Well it is now. The final days racing was held in a force 2-3 - not boat bending weather you may think. Well William and Mike Cowan were to find out otherwise. Two minutes before the start and Mike asked if the was enough outhaul on, yanked the cord and Ping! it just came off in his hand! A quick scramble on to the transom allowed William to lash up the outhaul. It was soon very obvious that the main was going to look as full as Bridget Jones' knickers for the rest of the race. Apparently Mike Moore and Elaine Fairlamb didn't have the correct timing for the start of the race and William used this to his advantage to cover Mike as much as possible. After two laps Mike slipped out of William's windstream, took advantage of a better lift and by the time William had tacked back to take command again Mike had broken through to the lead. At this stage a piece of elastic on William's pole system went twang and more repairs on the move were required! To top it all, on the final leg, his kicking strap gave up the ghost as well!
Ginge and Jose had a final(?) sail around the course in their GP before upgrading to a new Duffin for next season. No mishaps, no capsizes and Jose kept her knickers dry too - how uneventful! Not quite the same could be said for Tim Chittenden in his laser though - he underestimated the windstrength a little and found that the gusts made for excellent planing conditions but they always came just at the gybe mark! So the prize for the last capsize(s) of the year must go to Tim. Let's hope his teeth stop chattering before next season.
As the race was on fleet handicap, Mike Moore won both the Bassenthwaite Burgee and the Flying Enterprise Trophy for being first Flying 15.
In fact, Sunday's racing concluded the Tinker Trophy leaving one race and two prizes to be sailed for next week - the Bassenthwaite Burgee and the Flying Enterprise Trophy.
The morning race started in light airs with Bridget and Ginge crossing the line first while William and Mike Cowan re-rigged the genny, and Mike Moore and Elaine just couldn't get to the line on time. However, Mike didn't hang back for long and soon had a spectacular lead. When the wind faded, the gaps between the boats narrowed; William gained an advantage from the change of wind direction but couldn't quite break through (or even get an overlap if you believe Elaine!). Although Mike broke away again on the final beat, the fickle winds enabled Ginge to catch up enough to take the race on handicap. Certainly, due to the lack of wind, it wasn't to be the day that Jim Christie was to demonstrate his prowess 'on the wire' in his Laser Vortex.
For the final race, Ginge, Mike and William were all on equal points. This forced Bridget to take to the water for another race (instead of going home to finish that Secretary's report!). William took the first beat, but Mike powered back off the wind to take the lead. The gap varied with the wind strength. With just two marks to go, William was just 50yds behind Mike, but Mike rounded the mark and escaped the wind shadow leaving William to be swallowed up in a hole. William, unable to close the gap suuficiently to rescue a place, subsequently retired. Ginge and Bridget battled on but the final results gave first place, and the Tinker Trophy, to Mike and Elaine.
Overall results:
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 3473 M MOORE FF 3 4 2 1 6
2 13142 A HODGKINS GP 4 DNS 1 2 7
3 3268 W CARRUTHERS F 2 5 3 RTD 10
4 530 K CLARK FF 1 3 DNS DNS 13
5 33434 S WATSON MIR DNS DNS 4 3 16
6 2504 K THOMAS FF DNS 1 DNS DNS 19
7 13161 S SPENCE GP DNS 2 DNS DNS 20
8 102591 J CHRISTIE LAS DNS DNS RTD DNS 24
Points for RTD = 5 6 6 5
Points for DSQ = 5 6 6 5
Points for DNS = 9
3 races to count
No, I'm not talking about Mike Cowan, who, it is reported, snores like a truck on the M6 (Mike Fairlamb confirmed that when he slept with Mike C he suffered just as badly!!) and who had been out with Andy Smith celebrating the return of the Phil from Oz.
Anyway, back to the point. Want another sneaky look at Bridget's diary?
Saturday:
After the boys' success at Annandale last week, let them use our
boat. Of course, that meant Ginge and I were in that Red Shed. It
puts the wotsits up me! Fall about the place, get bruised and I'm
petrified of getting my Natsy's wet yet again. Anyway, one race
was enough. Managed to persuade(?) William and Alan to sail the
shed to show themselves up. Didn't soddin' work did it!! Al's
spinnaker work wasn't up to his usual standard and the boys
pulled through and sat on them William for a while. The gusts
came in and the shed fell further behind (tee hee). More gusts,
the boys struggled, William and Alan crept past, the boys went
for a swim! Robin and Becky also cooled off with a quick dip.
William was second - why can't we do that? At least he wasn't on
the same leg as Mike Fairlamb as he took the winners bell.
This years Flying 15 Viking Team Racing Trophy was held in mixed conditions. For those that may not sailed in the series before, the weekend comprises four straight races for which teams of three boats add together all their results to determine the winning team. Although there is friendly rivallry throughout the weekend one of the main aims seems to be not making such a drastic mistake that you qualify for the Grotty Potty!
In the first race, Mike Moore and Eric Smith went out on a limb on the first beat, sailing up to (or was it under?) Peel Wyke and were first to the windward. mark. Next beat John Hardisty and Roger Errington (Derwent) also thought it seemed like a good idea, promptly ran out of wind, dropped from 2nd to 16th and became first contenders for the Grotty Potty.
The wind had swung around to the North West for race two, and again the chancers had their moments. William Carruthers and Phil Smith having sailed up the western side of the beat had to deal with a slight header just before the windward mark, duck behind several boats, tack for others, almost collided with a reluctant port tacker (Howard Green and Jonathan Bullen to be precise) who fended William's boat off with great vigour such that William was then moving backwards!! So from a potential first at the windward mark, William cleared it in about 12th position!
At the next mark, Neil Platt T-boned fellow team mates Ian and Andrea Preston and promptly had to do a 720 in failing winds. Another contender for the Grotty Potty?
After Race three, John Gerrard's crew made an attempt at becoming a Grotty Potty contender by jumping on to a non existent submerged jetty. Just as well he was wearing a drysuit!
Final race and the winds again caused a stir by throwing one or two holes into the equation and then a lifeline to some of the tailenders. Not that he was a tailender, but this time John Hardisty took advantage of the situation and slotted himself into second position.
