Eleven visitors joined five boats from the home club to contest the Waples Wine Flying Fifteen Open at Basssenthwaite SC on the weekend of May 26/27. The forecast ‘champagne conditions’ materialised with unbroken sunshine being complemented by a strong, warm breeze from the SE. Some were daunted by the apparent strength of the breeze prior to launching, some only after they had launched. Broaches were relatively commonplace even at the front end of the fleet, whilst becoming positively ‘de rigeur’ at the opposite end.

The Race Officer had elected to sail three races back to back on the opening day.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Steve Goacher and Phil Evans from RWYC showed a mastery of the conditions causing one spectator to comment ‘poetry in motion’. Whilst this may not have been particularly original, it was certainly most apposite. The pair hooked in to the full power of each gust and in each of the three races to extend a very considerable lead over the rest of a high class fleet, winning by a good margin. Neil Platt and Mark Somerville from the home club put in a strong, consistent performance to finish second in both of the opening races with Terry Crumpton and Roger Errington from Derwent Reservoir in third on both occasions.

The wind freshened during the course of the second race. Mike Moore and Micheala Sheard from Bass were second round the windward mark, closely followed by Commodore Steve Kirkpatrick and Keith Thomas also from Bass. The two boats had gone right up the first beat and found a great shift to take them to the front of the fleet. By the end of the race Steve and Keith managed to get past Mike and Michaela but by this time, unfortunately, they had both suffered various vicissitudes and were the last two boats to finish, in 11th and 12th respectively.

For the final race of the day, the squally wind had passed through, but there were still good gusts aplenty. Unusually, on the 2nd lap, Steve Goacher and Phil Evans headed for the wrong mark. They realised in time to take their spinnaker down and reach back, but they had lost most of their lead over Neil Platt/Mark Somerville, who stayed very close to his transom for the rest of the race. Terry Crumpton and Roger Errington from Derwent Reservoir finished in third.

The sailors were grateful, after their exertions to relax and enjoy half an hour of wine tasting, courtesy of the series sponsor, Waples Wines.

Conditions on Sunday were, as expected, less demanding, allowing some different sailors to prosper. Race 4 started to time at 11:30 and the race began in a pleasant F2-3 breeze from the SSE. However, during the course of a long first beat the wind slackened and became more ‘localised’. The ability to spot bands of wind on different parts of the course paid dividends – if you were able to reach them before they evaporated. It is a measure of the fickle nature of the breeze that Steve Goacher failed to round the windward mark first, although he had led half way up the leg. In the end Steve rounded 4th and appeared to lose several places by failing to bear away onto the reach. There was, of course, method in his madness and he had spotted more breeze arriving further across the course. When he reached the new breeze he bore away and eventually rounded the next mark in the lead. Steve and Phil went on to win the race with John Hardisty and John Mathie, who found the lighter conditions to their liking, in second. Simon Longstaff and John Denwood from the home club recorded a third, their best result of the weekend.

In the final race Steve Goacher and Phil Evans again showed that they are in a different class, winning the race and taking the title with a perfect score line of 5 first places. John Hardisty and Roger Errington were second, which secured second place overall. Graham Massey and Russel Clark saved their best ’til last, finishing in third place. Terry Crumpton and John Mathie sailed a very consistent series to finish third overall. Fourth overall and best Bass boat was Neil Platt and Mark Somerville, who revelled in the stronger breezes but found the lighter winds on the second day more challenging.

At the prize giving Steve Goacher said, on behalf of all the visitors, that the organisation of the whole event both on and off the water, and the quality of the sailing, demonstrated exactly why visitors always returned to Bass SC.

Sponsor Justin Waples collecting his prize with crew Louise Jackson	Winner Steve Goacher thanking the club

Although the GP Inlands are being held at Northampton, and F15 Northerns at Windermere, there is a full racing programme arranged for the Bank Holiday. The forecast, was fairly dry, with mixed winds. Saturday certainly met with mixed winds – the first race was held in light airs that faded for a while splitting the fleet, though it steadied for the second race. Commodore Stephen Kirkpatrick has given up on crews and joined the single handed fleet having bought a Vareo.

