Fresh winds tested the 20 boats competing in the GP14 open meeting. In each of Saturday’s races, despite a general recall, there was still a boat that was a little too eager that had to return. Competitors had to contend with shifting winds (as usual) but this led to some close, exciting racing.
Bridget’s Diary
Saturday
Looking forward to the sailing – then Andy told me that as Miles is cruising in the Med I was giving the welcome speech to the competitors! Went ok till William reminded me that I’d said Bathenswaite Sailing Club – Who cares?
Too many Weetabix for Ginge this morning. First gybe and the centre main exploded! Saved our strength for the second race – needn’t of bothered, the kids still beat us!
Toggle Cowan tried to lead Ginge astray after racing, but I told him where to get off.
Sunday
Didn’t seem like much wind but we were ready for sailing anyway, until Ginge reminded me (again) that it was his birthday – just as well I’d already bought the cards. Sent the boys sailing and took Ginge home for a special birthday breakfast (What a mind that Keith Thomas has! We were having none of that [especially at Ginge’s tender age]). Had to write a few more reports while the footy was on and then back on the water.
That special breakfast did the trick – there we were flying up the first beat (in the lead!) till the wind dropped, we started to tumble in backwards, and watched Bean and Toggle aiming for us, but fortunately they tacked off. Once we had righted the boat we were back in our usual position so we tootled around the course for a lap and retired gracefully.
Did the Prizegiving – took no chances and just said ‘Bass’. Tried to bribe the OD (& website editor) with a bottle of wine. {but to no avail!]
Meanwhile back on the water, starts were controlled better following introduction of the ’round the ends’ rule from the first start. John Telford and Andy Smith took the lead from the first mark in each of Sunday’s races and left the rest fighting it out.
The dead run that the OD stuck in the course proved challenging, Telf and Andy lost their lead as the wind filled in on the right hand side of the course and former Bass boat, Wuff, took the lead. But Telf fought back to get the lead on the final beat and take the series with three firsts. Andy’s brother Phil Smith had an equally impressive and consistent weekend, securing three 2nds to take second overall.
Julie Waddington from Bolton was awarded a bottle of wine for being first lady helm.
More pictures
Overall results
GP14 OPEN MEETING 2002
PN Boat Helm Crew Club 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 13741 J TELFORD A SMITH BASS 1 4 1 1 3
2 13331 P SMITH M COWAN BASS 2 2 2 RTD 6
3 13326 R DAWSON M SOMERVILLE BASS 3 1 7 10 11
4 13176 D LAWSON L LAWSON BASS 9 3 4 5 12
5 13740 J DIXON J HINTON WEST KIRBY 7 10 3 3 13
6 13254 A GREENHALGH D GREENHALGH BASS 3 7 10 4 14
7 13218 M BRENNAN A KNOTT HOLLINGWORTH 5 5 5 8 15
8 13113 M JONES K QUIRK WEST KIRBY 6 8 12 2 16
9 13526 A FOULDS O DEWHURST BURWAIN 10 6 6 9 21
10 13406 G DEIGHAN D KNOWLES BOLTON SC RTD 11 8 7 26
11 13327 M FAIRLAMB E SMITH BASS 8 9 14 13 30
12 13539 J CRUICKSHAN T KNOWLES BASS 13 13 15 6 32
13 13371 J RILEY N LEWIS BASS 14 14 9 11 34
14 13749 H GODFREY R BRYCE BASS 11 12 13 15 36
15 13115 J WADDINGTON C WADDINGTON BOLTON 12 16 11 14 37
16 13142 R HODGKINS P HODGKINS BASS 15 15 16 12 42
17 13075 R DIN S GREY HLSC 16 18 18 17 51
18 13603 R WHITTLE T PILLING BURWAIN RTD 19 17 16 52
19 12324 J WOOD L CONNOLLY BASS 17 DNS 19 18 54
20 13733 A HODGKINS J HODGKINS BASS RTD 17 DNS RTD 59
Points for RTD = 21 20 20 21
Points for DSQ = 21 20 20 21
Points for DNS = 21
3 races to count