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