While the south of the country suffered rain and floods, Bass sailors enjoyed a perfect weekend of glorious sunshine, and force 3/4 winds (even though they did have a bite to them!).There were many exciting, and testing, reaches;� the odd capsize, and even the odd boat over the line.

Over 50 members (and that renowned GP sailor Knoxy came too after Bridget offered him a bed for the night) came along and enjoyed the Spring dinner in the company of Hulio Geordio. Phil Hodgkins celebrated his fifth anniversary at the club and last chance to have a night of underage drinking (not that he did of course) with his cheeky little sports car (chocolate sponge version). John Somerville practised the highland fling on the dance floor (without crossed swords, sporran or kilt!). Emily was bribed to dance with Adrian (but wouldn’t). Ellie wouldn’t stay off the dance floor. Little Miles was heard to say that no-one would know he had carved his name on the tree. The tales of the weekend just run and run…………… What have you missed? Thanks to Steve Hunt for sending some photos to let you find out a bit more!

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As for the champions bit, Scott Beattie and John Somerville finished a highly commendable 4th at the Flying 15 Northerns held at Kielder Water, and Keith Jamieson won (or was it came 2nd?) in the classic fleet. Meanwhile several club members raced (and practised their starts over, and over, and over again) at the GP14 Inlands held on Ullswater over the 3 day weekend. John Telford and Andy Smith were overnight leaders from day one, and went on to win the championship. The rest of team Bass sailed so well that we won the prize for best Club team as well.�Full story and results

The club results were as follows

PAUL CARRUTHERS MEMORIAL

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2 Pts
 1    1210  S HUNT        RS400        2   1   3
 2    3521  P BURNELL     FF           1   2   3
 3     501  N CURRIE      RS400        3   4   7
 4    1140  J CHRISTIE    VORTEX     DNS   3  13
 5    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK       DNS DSQ  17
 5    1117  K JAMIESON    FF         DNS RTD  17
 6     595  H KNOWLES     TOPAZ      RTD DNS  17
 6   13371  J RILEY       GP         RTD DNS  17
 6    3332  W SOMERVILLE  FF         RTD DNS  17

                     Points for RTD =  7   7
                     Points for DSQ =  7   7
                     Points for DNS = 10

 2 races to count

A glorious weekend was not sufficient to tempt many people back to the water for the Fleet Challenge, but those that turned out were rewarded with good sailing winds. As ever, with all four races to count, consistency won the weekend. Rhonwen Bryce sailing her laser finished first overall with two 1sts and two 2nds, with Jim Christie in a Vortex 2nd overall.

FLEET CHALLENGE A

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts
 1  125514  R BRYCE       LAS          1   1   2   2   6
 2    1140  J CHRISTIE    VORTEX       2 RTD   1   1   9
 3   12329  J WOOD        GP           4   2   7   3  16
 4    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400        5   3  OD DNS  21
 5   13238  D NICHOLSON   GP         DNS DNS   3   4  27
 6    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK       DNS DNS   4   6  30
 7   13326  S WATSON      GP         DNS DNS   6   5  31
 8     400  T KNOWLES     RS300        3 DNS DNS DNS  33
 9   70142  T SMITH       MIRROR     DNS DNS   5 DNS  35

                     Points for RTD =  6   5   8   7
                     Points for DSQ =  6   5   8   7
                     Points for DNS = 10

 4 races to count

The Bassenthwaite GP14 Fleet took a clean sweep of the GP Scottish Area Championships at Annandale. The weather on Saturday was not for the faint hearted and all six Bassenthwaite boats took to the water with enthusiasm. An hour later several had capsized, some more than others, Toggle Cowan was beginning to think that diving was more fun. The winners of the first race were Dave and Lynn Lawson with Rich and Phil Hodgkins coming a credible third in very windy conditions. The second race was postponed as the winds continued to rise above 5 knots.

Sunday was a very different weather pattern, lots of rain and patchy wind throughout the day making sailing difficult for everyone as the wind filled from different directions and then changed direction altogether. Dave and Lynn Lawson won the first race of the day and they continued their winning ways in race three. After a short lunch break and a further drop in the wind racing looked a little doubtful, however after the start of race four the wind filled in and some very competitive racing was underway with the lead and the first six places changing on every leg of the course. Rich and Phil Hodgkins won the race, with five Bass boats in the first six places. As the final race got underway there were still a lot of places to be decided. Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith took an early lead and although Dave and Lynn Lawson sailed a good race they were unable to catch them and Mike and Eric won the race to give Bassenthwaite Sailors a clean sweep.

The Overall results for the Scottish Area Championship were – 1st Dave and Lynn Lawson, 2nd John Telford and Andy Smith, 3rd and winner of the Scottish Junior Cup Rich and Phil Hodgkins, 4th Robin Dawson and Phil Graham. Winner of the Masters prize, Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith. Word has it that Bean and Toggle won the bronze fleet!

Meanwhile, with the above boats away taking a stranglehold of the GP Scottish Area Championships, there were only a few takers at home for the Celebrity Glass Trophy. Not that Saturday’s weather helped. There was some interest before the start and several contenders rigged their boats, but only two actually took to the water – and it was so blustery that they didn’t manage to make the start line! That was enough for OD Ian Preston to abandon racing for the day before the heavens opened.

Sunday morning started damp and cold, but it brightened up as the day went on. Steve Hunt in his RS400 made the most of the reaches to win both races on the water and on handicap. He had some close competition in the second race from John Halliday, but as John was over the line at the start of the race, he had to retire. There was a tie of results between Jim Christie in a Vortex and Roy Blackburn in a Lark which was split in favour of Roy on the result of the second and final race.

Overall results

CELEBRITY GLASS TROPHY

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts
 1    1049  S HUNT        RS400      DNS DNS   1   1   2
 2    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK       DNS DNS   3   2   5
 3    1140  J CHRISTIE    VORTEX     DNS DNS   2   3   5
 4   13013  J SEDGWICK    GP         DNS DNS   4   4   8
 5   13326  S WATSON      GP         DNS DNS   7   5  12
 6    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400      DNS DNS   5 RTD  12
 7   13238  D NICHOLSON   GP         DNS DNS   6 DNS  14

                     Points for RTD =  0   0   8   7
                     Points for DSQ =  0   0   8   7
                     Points for DNS =  8

 2 races to count

Well, is that the way Bean and Toggle intend to tackle this season? Two races (and the first month!) gone, two wins and a series in the bag – what a start for them. There were nine boats racing for the first series of the season, with a good breeze to get them around the course. Bridget got her OD duty out of the way, and threw in a hook finish for good measure. Word has it there was no way they were going back out in the day sailor just to finish the boats on the water! So for the avoidance of doubt, there is only one way to finish, and, apart from being at the front of the fleet, you should cross through the finish line from the direction of the previous mark (don’t worry about rounding final mark in the direction shown on the course board).

Here endeth the first lesson.