Great North Asymmetric Challenge Delivers a Weekend of Thrills

The forecast promised some exciting racing conditions, and it didn’t disappoint as challenge was certainly the name of the game at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club’s annual Great North Asymmetric Challenge, with competitors facing testing conditions and plenty of excitement throughout the weekend.

Saturday provided spectacular sailing, with an average wind of around 20 knots and gusts reaching 30 knots. While the conditions made for an impressive sight from the shore, they also provided a demanding test for the competitors on the water.

It was Oscar and Rory Davenport who rose to the challenge, taking a commanding lead in their RS Feva XL by winning three of the four races sailed on Saturday.

Sunday brought slightly lighter winds, but conditions remained challenging and the fleet still had plenty to contend with. The Davenport brothers held their nerve and continued their strong form to secure overall victory.

Their win was particularly significant, as Oscar and Rory became the first youth winners of the Great North Asymmetric Challenge in 18 years — a fantastic achievement and one that will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of sailors.

Taking second place were Chris and Jack Pickles, with Alistair and Helen Norris completing the podium in third, both crews sailing RS200s.

Congratulations to all the competitors for tackling the challenging conditions and providing a fantastic weekend of racing. A special congratulations goes to Oscar and Rory on an outstanding performance and a memorable victory.

Challenge accepted. Challenge conquered.

This weekend was the final club championship weekend series. We also hosted the Tinkers for their annual trip to the lake district.

On Saturday the wind was initially quite strong but eased as the racing started. In the Asymmetric fleet Mark won both races in the RS100 and Andrew Reekie won both MT races. All the other fleets had no shows as the forecast wasn’t too inviting

Sunday was a much nicer day but unfortunately lacked the important element of wind. So after a long wait it was decided to abandon the racing.

Final results

This year’s club champions are
Robin Dawson and Mike Cowan in the Flying Fifteens.
Mark Somerville in the Asymmetric Handicap.
Steve & Elaine Hunt in the Handicap.
Val & Ken Bell in the GP14
Robyn Parnaby in the MT which is a fantastic result for her first full season at Bass.

Club Championship in full

 

Bassenthwaite hosted youth sailors from across the region in the One Design open meeting. Both days had breezy challenging conditions for some of our younger sailors. However all sailors did exceptionally well at their differing levels of experience and raced 4 races each day, they sleep well tonight.

In the Handicap fleet James Reekie won every race to take the series win. Then brother Andrew won the Tera Pro fleet also with a convincing set of results. In the Tera Sport fleet it was Genevieve Denny from Ullswater SC that took the win. In the Feva XL fleet Oscar and Rory Davenport dominated proceedings winning all races other than the one they went to the wrong mark in. In the Optimist fleet Sebastian Vials from Derwent Reservoir SC won over his younger siblings.

All the sailors had a fantastic weekend and the efforts of club members made it a real success.

Overall results

Despite the weather gods deciding not to play ball for the August bank holiday weekend, there was over 60 boats on the water for the weekend series run over Sunday and Monday.

Saturday’s racing didn’t happen due to lack of wind so plenty of fettling on the shore.

Sunday fared slightly better in that the first race had a decent wind. After lunch the 2nd race of the series started well but then died along with a heavy rain shower. This left some of the fleet leading caught out by average lap times unfortunately.

After some debate the wind came back and it was decided to run the 3rd scheduled race which probably was the best wind of the day as it had swung to the south.

Bank holiday Monday had much more favourable conditions so the OOD made the most of it with 2 longer back to back races.

Final results

Another sunny but very light weekend. It was the fleet challenge B weekend series.

Saturday saw a a fairly convincing 1,2 for the GP14s of Val & Ken and Nigel & Glynis. Sunday looked to have even less wind and was patchy all afternoon. Neil in the ILCA6 took the first race as he’d been sacked by Archie in favour of Liv Who can blame him?!

Val & Ken led the fleet round in the 2nd to win the series with three firsts.

Final results

With the aftermath of Bass Week, Saturday had no racing due to the annual Bassenthwaite Triathlon. The event went well as always due to the efforts of club members. Thanks to all who gave their time to help.

Sunday was a light affair filling nicely for the 1pm start. First race was the first of the long C series.

Neil and Archie in the rs400 led the fleet round. Steve H had his first trip in the newly acquired Solo and had Toggle for competition in a very close race. Caroline H was keeping them close however other boats out included Neil G and Paul G in ILCAs and Chris in the RS200.

Latest results

On handicap Neil & Archie won followed by Caroline and then Steve.

Second race was the Banana Stakes Pursuit. The wind became more intermittent and shifted more westerly.
Caroline and Steve had strong races as did Isobella and Saskia in their Optimists.

Caroline prevailed and took the win over Steve.

