Vareo Nationals 2013 (c) Alastair Duncan
What happens when there’s no wind?
You can wait…
Or you can eat!
RS Vareo National Championships
This weekend the RS Vareo Nationals are being held at Bassenthwaite, the home club of the defending champion, our own Vice-Commodore Mark Somerville.
The wind forecast is light, unfortunately, so will the lightweights have an advantage. Of course, there is the Bass micro-climate factor, so anything could happen!
The first race was delayed while the direction settled and bedded in, but racing got underway, and three races completed successfully. Scumper got two straight wins under his belt then had to fight off Toggle before securing his third! Banter sailed well and stuck on Scumper’s transom for most of the first race
Sunday’s forecast promising better wind strengths turned out to be all but false hopes. Club sailors took to the water and eventually started but the wind direction and strength was variable leading to all points of sailing, on most legs, with greatly varying wind strengths!
As for the Vareos, one race started, but abandoned, due to both legs being a beat, run and reach at the same time so the results remain as Saturday evening.
Meanwhile club sailors endured more of the conditions that blighted them in the morning
Monday’s forecast was good for sunbathing, sailing wise we’d have to wait and see… Perhaps the sailors will have more luck at the bingo this evening – well Peter Ballard certainly did as he won!
The forecast was right – sun, no wind, and consequently no sailing. So the results stand as Saturday evening and Scumper retains the title of RS Vareo National Champion!
Final results:
In club sailing, after a bit of a wait, two races were sailed back to back, and some of those that would not have otherwise sailed due to the Vareo Nationals were able to partake.
In the F15s, Ian/Lezli-Ann took another two wins and won the Flying Free Trophy with 3 points, ahead of Graham/Sally who had won the first race after some consistent sailing.
Joan/Jack won the handicap fleet August Trophy with Steve/Ruth 2nd. Alastair, eager to get on the water after two days waiting for wind, had a great winning performance in the final race.
The GPs only sailed three races, all of which were won by Dave/Lynn/ Val/Ken’s two 2nds from Saturday were sufficient to earn them 2nd overall.
The Mirrors only sailed on Monday, Pam and Mik each shared a win, but as Pam won the final race it split the tie in her favour to win the Mirror Mug. Well done Pam
Final Results
NWJTT and Laser Lakeland Grand Prix 2013
Topper NW Areas 2013
NWJTT, NW Areas and Lakeland Laser Open
Campers woke to glorious sunshine and a mirror like lake. Flurries of wind passed through but didn’t bed in until mid morning, which is just as well because there were over 60 boats in five fleets getting ready for five scheduled races – all in all a very busy day!
By the time racing was underway thee was a good force 3-4 which strengthened over the course of the day.
With so much activity it is difficult to pick out specific tales, but over the 25 starts there was only one boat over the line! A few people capsized, some were stuck in irons for a while, and some missed out marks, but they all had some great racing.
Final results Laser Lakeland Travellers Trophy and NWJTT
As forecast, Sunday’s winds were light and challenging. The first race was postponed until mid-day when light airs came in, and faded, from the North West, a cycle of change which was to continue throughout the day. Hopes of a sea breeze were dashed by early cloud cover, but at least the wind direction was relatively consistent throughout. Fortunately, conditions were good enough for both races to be sailed. Some close racing resulted in Nick Devereaux from Budworth winning the championship just one point below Haydn Griffiths and James Grummett. Ethan Dawson finished a creditable 10th overall out of a fleet of 33 boats.
Prizes were awarded by Commodore Andy Smith’s wife, Emma.
Final results Topper North West Area Championship
Mirror Open
A fleet of 10 Mirrors enjoyed sunny conditions with a good wind to boot in a one day open meeting. Past Sailing Sec Roy, sailing with Daisy, was a premature starter but slow to return to the pre-start side, losing almost 3 mins in the process! #shouldknowbetter
Robin Dawson sailed with Amber, well until her lips started to turn blue… Perhaps it was just as well, or was it because, he didn’t take her in the final race because he capsized!
Meanwhile at the front of the fleet, there was to be lots of close racing between three boats – John/Alfie Telford, David/Ed Coady & Andy/Katia Smith. John and Andy each had a win under their belt after two races, and David had a 2nd, giving all three the chance of winning in the final race. All three took the lead, and it seemed that David was going to take the title, but he suddenly dropped back when his spinnaker was caught under the boat. That left John and Andy battling it out with just two legs to go – Andy took the lead and the winners trophy.
Photo (c) Angus Corry
In the club racing, which formed part of a championship weekend series, there was some very close racing between 4 boats in the F15 fleet which resulted in Neil/Ian and Mike/Kayla each sharing a 1st and a 2nd. With Mike winning the 2nd race, he was overnight leader.
The close racing continued throughout Sunday, which started with a light, shifting breeze, but strengthened throughout the morning and afternoon. John/Tim had to return after a premature start but took the right side of the beat and led at the windward mark! There was a regular change of positions throughout the day, especially with the different pockets of wind passing through, but Simon/Jon mastered both races and took two wins, with Mike/Kayla and Neil/Ian each sharing a second. Any one of them could have won the series, and as they all finished with 5 points to count, it was Simon’s win in the last race that won him the Mellor Mug.
