We are pleased to be hosting this year’s GNAC.

Good winds were forecast, good competition, good food, and lots of special birthday celebrations to enjoy!

Despite the good forecast, the winds at lake level were variable to say the least, challenging OD Andy Smith to find a mean direction to set the windward/leeward course to avoid a reach/reach situation. Taking note of the winds driving the nearby wind turbines, it seemed that WNW was a good bet for the first beat so racing was underway at the scheduled time. Of the fleet of 29 boats, there were a couple of boats over the line but they dutifully returned. The beat was maintained, despite some major shifts, but regulars Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman from Delph �in a RS400 soon took a commanding lead. Sailors did sit out at times but gusts were not really enabling planing conditions. Paul Allen from Leigh & Lowton, with Phil Hodgkins from Bass crewing, and in a RS400 as well, made up ground to finish 2nd just 2 secs behind Chris.

The wind eased soon after the start of race 2, and there was a completely different set of race leaders, with�Robin Dawson and Phil Davenport leading the fleet through to the finish, though on handicap three RS200s, led by Bass’ Phil and Naomi Smith would beat Robin on handicap.

The wind backed more to the west for race 3, with occasional stronger gusts, and Chris Pickles was again at the fore, with Phil Smith 2nd and Robin Dawson 3rd.

Race 4 started in a good breeze which shifted and faded, together with the OD’s spirits, soon after the the first beat. New wind patterns appeared from the north, but they resulted in an unfortunate reach/reach course. The RS400s mastered the conditions again, led by Chris Pickles with Commodore Mark Somerville and Joe Roberts 2nd.

With four races complete it was time to break for the evening and celebrate a couple of special Bass birthdays – Robin Dawson and Phil Hodgkins.�Can they still stand the pace and be ready to race agin in the morning? Time will tell!

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Overnight leader was Chris Pickles with Phil Smith 2nd.

Sunday started with sleety showers and�no wind, but at least the forecast was suggesting there would be some wind in the afternoon, so sailors had an early lunch, then some wind filled in, although it was as variable as it has been for the last couple of weeks. The fleet split up the first beat of race 5, and those that went right lost out massively. Phil and Naomi were first to round the windward mark with Dave Exley and Paul Heath in a RS400 on their tail. Dave pulled out a good lead but was passed by Hamish Gledhill on the final run, though on handicap Phil claimed another win.

Was the wind going to steady for race 6? Well it seemed to be filling in, and racing was started in a promising breeze which promptly shifted and faded by the time the first boat reached the windward mark. The same phases of wind and shifts continued through the race which was won by Chris, with Hamish 2nd.

After a late start and no sign of a steady wind following through, the OD cancelled the two remaining races, leaving Chris and Matt winners, with Phil and Naomi runners up.

Final�results

A fleet of 18 Flying Fifteen Sailors are taking part in the annual team racing for the Viking trophy. To minimise the risk of protests, one Bass team comprised Mike Moore, Simon Longstaff and Neil Currie – perhaps they will gang up against another team?!

The forecast force 3-4 did not materialise, and the wind that was available, a bitter north easterly, came through in waves changing every few minutes. Some of the lulls were frustratingly light but, as ever, the cream comes to the top, with Steve Goacher taking the first race.

Steve took the lead in the second race too, but that master of light airs Hardisty broke through to win the second race.

With a particularly slow finish a third race seemed unlikely but the wind filled in yet again. A short race was held but a reaching finish, a freshening wind, and a closely bunched fleet led to challenging recording of the finish positions. Hopefully amicable agreement will be reached over a beer or two this evening.

Another two races were scheduled for Sunday, and those that turned up early would verify that conditions looked promising. However, as soon as some disappeared into the changing room the wind did the same! Various zephyrs spread across the lake, and the direction kept changing, but the wind never filled in so by noon the racing was abandoned for the day meaning that Saturday’s results were the final outcome. As for the Grotty Potty, it went to someone who’s need was greater than most, as they had to come ashore for relief (and went aground at the same time), so the lucky recipients were Gary and Alan.