The unassailable champion of the weekend was Steve Goacher and Phil Evans who worked his way through to win all four races. Unfortunately, his team mates were unable to show their true colours. Ah well, perhaps another year (if Steve doesn't pre-arrange his team).
Overall results:
R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts
Two Bottles 3702 T Crumpton 4 8 5 8
of Dog and 3636 J Hardisty 16 6 6 2 72 1
a Currie 3330 N Currie 5 5 4 3
----------------------------------------------
3729 N Platt 2 11 2 4
Crazee Boobs3593 I Preston 17 10 13 14 88 2
3638 H Green 3 4 3 5
----------------------------------------------
Zee Gulls 3721 S Goacher 1 1 1 1
follow Zee 3268 W Carruthers 6 15 9 13 100 3
Trawlers 3521 P Burnell 15 17 14 7
----------------------------------------------
Harrison 3640 P Wright 11 14 10 6
Ford 3737 S Robinson 8 7 12 12 107 4
Lookalikes 3675 A Tatters 7 2 8 10
----------------------------------------------
3725 H Simpson 10 12 19 19
Flying Scots3606 I Laidlaw 12 9 16 15 154 5
3666 J Gerrard 13 3 15 11
----------------------------------------------
3332 M Somerville 9 16 7 16
3M 3473 M Moore 14 13 11 17 165 6
3385 M Middleton 18 18 17 9
----------------------------------------------
And as for the grotty potty, it went to Ian Preston for causing(?) his team mate Neil Platt to do a 720!
With the Southport 24 hour race being a week later than Sailing Secretary Andy Smith expected, the visiting Tinkers had to share the lake with some larger than usual club fleets.
High winds on Friday evening eased in time for Saturday racing and at least 20 of the visiting boats took to the water in some breezy airs. However, there was some relief as the course took the boats under the lee of the shoreline. The gusty winds continued throughout the weekend and all sailors enjoyed themselves.
Overall winner of the weekend was Ray Young with David Warren 2nd and Stewart Warden 3rd. Finishing 4th overall, and leading 2up, was Malcolm and Elaine Ellwood.
The Jim Reely Memorial Trophy for the most improved helm over the season went to Peter and Anne Cross.
Bank holidays are generally perceived to be family fun days at the seaside or in a popular tourist location in the warm sunshine and that was exactly what it was like at Bassenthwaite over August bank holiday. Lots of families sat and picnicked, some just content to watch but many joined in the races in the pleasant warm breezes.
Whilst the usual ardent competitors battled it out for various championships, many such as Sue Watson and Leila Cook from Whitehaven were much more relaxed and laughed their way round the courses in pursuit of the twins, Rob and Tim Smith (after mum Pat was sent home for their dagger board!!) in the mirror class with other mirrors popping in and contesting various races.
A good GP fleet of 10 boats was dominated by Lynne and David Lawson but it was great to see youngsters Richard and Phillip Hodgkins doing well in an outclassed older GP 14 boat then doing even better when they borrowed their parents newer boat. Watch out Ginge in case they claim it more often.
Mark Somerville again won the lasers from P Murray and Matthew Fairlamb who arrived home from university to find his parents away for the weekend and whether by accident or design had left him unable to get in the house or get his sailing gear. Good thinking Mike!
Flying fifteen fleet was won by Scott Beattie crewed by Nick Smith despite Nick forgetting his stop watch for counting down to the start gun and leaving the painter tied to the front of the boat and slowing it down for a lap or so. Bets were being taken as to whether Will Carruthers and Daddy Smith were taking a leaf from the match fixing cricketers and paying Nick a backhander, however, despite a lot of tit for tat pumping (nothing to do with Linda's little **** machine) by Alan and son Nick , it was only on the final beat that Scott broke through to win with William in second place. Paul Burnell, the Lake District warden, must have been studying the wind patterns on the lake as he and David Woodhead finished in fourth place in the last race after narrowly losing out to Mike Moore just on the finish line.
Once again an excellent weekend and thanks must go to John Knowles who did a great job as a temporary starter and helped the OD’s set some excellent courses.
Titbits: Sunday's racing could have been based on a
LeMans start for some fleets - in the first race, for OD Ian
Preston it was a case of starting ready or not, and several
lasers and GPs (including the Dave Lawson) were only just on
their way to the line when their race started!
Mike Parry having maintained a considerable lead for a long time
in the first race, panicked on the final beat to hold on to a
place, misjudged how long hid F15 was and collided with William's
transom.
Mike Moore eager to not give water at one mark, went around it
the wrong way. (He used it to his advantage and promptly took
back all three places that he lost on the next beat!)
Dave Lancaster tested his ejector seat and sent crew Steve Hannah
for a swim when a gust hit them on an early reach!
Several late night drinkers tried out numerous designer drinks
including Cheeky Vimtos and Strawpedoes - strangely they didn't
seem to suffer from Keith's 'food' poisoning the next morning.