In the GPs, Robin/Phil had two clear wins while Alan/Sue and Alastair/Claire continued their battle. Alastair had a strong lead in the morning race until he capsized, and although they righted quickly, Alan sneaked past, held off Alastair till the finish by the closest of margins, and retained the Commodore’s Prize.
Ethan took three wins and the Topper trophy, with Harry 2nd.
In the handicap fleet, Steve/Ruth were in pole position overnight with two 1sts, but were delayed getting to the morning start, so had to rely on the final race to secure the trophy. Although Scumper won both Sunday races, Steve’s 2nd in the final race was enough for him to win the Isel Cup.
A day of mixed fortunes….
Where was the promised Sunday sunshine? Campers woke to a drizzly morning and guess what – no wind!
Miraculously some finally appeared and the rescue lads were called back urgently from their early lunch in Cockermouth. The OD started the race and spinnakers even managed to fly. The second lap caused confusion as B had been moved nearer to 9 to provide a better beat. In clear air Simon/Jon developed a significant lead leaving the rest of the fleet to jostle closely for position. Graham/Sally took B to port instead of starboard but were informed by kindly sailors, recovered quickly and soon regained their original position. Others were less fortunate and dropped down the fleet. Simon/Jon were deserved winners.
After lunch (tasty steak pie) a brave OD decided to try a second race. Unfortunately this quickly developed into a drifter and finished after three legs – even that was a struggle.
Graham McKee from Dovestone was the final overall winner with Simon/Jon second, John Hardisty third and Graham/Sally winning the Waples Wine silver fleet.
For some, it was a weekend’s sailing best forgotten!
Unlucky for some!
13 intrepid Flying Fifteens set off in the wet but unfortunately not wild conditions. After moving the Bates four times the OD decided that it was now or never and the postponement flag was dropped.
Yet again Ian/Lezli-Ann were over the line and the rest of the fleet whizzed off-ha ha!! Roy/Alan made good pace up the first leg, only to be the tail ender by the first mark. A wind shift at the death denied Graham/Sally the prestige of winning the windward mark and the word drifter subsequently sprang to mind. Perseverance was definitely the order of the day with only one boat retiring.
Dave McKee-F15 GBR was the lucky winner with Simon and a desperate Jon (don’t ask) gaining second and John x2 finishing third.
The OD then took pity and decided enough was enough and racing was abandoned for the day.
Guess what – the wind doesn’t look much better for tomorrow!!
Great North Asymmetric Challenge
This weekend Bass hosted the third Great North Asymmetric Challenge. Not that the sailors were the only ones facing a challenge, because the OD, Commodore Andy Smith had to cope with swinging winds to set suitable windward leeward courses!
Conditions varied throughout the afternoon, with some light patches to contend with at times, and great planing conditions at others. Those that found the zephyrs and gusts took advantage of them which led to some close racing. By the final race the wind had swung more to the NW and settled to a steady breeze which proved to be the best of the day.
Mike Saul/Meg Fletcher from Yorkshire Dales sailed well in the first race and won in their RS200 ahead of Dave Lawson from Bass in an RS Vareo. However, on the starting signal of the second race Mike’s main clew detached itself as he hardened in and he had to make some rapid running repairs to get back in the race.
As the wind started to back more towards the North during race 2, the beat became one sided, but it was to be Phil Smith/Ethan Dawson in an RS200 that took advantage of the gusts and won ahead of Chris Pickles/Matt Sharman from Delph in an RS400.
After a short wait (during which the Committee boat enjoyed a large pot of tea!) for the wind to fill in again and settle down, racing was underway again. Wayne Fletcher fell out of his RS400 on the 2nd beat, but quickly climbed back in and maintained his lead (for a while at least!). This time Dave Lawson took the honours with Phil Smith/Ethan Dawson 2nd.
The course was repositioned for the final race of the day, and sailors enjoyed stronger winds with less influence from nearby Sale Fell. The RS400s came into their own in these winds and it was Paul Allen/Robin Dawson from Leigh & Lowton that won with Chris Pickles 2nd.
The strong competition was clearly demonstrated by the wide mix of boats in the top two for each race, and only two points separate the top three boats on the overnight leaders board headed by Phil Smith, with Chris Pickles 2nd and Dave Lawson 3rd.
Tonight the sailors will enjoy a Mexican meal in the clubhouse followed by some live music from local entertainer Hulio. Perhaps they should build up their strength for the heavy winds forecast for Sunday?!
Wind and rain, as forecast, had its effect on Sunday’s results with the heavyweights coming to the fore. Chris/Matt’s best results for the day were 1, 1 & 3 and earned them the winner’s trophy, while Paul/Robin had 1, 2 & 2 which put them in 3rd behind Mike/Meg who secured 1, 2 & 4. Bass sailors Phil/Ethan, Mark Somerville (1st single hander in an RS Vareo), and Alex Leonard/Olivia Storey (in an RS 200) took the the next three places.
Prizes were awarded by the Commodore’s, and OD for the weekend, wife Emma.
