Sailors brave Bassenthwaite winds
Last updated 08:39, Friday, 15 August 2008
WELL over 100 boats were sailing on Bassenthwaite Lake during Bass Week 2008, which finished on Sunday.
Visitors from all over the country came to sail at the premier sailing regatta in the North West and the event continues to go from strength to strength.
The weather during the week was mixed, from light winds to gales and lots of rain.
The event was very successful. At the final prize giving the commodore, Steve Hunt, thanked everyone who had helped to make the event so successful, with special thanks to vice commodore Dave Nicholson for all his hard work in organising the event.
A special prize was awarded to Sam Hall, of Dean, as the best U19 helm from the Bassenthwaite club.
Mike Moore with Kayla Sheard and Ian Smith won the Miners Trophy for the best performing Flying 15 from the club.
Monday saw good weather with the light winds enhanced by the sea breeze as the sailors set off around the lake.
Mark Somerville (Carlisle) with Joe Roberts were the highest placed Bass boat in the fast handicap fleet, coming in third. The race was won by P Allen and J Pryde from Leigh and Lowton.
Moore and M Sheard (Preston and Broughton) won in the Flying 15 fleet. Robin Dawson in the laser fleet continued the Bassenthwaite winning ways.
In the medium handicap fleet Hugh Godfrey (Whitehaven) came second, with C Mark from Ripon winning. In the RS200 fleet there was very good competition between the Smith brothers Phil and Andy. Phil Smith eventually won the race with Andy and Emma Smith second.
Tuesday provided the sailors with a little more wind for the first race, the Dubwath Cup. In the fast handicap fleet M Hart and S Kilpatrick from Port Dinorwic won the M Somerville, with Joe Roberts from Bass second.
The Flying 15 fleet was won by commodore Hunt with J Hardisty. The RS200 fleet saw Phil Smith and Naomi Darling from Bass coming second, with T Hand and C Scott from Sutton in Ashfield first.
Robin Dawson from Bass won the laser race. In the Slow handicap Dave and Sarah Nicholson were the best-placed Bass boat, with M Allen from Leigh and Lowton finishing first.
In the mirror fleet Mik Chappell was the best placed Bass boat, with B Darling from Derwent Reservoir winning in this fleet.
The afternoon race was the Nairn Pursuit, a closely contested race with nearly 60 boats out attempting to win the biggest trophy of the week.
Local sailors Andy and Emma Smith battled through the fleet to win from M Allen from Leigh and Lowton.
Wednesday racing consisted of a three-race series and again the sailors from Bassenthwaite did very well.
The fast handicap fleet was won by commodore Hunt with B Dawson. Phil Smith and N Darling from Bass won the RS 200 series.
Robin Dawson was the best laser from Bass, with E Thomas from Leigh and Lowton winning the series. Dave and Sarah Nicholson were the best Bass boat in the slow handicap, with M Allen from Leigh and Lowton winning.
Thursday’s weather gave the sailors a rest day as the winds were too light for effective racing. Friday saw better winds and a chance to catch up with the cancelled races from Thursday.
The Lifeboat Silver Salver. a pursuit race, was won by M and A Storey from Island Barn Sailing Club.
Mik Chappell was the best Bass boat with a very creditable sixth out of 71 boats. The Martini Challenge Trophy was sailed, with M Hart and S Kilpatrick from Port Dinorwic winning the fast handicap fleet.
P Wright and J Roberts from Derwent Reservoir won in the Flying 15 fleet. T Hand and C Scott from Sutton in Ashfield won in the RS200, with Mike and Joan Cowan the best Bass boat.
Ed Thomas from Leigh and Lowton won in the laser fleet, with Bass sailor R Dawson coming second.
The afternoon racing for juniors, ladies and over-60s was no less competitive. The junior race was won by A Roberts and A Pilkington from Bolton, with Sam Hall second.
The ladies’ race was won by H Bailey and C Scott from Winsford flash, with Val Bell and Sarah Nicholson from Bass fourth. The over-60s’ race was won by G Kirkpatrick and A Smith from Bass.
For the final weekend the weather took a turn for the worse with strong winds and lots of rain.
The final races were sailed in heavy winds with several boats capsizing and some taking the option of watching from the shore.
The fast handicap fleet was won by P Allen and J Pryde from Leigh and Lowton, with M Somerville and J Roberts from Bass second.
Moore and M Sheard from Bass won the Flying 15 fleet. The laser fleet was won by E Thomas from Leigh and Lowton, with M Fairlamb the best Bass boat.
The slow handicap was won by Bass sailors Dave and Lyn Lawson, who had just competed at the GP14 World championship, finishing a very credible 22nd out of 107 boats.
After nine days of sailing everyone packed up in the rain but with smiles and many stories of the race they almost won.
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