Final Results
FLYING FIFTEEN FLYING FREE TROPHY
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 3673 S BEATTIE 1 1 1 4 1 3
2 3268 W CARRUTHERS 3 2 2 1 2 5
3 3473 M MOORE 2 4 4 2 3 7
4 3560 I CAMPBELL 6 3 3 DNS DNS 12
5 3503 D LANCASTER 5 6 DNS 3 5 13
6 3231 M PARRY 4 5 5 DNS DNS 14
7 3521 P BURNELL DNS DNS DNS 5 4 18
8 2504 K THOMAS DNS DNS DNS 6 DNS 24
Points for RTD = 7 7 6 7 6
Points for DSQ = 7 7 6 7 6
Points for DNS = 9
3 races to count
LASER AUGUST TROPHY
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 Pts
1 161866 M SOMERVILLE 3 1 1 2
2 151286 P MURRAY 1 3 3 4
3 169106 A SMITH 2 2 2 4
4 131943 J ROWBOTHAM 4 4 4 8
Points for RTD = 5 5 5
Points for DSQ = 5 5 5
Points for DNS = 5
2 races to count
GP14 AITKEN CUP
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 13176 D LAWSON 1 1 1 1 1 3
2 13326 R DAWSON 2 4 2 4 RTD 8
3 169106 A SMITH 4 2 3 3 3 8
4 13259 W ROBERTS 5 6 4 5 2 11
5 12329 H GODFREY 3 3 5 6 DNS 11
6 11679 R HODGKINS 7 7 DNS 7 5 19
7 13142 A HODGKINS 6 5 DNS 9 DNS 20
8 13013 N LEWIS DNS DNS DNS 8 4 23
9 13371 J RILEY DNS DNS DNS 2 DNS 26
10 13118 V BELL DNS DNS DNS 10 6 28
Points for RTD = 8 8 6 11 8
Points for DSQ = 8 8 6 11 8
Points for DNS = 11
3 races to count
MIRROR MIRROR MUG
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 69675 T SMITH DNS 1 1 1 1 3
2 33434 S WATSON DNS 2 2 2 2 6
3 69056 DNS DNS DNS 3 DNS 13
4 48881 DNS DNS 3 DNS DNS 13
Points for RTD = 0 3 4 4 3
Points for DSQ = 0 3 4 4 3
Points for DNS = 5
3 races to count
Bassenthwaite provided a mix of weather and testing winds for OD Andrew Greenhalgh and sailors alike. However, the weekend ended in sunshine and steady winds.
Hon Secretary Jose Hodgkins, aka Bridget Jones, stood in to present the prizes on behalf of Commodore Miles Middleton.
Final Results
ENTERPRISE NORTH WEST AREA CHAMPIONSHIP
PN Boat Helm Crew Club 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 1 MARK LUNN CHRIS PARKER WEST LOWE YC 4 1 2 1 4
2 22905 PAUL PLESTED SHARON PLESTED WINSFORD FLASH 1 2 1 3 4
3 22525 EVAN DUNN ANGELA MURPHY LOCH LOMOND 2 3 3 2 7
4 19980 RICHARD CORN NIKI BURREL WINSFORD FLASH 5 5 4 4 13
5 22272 NICK MILLER INNIS WILKINSO WINSFORD FLASH 6 4 6 DNS 16
6 22885 MALCOLM LUNN ALEX HALLIWELL LEIGH & LOWTON 9 6 5 6 17
7 20116 JONATHON BRI AMY HOLLAND WINSFORD FLASH 10 9 7 5 21
8 22344 MIKE BIRCH VERITY BIRCH WINSFORD FLASH 3 8 DNS DNS 25
9 21101 PETER HEATON DIANE CORNES RUDYARD LAKE S 12 11 9 8 28
10 21983 J BERRY J BERRY ETHEROW DNS DNS 8 7 29
11 22715 ANDY TAYLOR KATHRYN HAYFIE DELPH SC 8 7 DNS DNS 29
12 22706 KAREN TAYLOR ANDREW HAYFIEL DELPH SC 7 10 DNS DNS 31
13 21580 PATRICK MANN JAN DAVIES DELPH SC 11 12 DNS DNS 37
Points for RTD = 13 13 10 9
Points for DSQ = 13 13 10 9
Points for DNS = 14
3 races to count
LASER OPEN MEETING
PN Boat Helm Club 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 161866 M SOMERVILLE BASS 1 1 1 4 3
2 137629 MATT FAIRLAM BASS 2 2 3 2 6
3 151286 PHILIP MURRA BASS 3 3 4 3 9
4 138537 B SHAW KILLINGTON DNS DNS 2 1 12
5 6372 K MURRAY BASS 4 5 DNS 5 14
6 169106 REBECCA DAWS BASS RTD 4 6 DNS 17
7 160516 T CHITTENDEN BASS 5 6 DNS DNS 20
8 143097 P LAWSON BASS DNS DNS 5 6 20
Points for RTD = 7 7 7 7
Points for DSQ = 7 7 7 7
Points for DNS = 9
3 races to count
MIRROR OPEN MEETING
PN Boat Helm Crew Club 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 70010 G MCGILL L MCGILL SUNDERLAND 2 1 3 1 4
2 70000 S BITHELL J TOOGOOD HOLLINGWORTH 1 2 1 2 4
3 69417 G HUGHES SAM HOLLINGWORTH 3 4 4 3 10
4 39970 D HUGHES P MANNING HOLLINGWORTH 4 3 6 5 12
5 69164 C BIRREIL A MITCHELL WINSFORD FLASH DNS DNS 2 4 15
6 33434 R HODGKINS P HODGKINS BASS 6 6 7 6 18
7 39588 R HAIGH J HAIGH RWYC 5 5 DNS DNS 19
8 69675 T SMITH R SMITH BASS 8 8 5 7 20
9 68887 M SNAPE L COOK BASS 7 7 8 DNS 22
Points for RTD = 9 9 9 8
Points for DSQ = 9 9 9 8
Points for DNS = 10
3 races to count
SINGLE HANDED MIRRORS
PN Boat Helm Club 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 40984 T GATTI YEADON DNS 1 1 1 2
2 66781 I SMITH BASS DNS 2 RTD RTD 5
Points for RTD = 0 3 3 3
Points for DSQ = 0 3 3 3
Points for DNS = 3
2 races to count
With a good mix of visitors and local boats, the open meeting seems to have been dominated by wins to Bassenthwaite helms (and crews). Congratulations to David and Lynne Lawson on winning through consisently good sailing.
