Saturday started with patchy winds, that filled in just in time for racing, though shortly after the start the� wind did ease briefly before filling in to F1-2 for the rest of the afternoon.
By the windward mark AJ/Sue had taken the lead of the fleet of 10 boats, but it was going a it pear-shaped for them on the final leg into the leeward mark as the wind benefitted those further back. Not ot worry though, at the end of the lap they had pulled back to third behind Neil and Ian, both in Solos. There were more place changes throughout the next two laps as some gained advantage from the shifts, or better wind strengths on different parts of the course. AJ held on to Neil’s transom to finish second on the water then declaring ‘We’re going in, it doesn’t get any better than that‘.
AJ did not go ashore but was unable to repeat his performance with Val/Ken, and James/Dave, pushing him back to third on the water, so he was right, it didn’t get any better! The slightly stronger wind opened up the field a bit this time with Neil just finishing fourth, and Mike in a Streaker fifth on the water.
On handicap, the leaders converted their on the water positions to actual results, so Val/Ken lead overall, with Neil 2nd.
On Sunday, an hour before the start the lake there was a general lack of wind but it slowly filled in from the forecast westerly to provide some great racing conditions, with numerous swings, though the hour long races were probably a lap longer than the sailors were expecting.
Dave/Lyn mastered the conditions and led both races thoughout, though Val/Ken did reel in some of their lead in the second race. With two wins on handcap Dave/Lyn lead the series, with Val/Ken 2nd. AJ/Sue securing a 3rd in the first race, while Chris/Chloe in their Graduate put up a good performance taking 3rd in the second race.
Chris/Tony in a RS200 were the only boat to capsize, initially a quick one just before the second start, then a bigger one, which led to their retirement during the race.
The recent rainfall has caused the lake level to rise significantly over the last week.
Please ensure that your boat, if it is on the foreshore, will be safe should the lake flood as a result of the continuing run off from the hills combined with further rainfall over the next couple of days.
Perhaps due to a wet and windy forecast, there weren�t a lot of eager participants for the weekend championship series so the OD cancelled the racing on Saturday.
Though forecast to be stronger on Sunday, several sailors turned up, looked at the conditions, and four opted to race, two GPs, a Vareo and a F15. The conditions were sailable, despite occasional squalls to contend with, and some short, sharp showers. After two laps Val/Ken called it a day and retired, but Dave/Lynn had to sail on another couple of laps before the course was shortened. In the handicap fleet, Hugh in the Vareo finished ahead of John/Steve in the F15, so won on handicap too.
After a lunch break, the heavy rain showers put off the sailors from heading out again, so racing was cancelled for the day
Asymmetric dinghies from all five corners of the north (as in north north, proper White Walker territory without the dragons) and visitors from Scotland, & Cambridge littered the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake, with old and new friends catching up over a brew and breakfast before heading onto the water to challenge for the 10th Great North Asymmetric Challenge, sponsored by Lakes Legendary Ales.
The 10th edition of this popular event attracted 51 entries, made up of 22 RS200s, 19 RS400s, a Vision, a Vareo, an RS100, a D-One, a K6, a 29er, a Laser 2000 and a Nacra catamaran! Other than the 2012 winners, all other GNAC champions had entered with much hype as to which class would be dominant thanks to a breezy southerly forecast. The fleet of 51 was split into two starts with combined results for the overall GNAC trophy and fleet results for the RS200s and RS400 who use the popular event as part of their northern tour.
Saturday was much better than forecast, with a west-southwest breeze offering hiking conditions and a plane here and there for those that could master the breeze funnelling off Sale fell.
Paul and Jude Allen were flying around the course in their Nacra until they had a spectacular tumble! The meaning behind a yelp heard some distance away remained a mystery until the rescue crew arrived on the �scene of a horror story� with a splattering of blood all over the hull due to Paul slicing through his finger as he held on to the shroud� Ouch!!
After three hours of sailing over four quick fire back-to-back races Phil and Naomi Smith led the fleet overall (and the RS200s) counting just 5 points overnight, no easy task in a fleet of 51. In the RS400s, Chris Pickles and Matthew Sharman also from Bass, topped the fleet counting 10 points.
After a hard afternoon on the water the sailors were able to enjoy some freshly cooked fish and chips, followed by a drink or three late into the evening.
Sunday started damp and drizzly, but as some wind filled in, the weather dried up. The OD had made it quite clear the race would start at 10:30am, because he had plans get home to watch the Arsenal Tottenham game.