Final results

Club racing was held alongside the team racing. Mik was towed out to the start, watched the fleet set off and asked when he was starting!�The first race was plagued by one of the�lulls. Although Banter had a good lead, Joan/Jack were close enough to beat him by 17 secs. With the wind unexpectedly filling in, and the OD starting second race straight after the F15s, some were caught out and only just made it on time. Not the case for Banter who was a minute late for the start. He did pull through to the lead, but finished 5th on handicap (would have been 4th had he not been caught out by the OD’s eagerness to get racing underway – apologies!). Joan took another win, and�a commanding lead in the series

Latest results FH PH

We tamed the wind, and the rain eased too! As the clouds lifted off Skiddaw, a snow covering was exposed! The competitors were signed up, but the wind wasn’t playing ball. An early morning breeze faded, shifted, swung, faded, and finally reappeared, though its direction would prove to be variable throughout the afternoon.

The lack of wind was the cause of an hours postponement, but racing eventually got underway. The first couple of (if not all) races had a steady general northerly direction but there were some major shifts that caught various sailors, including leaders out, causing the occasional capsize to windward. Even the commodore fell out of his boat at one stage!

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In the 3rd race a major wind shift started to affect the course, so the race was curtailed early. What was to be the final race of the day was held in a reasonable, but variable, westerly.

Some great racing in some testing conditions. Hopefully the wind will be better behaved in the morning.

A curry night on Saturday�may have had an�affect on Sunday’s wind, which although it started light, it finally came in with a vengeance by the end of the day’s racing.

As with Saturday, the direction was all over the place, varying from minute to minute adding to the challenge of setting the beat and a reasonable start line. The fleet were given the benefit of the doubt for the first two starts which resulted in general recalls, but the introduction of the black flag resulted in third time lucky for the start of race 5.

The shifting winds necessitated moving the start line a couple more�times for subsequent races. Sailors endured sun, rain and hail, together with strengthening winds�with the final race being the most spectacular with numerous capsizes.

The battle�for the winners trophy was hard fought, with only a single point pushing overnight leaders Paul and Jude Allen from Leigh & Lowton into 2nd place behind Chris Pickles and Matt from Delph.

Commodore Mark Somerville and Joe Roberts were best Bass boat at 6th, with Vice Commodore Robin Dawson and Phil Davenport 7th.

Final�results

Our Flying 15 team racing, Osprey & 505 Open is being held this weekend, however the weather forecast of strong winds proved to be accurate and put many off travelling. Even those that did turn up were surprisingly reluctant to rig their boats.

Though windy with heavy squalls passing through, conditions were sailable and thirteen F15s rigged and set off for the start. Unfortunately only twelve boats made it to the start as one boat lost its mast on the way out! Soon after a clean start another squall passed through and a couple of boats were temporarily flattened. There were several changes of position as some coped with the gusts better than others, but the carnage continued with two ripped mains and another broken mast (perhaps one dive exercise too many!?). It was wonderful for them to be told after the event – ‘you shouldn’t have done it like that!’

For the second race there were only seven starters. Simon Longstaff/Jon Denwood had the 2nd best start compared to John Somerville/Keith Thomas, but pulled out an early lead. A gust of wind at the gybe mark flattened their boat, Simon fell/was washed out, and their race was over. Unusually Mike/Kayla showed all their bottom with one gust, and subsequently retired when their gooseneck broke.

Mark Ninnim/Ian Preston practiced a Chinese gybe but continued on their way, and enjoyed moving up the fleet again as boats dropped out!

Despite all the mishaps, sailors were keen to have another race, though they later changed their minds after warming up in the clubhouse with a nice brew!

The Bass micro climate didn’t beat the forecast, and the winds didn’t ease, so racing was abandoned, and an early prize giving held.

There can’t be many events where a boat that gets demasted even before it gets to the start line is�in the prize list, but�Rod Huddleston/Alan Baker did just that as part of the second Derwent team ‘The Lads and One Lass’

One of the traditions of the team racing is to re-award the Grotty Potty. Last year it was won by Simon Longstaff, and although he was a worthy contender again this year, having done a ‘Tom Daley’ yesterday, he couldn’t and wouldn’t�nominate himself, so he considered Dave Gebhard’s antics, including his swimming, but mainly for being down the creek without a paddle – boats taking shelter between races opted to venture into the mouth of the Ouse where it was shaded from the blasts of wind. No Dave didn’t try to sail under Ouse bridge but, unfortunately, he misjudged the shallow waters and went aground. At least he can look forward to nominating someone for their embarrassing actions at next year’s event!

Final results