Overall results
GP14 OPEN MEETING 2001
PN Boat Helm Crew Club 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 13176 D LAWSON L LAWSON BASS 3 1 1 RTD 5
2 13482 J TELFORD A SMITH BASS 1 9 5 1 7
3 13326 R DAWSON P SMITH BASS 2 2 7 3 7
4 8162 C AUBREY K LIVESEY BOLTON 6 4 2 7 12
5 13526 A FOULDS O DEWHURST BURWAIN 4 7 9 2 13
6 13680 N BROOK A BROOK HOLLINGWORTH 7 11 3 4 14
7 13218 M BRENNAN A KNOTT HOLLINGWORTH 5 5 4 5 14
8 13327 M FAIRLAMB M COWAN BASS 11 3 8 6 17
9 13215 G KNOX P BRAMWELL HOLLINGWORTH 9 16 6 8 23
10 13322 R TAYLOR S TAYLOR RWYC DNS 12 10 9 31
11 13190 C MASSEY E MCKEE DOVESTONE 10 10 15 11 31
12 254 M GREENHALGH D GREENHALGH BASS 12 DNS 12 10 34
13 13115 J WADDINGTON C WADDINGTON BOLTON 8 13 14 15 35
14 13075 R DIN S GREY HOLLINGWORTH 14 6 17 17 37
15 371 J RILEY N LEWIS BASS RTD 8 11 RTD 40
16 13142 A HODGKINS J HODGKINS BASS RTD 14 13 14 41
17 13616 G MASSEY C MEYER DOVESTONE 15 15 16 12 42
18 13110 S HEYWOOD R HEYWOOD HOLLINGWORTH 13 17 19 13 43
19 13338 A MONK C MONK GLOSSOP & DIST 16 19 18 16 50
20 13013 R HODGKINS W LEWIS BASS 17 18 20 19 54
21 6642 J SHARP K HANKINS BASS 18 20 21 18 56
Points for RTD = 21 21 22 22
Points for DSQ = 21 21 22 22
Points for DNS = 22
3 races to count
Sunny pursuits
23/24 June comprised series of fleet pursuit racing. The tradition for the series when the prizes were initially awarded was that helms, together with their crews, would sail in someone else's boat for each race so that top helms would prove that they could do well even when sailing a shed!! However, as the investment in boats increased there was a reluctance to throw your boat into the hat for just anyone to sail. Hence the format has evolved such that the better helms have to start later than the rest. So if you see some strange results below, that's why.
After winds faded during Saturday's first race, leaving Commodore Miles Middleton stranded for some time, race 2 was cancelled.
In the GPs, Robin Dawson hot footed it with his new bride Rebecca from their wedding ceremony to win the first race on Sunday. I'm assured it was only the handicapping that stopped them winning the second race! However, congratulations to the happy couple. Similarly, congratulations go to Val and Ken Bell on winning their first trophy in their new boat.
Some consistent sailing by Wendy Somerville and Elaine Fairlamb, enabled them to take the Bryson Helm Trophy while son Mark Somerville took the Foxtail Trophy in the lasers.
BRYSON HELM
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 3332 W SOMERVILLE 1 DNS 2 1 2
2 3231 M PARRY 2 DNS 3 2 4
3 93503 J SOMERVILLE DNS DNS 1 4 5
4 530 K CLARK DNS DNS DNS 3 9
5 3385 M MIDDLETON 3 DNS DNS DNS 9
Points for RTD = 4 0 4 5
Points for DSQ = 4 0 4 5
Points for DNS = 6
2 races to count
FOXTAIL TROPHY
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 161866 M SOMERVILLE 2 DNS 1 2 3
2 167828 I MACPHERSON 1 DNS 2 3 3
3 137629 M FAIRLAMB 3 DNS 3 1 4
4 66942 TBA 4 DNS DNS DNS 9
Points for RTD = 5 0 3 4
Points for DSQ = 5 0 3 4
Points for DNS = 5
2 races to count
ROSSWEAR TROPHY
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 13118 V BELL DNS DNS 2 1 3
2 13326 R DAWSON DNS DNS 1 2 3
3 13142 A HODGKINS 1 DNS DNS DNS 8
4 12682 E SMITH 2 DNS DNS DNS 9
5 6642 J SHARP 3 DNS DNS DNS 10
6 11679 R HODGKINS 4 DNS DNS DNS 11
Points for RTD = 5 0 3 3
Points for DSQ = 5 0 3 3
Points for DNS = 7
2 races to count
Commodore's Prize
On 16/17 June the GPs were sailing for the Commodore's Prize while the Flying 15s were sailing for the Mellor Mug.
A fresh north easterly breeze on Saturday before racing started frightened off some F15 sailors and left William Carruthers/Tim Chittenden to battle it out with Mike Moore/Ian Smith. The winds had eased by the start of the race; William was first to the windward mark and continued to increase his lead on Mike. This was helped somewhat by one of the intermittent gusts which left Mike somewhat water logged. In race 2 William again took an early lead but a windshift on the second beat allowed Mike to sail a course 20 degrees higher and take the lead which he held until the finish. On Sunday the wind was from the North with odd gusts swinging from either side. Those that stayed with the wind were on a winner. Mike Moore tussled with Ian Campbell/Tony Fisher throughout race 3 and took another first. William took the lead for race 4 but slipped into a calm patch for a minute and ended up chasing Ian all the way to the finish. So everything depended on the outcome of the final race. Mike followed the western shore, which he had favoured all weekend, and was first to the windward mark followed by William then Ian. This order continued to the finish and was, indeed, the overall result.
For the first race of the Commodore's Prize, a strong fleet of GPs was lead by Andy Smith/Mark Somerville until the final beat when a windshift dumped them into 5th position. Mike Fairlamb/Mike Cowan took advantage of the situation, and held on to first place until the finish. David/Lynne Lawson took command of all four remaining races and won the series. As with the F15s, the top flight of competitors enjoyed some excellent racing for which the outcome was generally determined by the vagaries of the wind rather than poor sailing.