Unfortunately the wind came from the SW rather than the forecast S, and, like Saturday, it swung frequently to the extent that race 5 was abandoned due to the beat disappearing thanks to a massive southerly shift. The race was quickly restarted, but one general recall was sufficient for the introduction of the U flag, and several sailors were unintentionally caught out by the one minute rule throughout the rest of the day�s racing.
There were some occasional squalls that led to spectacular reaches, gybes, capsizes, near misses, and crowded gate marks, all feeding into some great racing. Some suffered �Stella� sailing, perhaps they stayed in the bar a little too long on Saturday? Others just missed their toestraps.
There was a break for lunch after race 6, following which the forecasted southerly arrived in anger, with champagne conditions offering a hike upwind, and a blast to the gate offwind.
Those watching onshore were guessing the outcome, but with such a varied fleet it was anyone’s guess really. One of the benefits of mixed handicap racing? In the end, Sunday’s breezy conditions suited the RS400s on handicap, which was a shame for overnight leaders Phil and Naomi who sailed consistently on Saturday and needed just one 8th place from the last 3 races to win the overall GNAC. Unfortunately for them, even the mid fleet RS400s were beating the leading RS200s on handicap. RS200 Northern Tour Champions, Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst from Beaver had a great Sunday sail and finished first RS200 in the last 3 windy races.
Counting 16 points from 6 races, Chris Pickles and Matthew Sharman from Bass were dominant across the varied wind range, discarding a 6.5 and a 4th to win the 10th Great North Asymmetric Challenge. Hamish Gledhill and Paul Heath (West Riding and LLSC) finished 2nd, sailing their RS400 consistently, discarding two 6th places and finishing on 20 points. Just half a point behind, Dave Exley and Alistair Coates completed the podium in 3rd, counting 20.5 points and winning 3 of the 8 races sailed. First RS200 and 4th overall was Phil and Naomi Smith, with Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst 5th overall and 2nd RS200.
Many Bass youngsters entered this year’s GNAC, with new teams finding the conditions challenging whilst demonstrating lots of perseverance, sometimes helped by lots of singing and some laughter on the race course.
Overall winners Chris Pickles and Matthew Sharman from Bass
An opportunity to use some spare camping days, resulted in a good turnout for another weekend series, especially in the slow handicap fleet with many of the Cadet squad racing.
Saturday was overcast, with a light, variable, breeze from the south, with variable being the operative word! Although the wind held for most of the first race, by the time the next race was about to start, it had eased and swung to the south west, so the start line was quickly moved and a tight triangular course set. The light wind faded even more at times, just what you need when the drizzle turned to rain for a while! At the end of the first lap, despite little sign of wind on the water, the leaders were moving relatively quickly through the water, so they continued on another lap. The leaders completed the lap in approx 20 minutes, but the bulk were affected by the wind dying until it veered more to the north.
Well done especially to those that persevered to finish, even if their total race time was only an hour!
Sunday started with mirror conditions, with the occasional zephyr disturbing the water. Only when some rain moved in did any wind appear! Racing got underway an hour late but there was wind, quite healthy at times, but the rain showers were persistent…
During the lunch break the rain disappeared, leaving some of the best sailing conditions of the weekend, especially as the sun broke through the clouds too!
In the F15s, there had been different winners in each of the first three races, though Ian/Lezliann were in a strong position with a 1st and two 2nds, another 1st in race 4 secured them the Transom Trophy, with Graham/John 2nd, so the F15 fleet opted to call it a day.
The handicap fleet had two main contenders for the Comet Trophy, and winning the last race meant the honours went to Matthew/Oliver in a 2000, with Chris/Chloe in a Graduate 2nd.
Val/Ken won the Stables Prize in the GPs with four wins. Although a birthday party prevented AJ/Sue racing on Saturday, they finished the series with a net 10 points to finish 2nd overall. Perhaps, if James/Jenny had braved the damp morning race they would have gained an extra place to beat AJ/Sue?
With no racing in the slow handicap fleet on Sunday, Bean/Lucy’s two 1sts in a Mirror on Saturday won them the Singlehanded Trophy, with Henry in a Tera 2nd
The Tinker fleet returned for their annual visit and enjoyed F3-4 westerly winds on a mild, and overcast day, with some sunny spells.
The gusts caused a couple of capsizes, and there was some minor gear failures, but racing was good and competitive.
Club racing for the weekend comprises a handicap series of four races. As with the Tinkers, the six club boats had hard, but great, sailing conditions, on a course which encompassed all points of sailing, and numerous opportunities to plane.