Banana Stakes results

In recent weeks many members have been travelling to international events, especially our youth sailors, and achieved some great results. Congratulations to one and all

Tera Worlds in Travemunde, Germany – Andrew Reekie 5th Tera Sport, James Reekie 13th Tera Pro
Feva XL Worlds in Travemunde, Germany – Oscar/Rory Davenport 14th, James Reekie/Poppy Moss 52nd, Andrew Reekie/Reuben Allen 97th, Grace Stockdale/Charlie Rowell 128th
RS400 Europeans in Travemunde, Germany – John Reekie/Justin Denny 1st, Phil Davenport/Hannah Wilcox 5th, Andy/Isaac Wilcox 7th
GP14 Worlds in Northern Ireland – Andy Smith/Ali Rimmer 11th, John/Jack Telford 24th

Photo gallery

48 boats entered this weekend’s open which incorporated the GP14 Northerns. Wall to wall sunshine, though the wind was somewhat less consistent as it swung through 60 degrees, and regularly eased and before picking up again.

Three races were sailed back to back, with a couple of individual recalls, and one general recall in the last race for the F15s, though there was no sign of the black flag.

The variable wind conditions did create opportunities to gain, or lose, positions. It was notable that 3x F15 world champion was mid fleet after the first beat of the first race,having been held on by another boat but, as ever, he gradually made up ground till he was leading, and finish the day with three straight wins. Mike Preston/Mike Harris are lying 2nd overnight, with Andy McKee/Rich Jones 3rd.

There was mixed fortunes in the GPs, but Andy Smith/Ali Rimmer secured two wins and a third to take overnight lead. Russ/Ali Cormack are 2nd,with Dave Lawson/Joe Roberts 3rd.

To some extent Sunday was more of the same, with sunshine and a shifty, variable, breeze. The morning start time didn’t help matters as there was little indication as to how the wind would ‘settle’. The starting area was moved a couple of times before it was determined what the wind direction was most likely to be!

The wind freshened throughout the first race, with some semi planing conditions for a while, and the OD had plans to make more use of the lake for the 2nd and final race. However, those plans were blown apart when the wind faded again…

The start line was relocated for the final race, but the wind backed towards the northa again, so marks were hurriedly more throughout the race to try and maintain some beats.

All in all a challenging time for the race officials and competitors alike, but it led to some great racing, frustrating at times, that many competitors fully appreciated.

In the f15s, Steve Goacher/Martin Huett’s lead proved to be untouchable and they were overall winners, but strong results by Andy McKee moved him up to 2nd, with Mike Preston 3rd.

Similarly, in the GPs Andy Smith/Ali Rimmer maintainted their lead to become northern area champions, while great results by Dave Lawson/Joe Roberts moved them up to 2nd overall, with Russ/Ali Cormack 3rd.

Final results

Saturday’s racing started with rumbling thunder in the distance but nothing materialised locally thankfully.

The OD set the course and then the wind shifted significantly. In the Asymmetric fleet the series hung on the day’s results as no other earlier races had been sailed. Oscar & Rory did the business in their Feva showing the oldies how it’s done and had the best results on the day to win the series.

In the normal symmetric fleet Alan & Sue in the GP14 secured a 3rd & 1st. Steve and Elaine in the Enterprise also had a 1st and 3rd on the day but Alan & Sue take the series as they had some earlier results to count.

Final results

Sunday’s competitors were greeted with a fresh breeze coming down the lake, and wall to wall sunshine.

They were the final races in the Sunday long series. In the handicap fleet Neil & Archie won the first race with Caroline in the Lightning 2nd. Shortly before the second race Neil and Archie’s tiller stock decided enough was enough, so that was an end to their day. In the second race Steve & Elaine in the Ent won by a matter of seconds over Olivia in the ILCA4. Neil & Archie take the series.

In the GP14 fleet Alan & Sue took both races, and the series on countback being equal on points with Val & Ken.

In the MT fleet William Clark won the first race and Saskia in the Opi the second. But it was Robyn who took the series with two 2nds today. Which is a brilliant result as she’s come through the training on Saturday morning recently.

Final results

This weekend a lot of our regular sailors headed of to Ullswater for their annual Lord Birkett event. That left low numbers on the water at Bass.

On Saturday we had the conclusion of the Saturday long series. David won both races in the ILCA6 followed by Neil & Archie in the RS400 in the first race, and Val & Ken in the GP14 in the second. David secured the series with a convincing set of results.

MT etc final results

On Sunday we had 2 races in the Sunday long series. Neil & Archie escaped Val and Ken in the first race as conditions favoured the Asymmetric. In the MT fleet Andy Tunnicliffe won the first race in the Mirror. But the series is a Parnaby lockout with Robyn currently leading Francis with 2 races remaining.

The the second race Neil & Archie did a bit of fishing with their kite much to the amusement of their fellow competitors. Val and Ken went on to win on handicap.

Neil & Archie have enough to secure the series.

BT etc latest results

It is with sadness that we share that Dave Williamson of Derwent Water marina has passed away.

Dave was was a long time friend and supporter of Bass SC especially during NSSA regattas held at the club.

Our thoughts are with Dave’s family at this sad time.