The Bassenthwaite GP14 Fleet took a clean sweep of the GP Scottish Area Championships at Annandale. The weather on Saturday was not for the faint hearted and all six Bassenthwaite boats took to the water with enthusiasm. An hour later several had capsized, some more than others, Toggle Cowan was beginning to think that diving was more fun. The winners of the first race were Dave and Lynn Lawson with Rich and Phil Hodgkins coming a credible third in very windy conditions. The second race was postponed as the winds continued to rise above 5 knots.
Sunday was a very different weather pattern, lots of rain and patchy wind throughout the day making sailing difficult for everyone as the wind filled from different directions and then changed direction altogether. Dave and Lynn Lawson won the first race of the day and they continued their winning ways in race three. After a short lunch break and a further drop in the wind racing looked a little doubtful, however after the start of race four the wind filled in and some very competitive racing was underway with the lead and the first six places changing on every leg of the course. Rich and Phil Hodgkins won the race, with five Bass boats in the first six places. As the final race got underway there were still a lot of places to be decided. Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith took an early lead and although Dave and Lynn Lawson sailed a good race they were unable to catch them and Mike and Eric won the race to give Bassenthwaite Sailors a clean sweep.
The Overall results for the Scottish Area Championship were – 1st Dave and Lynn Lawson, 2nd John Telford and Andy Smith, 3rd and winner of the Scottish Junior Cup Rich and Phil Hodgkins, 4th Robin Dawson and Phil Graham. Winner of the Masters prize, Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith. Word has it that Bean and Toggle won the bronze fleet!
Meanwhile, with the above boats away taking a stranglehold of the GP Scottish Area Championships, there were only a few takers at home for the Celebrity Glass Trophy. Not that Saturday’s weather helped. There was some interest before the start and several contenders rigged their boats, but only two actually took to the water – and it was so blustery that they didn’t manage to make the start line! That was enough for OD Ian Preston to abandon racing for the day before the heavens opened.
Sunday morning started damp and cold, but it brightened up as the day went on. Steve Hunt in his RS400 made the most of the reaches to win both races on the water and on handicap. He had some close competition in the second race from John Halliday, but as John was over the line at the start of the race, he had to retire. There was a tie of results between Jim Christie in a Vortex and Roy Blackburn in a Lark which was split in favour of Roy on the result of the second and final race.
Overall results
CELEBRITY GLASS TROPHY
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 1049 S HUNT RS400 DNS DNS 1 1 2
2 2324 R BLACKBURN LARK DNS DNS 3 2 5
3 1140 J CHRISTIE VORTEX DNS DNS 2 3 5
4 13013 J SEDGWICK GP DNS DNS 4 4 8
5 13326 S WATSON GP DNS DNS 7 5 12
6 1125 JoHALLIDAY RS400 DNS DNS 5 RTD 12
7 13238 D NICHOLSON GP DNS DNS 6 DNS 14
Points for RTD = 0 0 8 7
Points for DSQ = 0 0 8 7
Points for DNS = 8
2 races to count