This year’s GNAC attracted over 60 boats from as far as afield as East Lothian in Scotland and Llandegfedd in South Wales. There was a promising forecast F4 wind gusting F6, though as it was from the ENE it restricted the windward/leeward course length slightly.

There were two fleets, all racing on handicap, and the start lines were busy to say the least. Though there was a couple of single recalls on the first two races, the black flag was introduced for the slow handicap fleet after a general recall in races 3 and 4!

The faster boats had the advantage of clear airs for the first lap of each race, though the general recalls made that second beat somewhat busy. The forecast gusts came in and created some exciting planing conditions, and the frequency of the gusts increased throughout the afternoon, resulting in numerous capsizes, even by birthday boy Dave Exley!

When the finish times were adjusted on handicap, despite wrapping his main sheet around the spreader mark, Bass sailing secretary, John Reekie/Andy Tunicliffe came out on top with two 1sts and a 2nd, with Chris Pickles/Matt Sharman 2nd, Mark Somerville/Joe Roberts 3rd, and leading visitor Hamish Gledhill/Ross Southwell from West Riding/Leigh and Lowton SC 4th

Sunday’s forecast was lighter, but from the SE, so the OD enthusiastically set the course up through the Scarness narrows which proved fortuitous as the direction held for all races. However, the varying wind strength made it difficult to manage the overall race length, so the length of the beat shrank as the day went on!

The racing remained competitive throughout though there were some mixed fortunes depending on the wind strength.

Overall Andy Couch/Mart Couch from Blithfeild SC in a VX One had some consistent 2nds and 3rds to beat Pix/Matt in a RS400 by just two points, with John/Andy in a 59er third.

Final results RS400s RS200s

There was a fleet of 51 boats for this year’s NW Junior Travellers Trophy. The forecast was for a base F3 wind gusting F5, but it didn’t put off any of the young sailors.

Racing got underway at 12 noon, just after a squall arrived, but didn’t cause many capsizes. With the wind coming from the SSW the downwind leg of the trapezoidal course was occasionally in the shadow of Sale Fell, and unexpectedly light. As some gusts came through there were various capsizes, and some spectacular planing. The race was won by Max Rawlinson/Eddie Johnson in a Feva, with Mya Fance/Seren Green, also in a Feva, 2nd.

The course was slightly narrower in the next race, and it helped keep the boats in the wind. Again, there was some windy conditions just before the start, and the squalls passing through kept the rescue crews occupied. Max/Eddie took another win with Oliver Hirst in a ILCA6 2nd.

After a short break ashore, the wind freshened yet again during the start sequence!. Shortly after the second start, a widespread squall soon flattened a quarter of the fleet, so the was abandoned and sailors headed ashore.

With no major damage, and the wind settling, another attempt at starting the third race was made. However, there proved to be two winds, with the gusting wind taking precedence, so several start sequences were stopped, as the OD amended the course waiting for the wind to settle. Sailors had clean starts for all three races, and there were more capsizes, and some great planing conditions at times. With the wind freshening again, the race was shortened, and sailors headed ashore for the evening, with the temptation of a visiting fish and chip van, although due to unforeseen circumstances it wasn’t able to attend!

Sunday’s forecast was for stronger baseline winds from the west but with bigger gusts. Having checked the wind before the start, the OD deemed conditions suitable. About a third of the fleet were less optimistic and opted not to race, but those that sailed had more good racing, great planing conditions, and some shifty, capsize inducing gusts!

Max Rawlinson/Eddie Johnson continued their mastery of the conditions, winning all five races, and the event overall. Similarly, Oliver Hirst had two more 2nds, finishing 2nd overall. George Jacobs in a Byte was 3rd.

Best Bass helm was Cameron Somerville in a Laser 4.7 finishing 10th overall. Brother Matthew and Henry Bullen, in an RS200, may have beaten him had they not spent so much time swimming!

Final results

On Saturday there was a one day open for Lasers, Solos, and Teras with an entry of 25 boats over the three fleets. Warm weather had returned with a forecast of light F2 winds gusting F3 generally from the SSE.

Racing got underway on time at 11am with just one Laser, Richard Benson from Tynemouth, being OCS, and having to return. Greg Liggins from Derwent Reservoir generally led the Lasers, but there was some close competition at times, especially as the wind veered to the SW enabling Sale Fell to cast a shadow on the second beat in the course, resulting in drifting conditions at the top of the leg. When the fleets escaped the wind shadow, the wind had freshened and veered more to the west. Being close on Greg’s transom at the final leeward mark, Andy Thomas used the wind shift to his advantage by freeing off for speed, and taking the win.

The start line was relocated for the 2nd race, but the fresh winds at the end of the 1st race had eased, and continued to swirl, so there was an earlier than planned lunch break during which the wind seemed to settle back from the west.

A windward/leeward course was set for the 2nd race, and again the only helm too eager with his port on port start, and caught OCS, was Richard Benson but he failed to return. The wind strength varied but the direction was steady until the final beat when the wind veered more to the NNW, and another wind shadow enveloped the windward mark.

The start line was moved for the final race, but, frustratingly, the wind backed soon after racing was underway, so the race was shortended after three laps.

In the Lasers, Greg won the final two races to win overall, with Andy 2nd. Local Alex Reed had led most of the final race, but finishing 2nd to Greg pulled him up the ranks to 3rd overall.

In the Solos, there were different winners for each race with only two points separating the first four boats. Andy Carter from Leigh & Lowton winning overall, with John Reekie from Bass 2nd, and Rory Yardley 3rd.

In the Teras, Andrew Reekie had three straight wins, Oscar Davenport three 2nds, and Oliver Smith three 3rds, finishing in that order overall.

Final results