The Catapult Association again joined us for an open meeting, but they were likely to be waiting a couple of days for decent winds. Gareth Ede again mastered the conditions and took the overnight lead with two firsts.

Sunday’s forecast was always likely to be challenging (about the only time the forecast is correct!), and getting the scheduled three races in would be an optimistic outcome. The morning started off with sunny clear skies, but windless. By the time racing was due to start, a shower had moved in, but brought some wind with it. The wind was initially from the NW, and it’s a shame that when the weather dried up the wind faded again; even more so that the racing was already underway! The fleets did not even complete a whole lap, and they had to cope with the light swinging airs coming from the East, South and North. There were a few that took the opportunity to hone their pumping and ooching skills on various shifts that they claimed to have spotted.

Lunchtime was rather extended, as the wind failed to materialise, or settle down when it did appear. However, when a breeze appeared well after 3pm from the not to be trusted forecast direction, there were still many willing to break themselves away from the football and go on to the water. Racing started, and as in the morning, the wind eased just after the Catapults started, but it was not quite as dire as the morning, and the race was shortened after 1.5 laps bring the day’s racing to an end.

Despite the challenging conditions, and many positions changing throughout the race, there was still a general consistency in the overall results. Also, there was a bit of fleet and boat swapping throughout the day. Robbie D teamed up with Big E again in a F15 to give Ian/Lezli-Ann a race, and in the afternoon Graham/Alan (having declogged their control lines) and Keith also ventured out as well. Ethan was eager to try out his dad’s Vareo and was able to give Banter Phil a run for his money in the afternoon, while Steve/Ruth borrowed Paul Clark’s Graduate in the afternoon and won the race, if only by a few secs.

With the promise of better winds for Monday, the Catapults had an early start to squeeze in the missed race from Sunday. Gareth Ede yet again mastered the choppy conditions and cemented his lead in the series.

Club racing started just after the second and final Catapult race was under way, and the Commodore seemed a little surprised that the fleet set off without him! There were several capsizes, and a smothering of lake mud on some sails, but the thrills of the day seemed to outweigh the spills. As the race went on the wind strengthened a little, making it harder work, though still raceable, but it seemed to zap the enthusiasm out of the sailors because, with the series tied positions tied up, there were very few potential takers for the afternoon race.

Winner Gareth Ede receiving his prize
from father, and birthday boy, Stuart Ede

The members of Bassenthwaite SC must, surprisingly, be more righteous than most, because their collective prayers for wind, in the run up to this year’s Great North Asymmetric Challenge, were rewarded in abundance. Forecasts during the week preceding the event, suggesting winds of up to 50mph, persuaded many not to travel. Some who made the journey decided to let discretion be the better part of valour, as they watched the white horses galloping across the lake towards the clubhouse. Despite the conditions the entry still exceeded that of last year’s inaugural event, with 29 boats, representing 9 classes, opting to sail.

Defending champion, Paul Allen, was unimpressed to find that he would not have an opportunity to avenge his recent defeat at the hands of fellow RS 400 sailor, Wayne Fletcher, who was third in last year’s event, when Wayne failed to emerge from his camper van. This, however, was only the first of the vicissitudes which Paul was to experience during the weekend.

As the boats took to the water, the RS 800 of Robin and Pat Shellcock was the first casualty. During a capsize the crew took an inadvertent dive through the main sail, dividing it neatly into two pieces.

The race was sailed in cold, blustery conditions, with patches of relative calm giving respite between the overpowering gusts. Paul and Jude Allen’s second disappointment of the weekend came when their bowsprit gave up the unequal struggle and collapsed, preventing them from completing the course.

