Scottish National 12 Championship at Solway Yacht Club

As the Class's 90th anniversary approaches its season's conclusion, many of the National 12 fleet joined local members at the Solway Yacht Club in Kippford for a weekend of championship sailing for the superb Scottish Daily Express Trophy.

Several had entered from as far afield as Aberdeen in the North and Gloucestershire in the South but after a night of heavy rain and strong winds, Saturday dawned with little change. The weather was looking pretty grim.

Nevertheless, with several outstanding sailors in the entry, Principal Race Officer, Sally Mackay, managing her first open meeting since completing her RYA Regional Race Officer training, commenced her competitors' briefing. Precautions and safety cover were paramount given the conditions, but sailing would go ahead.

As launch time approached, the rain had stopped but the gusts were getting even more ferocious. With wildly flapping sails and noise, the leading crews were onto the water and away to the starting area, but others thought better of it and held back, while one or two never took the covers off, their boats remaining securely lashed down.

Early in Race 1, N3502, Tim and Chris Hampshire already with a good lead during the Scottish National 12 Championship at Solway Yacht Club - photo © John Sproat

With barely half the fleet going to the start, and after a general recall with several boats way over the line, racing got under way. Father and son, Tim and Chris Hampshire make a storming start, immediately establishing a big lead. It wasn't long before retirements started, Philip and Sarah Wherry never crossing the start before returning to the pier while Alan Mason and Peter Goodwin had failure of the outhaul, boom end fitting, at the first turning buoy, ending all further involvement for their vintage boat. Despite Philip David and Trudie Mitchell giving chase, the Hampshire crew stretched their lead to win race 1 by a big margin with the lightweight crew of Iain and Maisie Macintyre a distant third. Further back still but going hard, local heavy weather specialist, Richard Colbeck and his crew Matthew Wherry in a borrowed wooden vintage boat had the old boat sailing like never before, comfortably beating the sole remaining modern boat.

Philip David and Trudie Mitchell, powering their way to 2nd overall during the Scottish National 12 Championship at Solway Yacht Club - photo © John Sproat

Race 2, with conditions unchanged, only five boats came to the line. Again, making a great start, the Hampshires led away but this time Philip and Trudie were closer. Third place again went to the Macintyres as race one, but Trystan Leonard and James Colbeck in their brand-new boat were unlucky to be just over the line, OCS at the start, so were never classified at the finish, leaving the vintage boat of Richard and Matthew fourth again.

Overall winners Tim and Chris Hampshire with second place Philip and Trudie Mitchell close behind with vintage winner Richard Colbeck and Matthew Wherry close behind during the Scottish National 12 Championship at Solway Yacht Club - photo © John Sproat

After hot showers and chilling out, it was barbecue time. The galley team, with the Club Commodore Scott Train now barbecue head chef, produced another stunningly good meal enjoyed by a full clubhouse, the bar being kept busy throughout. Chat went on late, while a better forecast promised improved conditions for the next day.

How things change! Sunday morning was welcomed by bright sunshine in an almost cloudless sky but virtually no wind. As the morning warmed, a pleasant sea breeze sprung up just in time for launching. This time the entire remaining fleet set sail out to the starting area in front of a large number of Kippford visitors enjoying the lovely weather.

Race three of the series was closer with Philip and Trudie soon holding the lead but further back Angus Beyts and Berry Behane were well up in another vintage boat beating far more modern boats in the process. Tim Gatti and Thomas Barton in another older but beautifully restored boat, were unlucky at the gybe mark having trouble with their centreboard and hitting the buoy, demoting them to eighth.

Final race of the day and the weekend series was even closer but the Macintyres, father and daughter, were now enjoying the lighter conditions and leading. Philip and Trudie weren't far behind them while Tim and Chris had slipped back. Trystan and James were now really getting to grips with their new boat not far behind the leading three, their best race of the weekend. The overall result and the trophy all depended on the outcome of this race. As the second lap and the race approached its end, the top three were closely bunched but the Macintyres held on, just beating Philip and Trudie while Tim and Chris almost caught both of them, their opportunity spoiled by a poor tack shortly after rounding G buoy for the final time.

Overall winners Tim and Chris Hampshire going like the clappers during the Scottish National 12 Championship at Solway Yacht Club - photo © John Sproat

So to prize-giving; after grateful thanks to all the competitors for some great performances, and thanks to the galley team, safety crews and race management team, Ian Purkis, event organiser, announced the results. For their two wins from the previous day and one second, Tim and Chris secured the overall top spot with Philip and Trudie second by just one point.

Chris and Tim Hampshire presented with the Scottish Daily Express Trophy by PRO, Sally Mackay in the Scottish National 12 Championship at Solway Yacht Club - photo © Margaret Purkis

The Macintyres were third. The vintage prize, including the Mariner Mug for older boats went to Richard and Matthew, their two fourths from Saturday making them almost unbeatable in the category. Fresh from her first PRO duty, Sally Mackay presented the trophy and other prizes to the top three and the vintage winners. Before closing, the perpetual fun prize, the "Ladybird Book of Sailing", essential reading for every unfortunate recipient, was awarded to Angus for his three attempts to reach the ice cream shop, "The Ark", twice apparently by sea and once on foot, all totally unsuccessful!

Overall Results:

Winners all! Competitors and winners on the new Solway Yacht Club ramp to the fully accessible facilities in the Scottish National 12 Championship at Solway Yacht Club - photo © Margaret Purkis