MELLOR MUG
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 3473 M MOORE 2 1 1 3 1 3
2 3268 W CARRUTHERS 1 2 3 2 2 5
3 3560 I CAMPBELL DNS DNS 2 1 3 6
4 3521 P BURNELL DNS DNS 4 4 4 12
5 530 K CLARK DNS DNS RTD 5 DNS 17
Points for RTD = 3 3 6 6 5
Points for DSQ = 3 3 6 6 5
Points for DNS = 6
3 races to count
LASER ISEL CUP
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 137629 M FAIRLAMB DNS DNS DNS 1 1 2
2 131943 J ROWBOTHAM DNS DNS 1 4 2 3
3 152106 R STOREY DNS DNS 2 2 DNS 4
4 128898 O MASON DNS DNS 3 5 DNS 8
5 12324 D PRYDE DNS DNS DNS 3 DNS 10
6 160516 T CHITTENDEN DNS DNS 4 DNS DNS 11
Points for RTD = 0 0 5 6 3
Points for DSQ = 0 0 5 6 3
Points for DNS = 7
2 races to count
COMMODORES PRIZE
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 13176 D LAWSON 3 1 1 1 1 3
2 13327 MiFAIRLAMB 1 4 4 2 2 5
3 13254 A GREENHALGH 5 3 2 4 5 9
4 169106 A SMITH 2 5 5 3 6 10
5 13326 R DAWSON 4 2 6 5 4 10
6 13539 J CRUICKSHAN 6 6 3 6 3 12
7 13142 A HODGKINS 7 7 8 7 DNS 21
8 11679 R HODGKINS 10 9 7 DNS DNS 26
9 12324 D PRYDE 8 8 DNS DNS DNS 30
10 13118 V BELL DNS DNS 9 8 DNS 31
11 6642 J SHARP 9 RTD 10 DNS DNS 31
12 12682 E SMITH RTD 10 DNS DNS DNS 36
Points for RTD = 12 12 11 9 7
Points for DSQ = 12 12 11 9 7
Points for DNS = 13
3 races to count
Bassenthwaite Sailing Club hosted an excellent weekend sailing for the Flying Fifteen Northern Championships on the 9th/10th June. Weather conditions varied from light winds in hot sunshine to strong winds with sudden squalls and even heavy rain for a short period. It was an event that proved to be a complete test of a well-sorted boat and efficient crew.
Officer of the day Andy Smith did an exceptional job, giving a variety of courses in the changeable winds that often characterise sailing at Bass.
A visiting fleet included former world champions Steve Goacher and Alan Bax (Northampton) along with Terry Crumpton (Derwent Reservoir), Neil Platt (Bolton), Chris Ducker (Windermere) and Tony Lee (Derwent Reservoir) so the competition was going to be fierce.
Neil Platt/A. Gerard (3729) stormed round the first race in strong conditions to notch up their first win with Goacher (3721) and Crumpton (3702) battling it out for 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Race 2 was held in even stronger conditions with some wild squalls screaming down the lake and during these squalls both Neil Platt (3729) and R Coates (3484) both lost their masts when standing rigging gave way with expensive results. Goacher won race 2 and Howard Green had just opened his birthday present from his wife and found inside a brand new fifteen (3734). He took his pal Ian Preston for a sail and ended up with second place. Lucky man Howard! Terry Crumpton was again 3rd – very consistent.
Sudden heavy rain lashed by stiff winds made race 3 rather unpleasant at times and after a good race Alan Bax posted a 3rd position to keep him in contention but with Goacher getting another win the championship was getting very difficult to win. D Douglas/A Weatherspoon (3590) separating the pair with Bass members Scott Beattie/ John Somerville (3673) in 4th. After the days racing the B&B’s, hotels and pubs locally did some welcome business in what has been a very bad year for tourism and the visiting sailors were very pleased with the hospitality shown.
Sunday was a wonderful day, warm sunshine and good winds all day. Past Bassenthwaite member Martin Stott (3219) certainly enjoyed it, leading the fleet in race 4 for much of the time and the all female boat of Wendy Somerville/Elaine Fairlamb (3332) were right up finishing in an excellent 5th position just behind Alan Bax, Chris Ducker, Howard Green and once again, Steve Goacher. The classic boat of J Arnold/M Pearce (2663) was being sailed brilliantly and leading the classic /silver fleet easily.
The final race of the series was superb with good long beats followed by some varied spinnaker legs and places were swapping constantly. Neil Currie having sold his flying fifteen last years borrowed the ex-Goacher boat (3521) and was right up among the leaders with Paul Burnell crewing. They eventually finished 5th. Another longstanding FF stalwart Graham Kirkpatrick, having recently sold his boat to Ireland, is considering a classic fifteen and so borrowed 2504 and managed to keep it in the top 10 until just pipped on the line. Andrew Dunning/Dave Lawson (3641) got into the groove and after battling with Terry Crumpton/John Mathie finished 3rd and 2nd respectively. Howard Green/Ian Preston were 4th, Alan Bax 6th and William Carruthers/Alan Smith 7th. Scott Beattie was 8th after doing turns for hitting a mark and a further two turns for hitting Ian Campbell whilst doing turns! Goacher and Evans showed just how brilliant they are and this cheerful pair took line honours once again and thus retained another Northern championship in convincing style.
After the event it turned out that Terry Crumpton's boat had not been measured and so he was disqualified from the championship.