Angus Winchester, sailing a Vortex, justified his journey from Castle Semple by taking the gun, with Joe Pester and Paul Murphy from Ullswater, sailing a Laser 3000 in second place, and Mark Somerville from the home club, sailing an RS Vareo, in third.

As the fleet prepared for the second race the wind eased slightly, and some pleasant sunshine gave competitors some welcome warmth. Paul Allen managed to borrow the bowsprit from Wayne’s unused boat and returned to the fray. However, at the first hoist, he discovered that the pole was incorrectly rigged and that the ‘wing wangs’ couldn’t be adjusted. He struggled with the pole during the race and could only finish eighth. Joe Pester and Paul Murphy proved that their 3000 was a flying machine in strong breeze, showing breathtaking off wind pace to take a comfortable victory. Mike Hart and Sally Kilpatrick from Port Dinorwic, sailing an RS 400, were second, with Phil and Naomi Smith from Bass SC the first of the fleet of eight RS 200s, and third overall.

The fleet took a short break ashore to refuel, treat injuries and recover. PRO, Steve Hunt, decided that with the wind forecast to increase to Force stupid on the Sabbath it would be sensible to get five of the scheduled eight races sailed while conditions, although taxing, were not impossible – and the sun was shining.

In the three races sailed after lunch an enthralling battle ensued within the RS 200 fleet with extremely close and competitive racing between Phil and Naomi Smith, Robin Dawson and Phil Hodgkins (also from Bass) and last year’s runners up, Chris and Laura Pickles from Yorkshire Dales. These three were seldom separated by more than a couple of boat lengths, with positions changing constantly.

The 3000 of Joe Pester and Paul Murphy, however, continued to show the way, winning both the third and fourth races. Paul and Jude Allen had managed to rig their pole correctly whilst ashore, only to have one of the ‘wing wang’ lines break during the third race. They still managed to finish in second place, with Mike Saul and Meg Fletcher from Yorkshire Dales, sailing an RS 500, in third. The close competition in the 200s propelled them up the overall rankings and in the fourth race, Robin Dawson was joint second with Paul Allen, and Chris and Laura Pickles were fourth.

The demanding conditions took their inevitable toll and only fourteen boats contested the final race of the day. Paul and Jude Allen finally had an incident free race and took the gun from Joe Pester and Paul Murphy, who were joint second with Mike Saul and Meg Fletcher in the RS 500. Many competitors were wondering if they would have sufficient energy left to do justice to the evening festivities, but for most the Italian meal and accompanying libations proved quite sufficiently restorative.

When Sunday came (all too soon for some) the wind had failed to build to the extremes that had been forecast, so PRO Steve Hunt started racing on time, aiming to sail the remaining three races back to back, before conditions became untenable.

Seventeen boats took to the water under leaden, threatening skies, as the wind whistled through the rigging. Mike Saul and Meg Fletcher revelled in the increasing breeze, winning both Race 6 and Race 7. Paul Allen took a third and a second, whilst Joe Pester and Paul Murphy finally succumbed to the conditions and fell to fifth and seventh. Mike Hart took second and fourth to improve his overnight standing, before remembering that his mast sheared off at deck level in the opening race of last year�s event and deciding to quit whilst he was ahead. Chris Pickles took a fourth and a third to give himself a very good chance of being the leading RS 200.

The wind continued to build, with vicious gusts causing problems for many in the final race. Paul and Jude Allen needed to win the final race, with Joe Pester and Paul Murphy no better than third, to successfully defend their title. They showed complete mastery of the conditions to take the gun but Joe and Paul, recovering their earlier form, finished second and so won the event. Mike Saul and Meg Fletcher were fourth in the final race, giving them third place overall and Chris and Laura Pickles were again third, ensuring that they were the first RS 200 and fourth overall.

At the Prize Giving the generous sponsorship of lead Sponsor, Ronstan, was much appreciated by the competitors, with winning helms and crews in both double and single handers receiving �50 vouchers for Ronstan chandlery and one lucky competitor winning a Ronstan kit bag.