was dead flat. Around 10:30, the first few zephyrs of wind arrived and a clear line of breeze on the sea could be seen from the clubhouse. It wasn't long until all systems go and the fleet launched into an increasing breeze. This, much like the race itself, set the tone for the remainder of the week.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

Course 'C' was set for the Burton Cup - a trapezoid. Following the 2021 revision of the Burton Cup, it gives the Race Officer the option to use any course, as long as the duration is longer than 2 hours. With the delayed start, it meant a beat against the tide, as both the wind and tide increased - creating some classic 'East Coast Chop'.

Ollie Meadowcroft & Helen Hilditch (N3543) pulled the trigger and found their groove, leading round the 1st windward mark. Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) followed, with James & Rory Gifford (N3484) in 3rd. These positions were held for the whole race, with Tom & Isobel (N3544) putting some pressure on Ollie & Helen initially, but much like the day before, the tide after the windward mark kindly provided a safety net! Ollie & Helen went on to win, leading over a leg ahead of Tom & Isobel. James & Rory were not really challenged by the pack behind, Nick Copsey & Steve Carver (N3548) looked very promising for 3rd position at one point but ultimately had to retire.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

Further behind, the wind & sea state began to take its toll on the fleet, with 7 boats retiring due to fatigue or gear failure (including Tim & Chris Hampshire (N3502), who in an attempt to save a capsize, managed to jump onto their tiller & break it). A few wobbles here and there saw the Burton Brick nominations fly in, such as the previously mentioned event and also when George Finch (crewed by Luke Lazell in N3551) was so sure of an impending capsize after a wobbly gybe, he jumped out of the boat ready to land on the centreboard, only to jump straight into the water as Luke kept the boat upright. They went on to finish 7th, so nothing was lost except pride. The safety boat crews were best in class at guiding all the boats back in, who were sailing on a broad reach in 20kts breeze over the Deben Bar.

The class enjoyed the infamous Burton Dinner on Monday evening and celebrated the new Burton Cup winner - Ollie Meadowcroft & Helen Hilditch. It had been 45 years since a U21 helm had won the Burton Cup (the young Graham Bailey & Julian Waller, sailing N3012 - Punkarella, at the 1979 Burton Week in Tynemouth). During the Burton Cup winner's speech, Ollie remarked that he could finally enjoy a family dinner again, as until Monday 19th August, he had been the only member of the Meadowcroft family not to win the Burton Cup (his Mum Katy won it in 1995 at Fowey, crewing for Rob Peebles in N3396, his Mum & Dad won it in 2008 at Teignmouth in N3515 and his Dad & Sister won it at Brixham in 2018 sailing N3543). Helen had also been trying to get her name on the trophy for around 25 years, so a huge achievement.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

The National 12 Decanter was presented to Janet & Kevan Bloor, for their tireless work in running the N12 class and especially their Burton Week organisation which has been second to none since the 1980s and their involvement prior - Kevan first started sailing in the class in the 1950s.

HD Sails had kindly donated a jib to the N12 Class, with the winner being chosen at the Burton Dinner. Roland Whitehead's name was picked out - and we look forward to seeing his new jib soon!

Tuesday 20th August

By now the fleet was a bit depleted by gear failure, covid and other poor excuses. The question on everyone's mind was - When will Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) win a race? It has been years since Day 3 of Burton Week has arrived without Tom Stewart crossing the finishing line first.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

Tom & Isobel answered the question promptly with a race win in substantial breeze and a large sea state for the first race on Tuesday. Ollie Meadowcroft & Helen Hilditch (N3543) put pressure on them but never quite did enough to get in front. Graham & Blue Camm (N3530) completed the podium, after James & Rory Gifford (N3484) were forced to retire with a broken shroud, killing their overall chance of a podium finish.

Race 2 on Tuesday saw an increased breeze again. The pin end was the place to be at the start. Tom & Isobel Stewart (N3544) were perhaps surprised to see George Finch & Luke Lazell (N3551) almost cross their bows on the approach to the windward mark, but the two boats rounded in that order with a fair distance behind. The evergreen Steve & Jo Sallis (N3531) and Ollie Meadowcroft & Helen Hilditch (N3543) managed to find an extra gear on the 2nd leg and claimed water at the mark, thus overtaking George & Luke (N3551). Ollie & Helen then carried on to find more speed & overhaul Steve & Jo. Kevin Iles & Katy Meadowcroft (N3527) mastered the sea state (following on from a capsize in the previous race) and held good speed on the 2nd reach to fly into 4th, where the top 5 positions then didn't change.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

Wednesday 21st August

Wednesday dawned promising a bit less wind, although in the event it was only from a different direction. With all to play for it was Ollie and Helen that took the first race win of the day, setting up a crucial final race. Tom & Isobel (N3544) were 2nd, with Jon Ibbotson & Rhona Enkel (N3540) in 3rd. The wind was up and down, left and right and the sea state was a precarious middle ground between Monday & Tuesday. To add to the complexity of the racing, a large trawler decided to find some fish right in the middle of the course.

And so, the 2024 Championship title was down to the final race. Ollie Meadowcroft & Helen Hilditch (N3543) rounded the windward mark first, with their vision set on winning the both the Burton Cup and the National Championships. However, Tom and Isobel fought back to lead the race down the first reaches, and sadly the battle royale for the championship title was to end shortly afterwards as Ollie & Helen suffered gear failure while planning his comeback, promptly capsizing and forcing them to retire him from the race. Whilst it turns out that Helen can keep Ollie calm and collected, she cannot be held responsible for the boat maintenance as well. No doubt they'll be back...

2nd went to Graham & Blue Camm (N3530), with Antony & Jo Gifford (N3529) completing the podium for the final day.

Allen Sailing National 12 Burton Week 2024 at Felixstowe Ferry - photo © Pavel Kricka

Overall Subsidiary Winners:

1st Non T-Foil N12 - Rob & Harley Ford, N3459
1st U21 Helm - Ollie Meadowcroft & Helen Hilditch, N3543
1st Canter Helm (Over 21, Under 40) - George Finch & Luke Lazell, N3551
1st Grand Master (55+) - Jon Ibbotson & Rhona Enkel, N3540
Gill Super Crew (1st New Crew) - Rhona Enkel, crew of N3540
Arrows Trophy (1st New Helm) - Nick & Rory Bubb, N3462

So what did we learn?

• Once again we saw that older boats with T-foils added can be fast. Especially the Giffords in their borrowed Paradox (note - Paradox molds still exist for those thinking of a new boat) and the Bubbs in their Feeling Foolish.
• Experience just about beats youthful energy. For now...
• Robbie Stewart can persuade four people to crew for him over a four-day regatta, baptising each of them with a capsize and therefore leaving him the deserved custodian of the Burton Brick for the next year.
• Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club have the best support boat crews, they help make the notorious Deben entrance a lot less scary for all competitors and run an extremely good event on and off the water.
• Again, Pavel Kricka is an excellent photographer, his album is available to view at pavelkrickaphotography.shootproof.com/gallery/Burtonweek2024/home

Overall Results:
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