An enjoyable event for all. The club has several other big events scheduled to take place and are hoping to increase dramatically the classic/silver classes in future events together with a much bigger prize list. Interested? Watch this space
Final results
FF NORTHERN
CHAMPIONSHIP
PN Boat
Helm
Crew
Club
1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 3721 S GOACHER
P EVANS
WINDERMERE
2 1 1 1 1
4
2 3638 H GREEN
I PRESTON LEIGH
& LOWTON 4 2
5 2 3 11
3 3611 A BAX
J WYLING
NORTHAMPTON 3
5 3 4 5 15
4 3673 S BEATTIE
J SOMERVILLE BASS
7 3 4 6 7
20
5 3521 N CURRIE
P BURNELL BASS
5 4 8 9 4
21
6 3703 C DUCKER
R RIGG
WINDERMERE
6 6 7 3 8
22
7 3641 A DUNNING
D LAWSON
BASS
10 10 6 10 2 28
8 3590 D DOUGLASS A
WEATHERSPOON DERWENT RESERV
11 14 2 11 9 33
9 3268 W CARRUTHERS A SMITH
BASS
8 13 11 13 6 38
10 3690 T KIRCHIN
D KIRCHIN LOCH
LOMOND 15 7
9 DNS 16 47
11 3695 T LEE
G DAWSON
DERWENT RESERV RTD 8 10
20 11 49
12 3560 I CAMPBELL T
FISHER BASS
16 9 20 14 12 51
13 2663 J ARNOLD
M PEARCE
OGSTON
12 11 13 15 24 51
14 3595 P KITCHEN
D KITCHEN TEES
& HARTLEP 14 19 12
12 14 52
15 3473 M MOORE
I SMITH
BASS
13 12 16 18 13 54
16 3281 M WATSON
D FIRTH
BASS
17 16 19 8 21 60
18 3219 M STOTT
D BRITTON NOTTS
COUNTY 18 21 15
7 26 61
17 3332 W SOMERVILLE E FAIRLAMB
BASS
26 25 18 5 20 68
19 3640 P WRIGHT
C CARRUTHERS DERWENT RESERV
19 18 23 17 17 71
20 2504 G KIRKPATRICK K THOMAS
BASS RTD
24 14 24 10 72
22 3587 R DONALDSON N HEDLEY
DERWENT RESERV 9 17 24
23 23 72
21 3083 B GLOVER
N GLOVER
DRAYCOTE DNS
23 17 16 18 74
23 3470 S MACLEAN
I MACLEAN ROYAL
FORTH 22 20
21 22 15 78
24 3385 M MIDDLETON P
HODGKINS BASS
25 15 26 21 22 83
25 3232 S ROBINSON D
VASEY
DERWENT RESERV 20 26 22
19 25 86
26 3237 S THOMSON
C NEWMAN
WINDERMERE 21
27 25 25 19 90
27 3729 N PLATT
A GERRARD BOLTON
/ WEST 1 RTD DNS DNS DNS
97
28 2741 D DANDO
P METCALFE TEES &
HARTLEP 24 22 27 26
28 99
29 3484 R COATES
R WALKER
TEES & HARTLEP 23 RTD 28
27 27 105
30 193 J ASPIN
M FULLARD S
WINDERMERE DNS 28 DNS
DNS DNS 124
31 3724 P BROWN
C BOOTH
NOTTS COUNTY RTD DNS DNS DNS
DNS 126
Points for RTD 30 32 29
28 29
Points for DSQ 30 32 29
28 29
Points for DNS 32
4 races to
count
Weekend Racing
On Saturday there were two races contributing to the Max Joule Memorial Trophy. All classes started together, the results being calculated on boat handicap. In the first race, the wind was light and shifting round to the north. The windward mark, buoy zero, often has shifts, but Saturday’s were exceptional. As the boats neared the mark, much to the consternation of the sailors, those who had gone up the left hand side of the leg were lifted about 20 yards from the mark, as were those who had gone up the right hand side of the leg! Consequently, no-one could tack for the mark. Andy Thomas (Branthwaite) somehow managed to pick the perfect line and was first round the mark in his laser. The two flying fifteen boats had gone via Keswick and were well down the fleet. However, by the third leg, the fifteens were back in front, followed by Andy Thomas and a couple of GP 14s sailed by Robin Dawson with Phil Graham (Wigton) and Mike Fairlamb (Deanscales) with Mike Cowan (Maryport). First across the finish line was Tim Smith (Harrington) in a club topper – the light winds allowed him to sail a lap less than the rest of the fleet. Dave Lancaster with Steve Hannah (both Cockermouth) were next to cross the line, but lost out on handicap to Robin and Phil. Andy Thomas was third on handicap. The wind then picked up to a good blow for the start of the second race. Mark Somerville (Carlisle) sailed an excellent first leg to take the lead ahead of the two flying fifteens sailed by Mike Moore (Preston) with Ian Smith (Harrington – but no relation to the other Smiths!) and William Carruthers (Carlisle) with Alan Smith (Harrington). William and Alans’ hard work putting on new sails and adjusting the rig tension while the first race took place, paid off and they took a considerable lead. The wind then decided to drop and shift through 180 degrees before picking up again. Fortunately, there was still a beat in the course. William and Alan crossed the line first, followed by Mike and Ian. These places stood even after handicaps were calculated. In the light winds, the lasers and GPs were trying their hardest to roll tack and make use of what little wind there was. Unfortunately, Andy Smith tried a bit too hard and got wet! There were lights winds again on Sunday, but they were a bit more consistent. In the first race (part of the championship series) Dave and Steve in their fifteen took an early lead but were caught by Ian Campbell (Papcastle) with Tony Fisher (Carlisle) and also by William and Alan. Ian managed to get well in front, but William kept catching him. However, William could not get close enough and Ian won the race. The laser race was closely fought between Ian MacPherson (Brampton) and Hugh Godfrey (Whitehaven) with the lead changing every lap. Ian was the eventual winner. The GP14 race was much closer with four boats going round the first mark together with Mike Fairlamb and Mike Cowan in the lead. They held this lead for a couple of laps, but were overtaken by Robin and Phil who won the race. Andy Smith and Mark Somerville had exchanged their lasers for a GP in this race, but were notable by their absence from the front of the fleet. Apparently it was a bit warm for them and they decided to go swimming!
Old Man's Prize
The Jimmy Lancaster Memorial Trophy was the final race of the weekend. It was sailed as a pennant race and the course took all sailors around the lake.
Although there was a south westerly wind in the Northern bay, the wind curved around the corner at Scarness to allow the boats to enjoy a broad reach with spinnakers for the next part of the leg. However, some wind sneaked over Sale Fell and swooped down vertically on to the course resulting in gusts coming from various directions at the same time.
Mike Moore and Ian Smith in a Flying 15, having secured several boat lengths lead by the windward mark, hugged the East shore to lead the Flying 15s into the second mark at the bottom of the lake closely followed by William Carruthers/Alan Smith and Ian Campbell/Tony Fisher. The vertical downdraughts started to take their toll after the fleet had manoeuvered across the lake to Mark 13 and started heading back up the lake. Although Neil Garrison in a Dart18 lead the fleet most of the time, the inconsistent wind prevented him from breaking clear away. William was the first to head back into the middle of the lake and took the lead F15 position. As Mike slipped back to 3rd behind Ian the other fleets faired well in the changeable airs.
