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.