Steve/Ruth in a Merlin led both races, but Dave L in a Laser Radial, gave them a run for their money. AJ/Sue were revelling after their recent success, understood to a championship of the universe (or some near equivalent), and were merrily chuntering most of the way round the course!
Sunday was a different kettle of fish. A lack of wind initially, started to fill in from the west, veered to the north (coincidentally the Bothel turbines seemed settled to the north too), so a line was set. As the fleet came out, the wind backed to the west, though the turbines held their indicative north direction. The line was moved, a course with a westerly beat set, race started, then the wind veered to the north!�.
Perhaps unexpectedly, Nigel/Glenys took the lead, and definitely unexpectedly, held it for the second and final lap to win the race both on the water, and on handicap.
Due to the light wind, there was a lunch break, but with no sign of the wind returning, racing was cancelled for the rest of the day.
After the extended camping weekend and prior to the 7-week A66 weekend roadworks, on Saturday a south easterly breeze took all 3 fleets on a lopsided beat to the infamous gap, during which no matter about the odd change in wind direction, �keep going left before heading to the windward mark� was the mantra. (Just took some of us longer to listen.) After which the spinnaker colours easily identify the dinghies, as they were rarely dropped during some mild/pleasant planning conditions
Sunday morning�s wind strength and direction started much the same at 7 gusting 12 mph. The reduced numbers of boats saw everyone join the handicap fleet. In the afternoon with the sun shining a very enterprising (and loud!) OD started the fleet at mark 7 up to the top of the lake. Chris with his daughter led the beat in the Pennant race in his graduate that seems to point straight into the wind. A lead that although diminished, he never relinquished.
The August Bank Holiday camping weekend commenced early for some, thanks to an extra nights camping. A fine forecast helped with numbers both on and off the water. The Night Jar started in a steadyish easterly and a beautiful view of the setting sun on Skiddaw. Unfortunately for the faster boats, mainly Caroline and Jonathon in the RS400, the extra lap started about the same time as the dying breeze.
The junior and youth Splash Day was well attended, with 40 smiling faces at the 11am briefing. The day started with a mixing of abilities and ages, helping encourage the youngsters in teams with more experienced sailors. A le-man start, followed by sailing a lap of a triangle course, a run around the grounds followed by another lap of the course and then to finish, just a few press-ups and sit ups!! Lots of new friendships made and some encouraging signs of enthusiasm for some of the younger sailors. Almost 50 members enjoyed lunch (and a tipple) on Scarness Beach (the island as Andrea calls it?). It was a tricky sail to the other side of the lake. Starting on a reach, beating in the middle then running almost to the end, where it was a beat again! Reuben said �it looks closer than it is�, after sailing across two-up with Oliver S, with the other Oliver S leading the way in a Tera. The parents either canoed, paddle boarded or climbed into the luxury of the pioneer.
Chris Pickles set some fine courses on Saturday, in a solid westerly gradient breeze possibly bumped up by a sea breeze. Chasing the sun and the massive temperature differences, those on the top hill gifted those less fortunate with a visit to the back field, only to realise they�ve been missing out all along.
Sunday started with a small postponement as a new OD team was put in place 10 minutes before the start. Vice Commodore team of Ian and Andrea, helped by liz, stepped up and run some great racing in a punchy and chilly northerly. Jonathon was OD on Sunday in a shifting breeze, making it challenging to set a course.
Unfortunately the author was back in Manchester by then and has no idea what happened, but is sure it was fun!
Torrential overnight rain faded late morning, as did the wind, but with only one potential competitor in attendance racing was cancelled for the day.
Sunday started in a similar way, dry after a wet night, and little wind, but with a few more sailors interested in racing.
A light breeze did fill in from the south, then faded as the OD went out to prepare a start line… Fortunately it came back again, then promptly eased shortly after the start. With mirrorlike conditions the OD was ready to shorten the race at the 2nd mark, only for the wind to fill from the W/NW, which held sufficiently for the fleet to complete two laps. Despite the change in direction, the course still had a run and beat in it, which gave cause to a few changes in position, including Robbie D taking the lead from Dave L, both in Solos. In the GPs, a nervous AJ was keen to stop whilst leading at the end of the first lap, but he held his position to beat James/Jenny.
Though the wind was patchy, the fleet opted to hold the pennant race immediately after the first race. The start line was moved to suit the NW direction, which held with a few variations in strength throughout the race. Neil was trailing during the first lap, but took advantage of a major curve in the wind to take the lead which he held to the end, with Dave L a close 2nd.