There were a couple of casualties to the sudden gusts - John Sharp and granddaughter Kitty Hankins were the first to capsize; the second casualty was Ian Campbell who took on so much water that he had to go onto a reach to pick up speed but just seemed to take on more water!
Others suffered so much to the vagaries of the wind that they took a short cut to the finish (and missed out a couple of marks) - not good practice for the sailing secretary and his assistant sailing a GP!
First across the finish line was William, followed by Neil Garrison and Dave Lancaster who had sneaked past Mike at Scarness.
When the results were calculated on a personal handicap basis, Dave Lancaster was first, William was second (by 16 secs) and Robin Dawson third (by another 23 secs). So with Dave Lancaster winning the trophy awarded in his father's memory it will be dubbed the Old Man's Prize this year.
Overall results
JIMMY LANCASTER MEMORIAL TROPHY
PN Boat Helm Class 1 Pts
1 3503 D LANCASTER FF 1 1
2 3268 W CARRUTHERS F 2 2
3 13326 R DAWSON GP 3 3
4 13327 MiFAIRLAMB GP 4 4
5 3473 M MOORE FF 5 5
6 3521 P BURNELL FF 6 6
7 167828 I MACPHERSON LAS 7 7
8 12329 H GODFREY LAS 8 8
9 6642 J SHARP GP RTD 14
9 6905 N GARRISON D 18 RTD 14
9 169106 A SMITH LAS RTD 14
9 33434 S WATSON MIR RTD 14
9 3560 I CAMPBELL FF RTD 14
Points for RTD = 14
Points for DSQ = 14
Points for DNS = 14
1 race to count
Bank Holiday Racing
While the cats are away...
With the GP14 Inlands being held at Derwent Reservoir there was a chance for the rest of the fleet to enjoy the sweet smell of success. Ginge and Bridget (aka Jose) Hodgkins took the opportunity by the throat and ran away with Saturday's first race from Hugh Godfrey and Tim Knowles. With the second race heading the same way, for the first lap at least, until Hugh and Tim broke through the excitement was so much that Bridget almost wet her Gnatsy Gants!!. Congratulations to them on their successes.
The Celebrity Glass Trophy was sailed for by a fleet of 13 boats. There was a fresh breeze at times, the sun broke through the clouds many times but the rain failed to materialise. The wind picked up for Monday's racing. William Carruthers tried his hand in Neil Garrison's Dart and some feel he failed miserably - ok so tacking in light winds in difficult enough but going on to pass mark 0 to port and starboard at the same time (i.e. letting it pass between the hulls!!) outside was not a good move. As the wind picked up he managed to get into 2nd position on the water (but last on handicap!).
The 2nd race started in stronger winds, but when some gusts knocked over several boats at once the OD abandoned racing. Of course there were many tales to tell. Was it stopped because Miles was in the lead. Was the Dart too much for William and that's why he capsized? (Actually the main sheet had come adrift and was being tied up when the gusts came in toppled the boat)
Overall results
CELEBRITY GLASS TROPHY
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 161866 M SOMERVILLE LAS 2 1 1 2 4
2 3521 P BURNELL FF 3 8 3 1 7
3 3385 M MIDDLETON FF 5 4 2 DNS 11
4 3231 M PARRY FF 4 5 4 OD 11
5 3729 N PLATT FF 1 2 RTD DNS 15
6 13371 J RILEY GP 6 6 DNS 3 15
7 167828 I MACPHERSON LAS 6 7 5 5 16
8 151286 P MURRAY LAS 8 9 DNS 6 23
9 13161 S SPENCE GP 10 15 8 9 27
10 13118 V BELL GP DNS 14 7 8 29
11 6642 J SHARP GP RTD 12 RTD 7 31
12 6905 N GARRISON D 18 11 13 9 DNS 33
13 530 K CLARK FF DNS 10 6 DNS 36
14 6372 MURRAY LAS DNS 3 DNS DNS 43
15 130579 A THOMAS LAS DNS DNS DNS 4 44
16 13013 N LEWIS GP 9 DNS DNS DNS 49
17 3268 W CARRUTHERS D 18 DNS DNS DNS 10 50
18 46053 L PEARSON MIR DNS 11 DNS DNS 51
19 12324 ? GP DNS DNS DNS RTD 52
Points for RTD = 13 16 12 12
Points for DSQ = 13 16 12 12
Points for DNS = 20
3 races to count
Results Update
You wouldn't have thought it was the middle of May, and after a lovely spell of fine sunny weather when, on a foul Thursday evening, seven GP14 dinghies raced in rain, gloom, dark clouds and a variable wind. However, nobody capsized and all went well in the sailing department. The winner of the race was Mike Cowan (Crosby, Maryport) with Ginge Hodgkins (Brigham, Cockermouth) coming in second.
The weather was better on the following Saturday with a decent breeze for the first race, but the wind became a bit shifty and quiet during the second race. Both races were part of a series for each class of boat.
The Flying Fifteen series of 10 races is for the Dawson Trophy, and Mr and Mrs Somerville (Dalston, Carlisle) won these two races, in separate boats, John winning the first and Wendy the second.
Eight GP 14s raced on both occasions, the series of five being for the Aitken Cup. The first race was won by John Telford (Whitehaven), the second by Robin Dawson (Carlisle).
In the Mirror class series of 10 for the Bates prize, two races were held, the Smith twins of Harrington, Tim and Rob, winning both.
On Sunday there were two races, under sunshine and blue skies with light winds, for the Banana Stakes prize. The races are normally sailed around the lake but, because of the lack of wind, the first one was sailed at the north end of the lake, the second one being round the lake and taking two hours or more because of the slight wind.
The results of these two races jointly are worked out according to the Portsmouth (handicap) number for the dinghy classes, because the boats all start at the same time and are deemed to be of different speeds.
Those arriving first at the finishing line in race 1 were: GP14 - David Lawson (Kendal); Flying Fifteen - John Somerville (Dalston); Laser - Mark Somerville (Dalston).
In the second race, round the lake, the first Flying Fifteen was helmed by William Carruthers (Carlisle), the first GP14 by Robin Dawson (Carlisle), and the first Laser home was sailed by Mark Somerville (Dalston).
BUT, because the calculations seem to favour the slightly slower boats, the final results, when worked out, showed GP14s in the first four places, the winner being David Lawson (Kendal), one point ahead of Robin Dawson (Carlisle).
Overall results
BANANA STAKES
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 Pts
1 13176 D LAWSON GP 2 2 4
2 13326 R DAWSON GP 4 1 5
3 13327 MiFAIRLAMB GP 5 3 8
4 13013 N LEWIS GP 6 4 10
5 93503 J SOMERVILLE FF 1 11 12
6 161866 M SOMERVILLE LAS 7 8 15
7 3268 W CARRUTHERS FF 11 5 16
8 3560 I CAMPBELL FF 12 6 18
9 3521 P BURNELL FF 9 12 21
10 3503 D LANCASTER FF 14 9 23
11 13161 S SPENCE GP 10 15 25
12 13482 J TELFORD GP 3 DNS 26
12 13254 A GREENHALGH GP OD DNS 26
14 6642 J SHARP GP RTD 7 28
15 3231 M PARRY FF 18 10 28
16 13118 V BELL GP 8 RTD 29
17 3332 W SOMERVILLE FF 16 13 29
18 501 N CURRIE RS400 15 14 29
19 530 K CLARK FF 17 16 33
20 125514 R BRYCE LAS 13 RTD 34
21 144638 J LAST LAS 19 17 36
22 41143 LET US KNOW! MIR DNS RTD 44
Points for RTD = 21 21
Points for DSQ = 21 21
Points for DNS = 23
2 races to count
More Blue Skies
Who cares if the South of the Country was at risk from a bit of rain? Rain what's that? Yes sailors all enjoyed another weekend of blue skies and a bit of gloriously warm wind thown in. Ok, so the wind may have been suffering from a bit of sun stoke because it certainly struggled to make its mind up which way it should blow from! However it all lead to many changing fleet positions and some excellent racing.
Overall Results
FF EASTERLY TROPHY
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 3268 W CARRUTHERS 1 2 1 3 1 3
2 3560 I CAMPBELL 3 1 4 1 3 5
3 3473 M MOORE 2 3 2 2 2 6
4 530 K CLARK DNS DNS 6 4 4 14
5 3231 M PARRY DNS DNS 3 6 RTD 16
6 161866 M SOMERVILLE 4 4 DNS DNS DNS 16
7 3385 M MIDDLETON DNS DNS 5 5 RTD 17
Points for RTD = 5 5 7 7 7
Points for DSQ = 5 5 7 7 7
Points for DNS = 8
3 races to count
GP EASTER TROPHY
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
1 13176 D LAWSON 1 1 3 1 1 3
2 13326 R DAWSON 2 2 6 4 2 6
3 13482 J TELFORD 4 3 1 5 3 7
4 13327 MiFAIRLAMB 3 5 2 6 5 10
5 13254 A GREENHALGH 5 6 5 2 4 11
6 13371 J RILEY 7 4 7 3 DNS 14
7 13142 A HODGKINS 8 7 9 8 6 21
8 13013 N LEWIS DNS DNS 8 7 7 22
9 13467 T KNOWLES OD DNS 4 DNS DNS 23
10 11679 R HODGKINS 9 9 10 10 RTD 27
11 13113 JuCRUICKSHAN 6 8 DNS DNS DNS 30
12 13118 V BELL DNS 10 11 9 DNS 30
13 6642 J SHARP DNS DNS OD DNS DNS 35
Points for RTD = 10 11 12 11 9
Points for DSQ = 10 11 12 11 9
Points for DNS = 16
3 races to count
Apologies to Jose for reporting verbatim the tale of her getting her knickers wet again. Now it seems she may be suffering from the Bridgette Jones syndrome as she doesn't want mention of her Natsy Gants(?) 'cos she now wears her cossie! Only joking (about the apologies)....
Back in business
The sailing season started with a vengeance for the May Bank Holiday weekend. Clear blue skies, brisk winds (interspersed with the odd hole) and an excellent turnout.
Sunday's Starter's Prize racing comprised a two race series for all classes, sailed on a fleet handicap basis. In the first race the Flying 15s struggled to shake off Mark Somerville in his Laser and Robin Dawson/Phil Graham in their GP; they finished 1st and equal 2nd (with Scott Beattie in the lead F15) respectively. The second race took the fleet to the bottom end of the lake. William Carruthers/Alan Smith took an early lead but was passed by Scott Beattie and Ian Campbell after falling into the shadow of the point off Bassenthwaite Church. However, as the wind eased on the fleet that had hugged and crept up the western shoreline, William took the lead again and managed to break away from the fleet for the next 50 minutes to take first place on the water and on handicap. Robin and Mark again sailed very well to secure 2nd and 3rd on handicap. Overall positions: 1st Mark Somerville, 2nd Robin Dawson and 3rd William Carruthers.
Monday's racing was the first club championship series. Light and variable winds in the first race were the cause of several frustrations but who cared on such a glorious day? The swinging winds continued throughout the afternoon to turn reaches into runs, runs into fetches, and reaches into beats! Indeed for the last race, the wind changed so much between laying the line and starting that the Flying 15s started on a run, but with freshening winds backed by a sea breeze, the race proved to be the most exhilarating of the weekend.
FF Results:
FF JACK POT 2001
PN Boat Helm 1 2 3 Pts
1 3673 S BEATTIE 1 1 1 2
2 3560 I CAMPBELL 2 2 2 4
3 3268 W CARRUTHERS 4 3 3 6
4 3473 M MOORE 3 4 4 7
5 3332 W SOMERVILLE 5 5 5 10
6 3385 M MIDDLETON 6 6 6 12
7 530 K CLARK RTD 7 RTD 15
Points for RTD = 8 8 8
Points for DSQ = 8 8 8
Points for DNS = 8
2 races to count
Titbits: