Flying 15 Open and Team Racing at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club
By Roy Blackburn on 24 Oct 201122-23 October 2011
Fifteen Fifteens turned up to contest the Bassenthwaite Open Meeting and Team Racing event on the 22nd of October, despite a forecast which threatened winds of up to 35mph. The event is run as a normal open event but, in addition, there is a team racing element. Competitors form themselves into teams of three boats and aggregate scores determine the team standings.
Before the start the wind was relatively light in the bay, considering the forecast. However, the 'cats paws' flying across the lake in all directions were suggestive of a very drunk and malevolent moggy. An extremely competitive fleet assembled with Steve Goacher making the trip from Windermere and nine visitors journeying west from Derwent Reservoir to join the five home boats.
The first race started on time and Race Officer 'Round the Lake' Toggle justified his soubriquet. Fifteen Fifteens were soon disappearing southwards through the gap. Hopefully they would reappear at some point.
It was, in point of fact, some time before the fleet returned, as the wind at the other end of the lake had eased, failing to live up to its forecast ferocity. John Hardisty and Roger Errington made excellent use of the conditions to lead the fleet home in the first race with Steve Goacher and Richard Rigg in second place. Simon Longstaff and Jon Denwood from the home club were third.
As the hoped for breeze had failed to materialise at the other end of the lake, the second race was sailed in the bay. Normal service was resumed, with Steve Goacher winning from Neil Platt and Ian Smith, from Bass. Simon Longstaff was again third with John Hardisty only managing fourth.
Steve Goacher had shown his shrewdness onshore before racing began by selecting Simon Longstaff and Neil Platt as his accomplices in the team racing event (which is to say they mugged him in the boat park) and they comfortably topped the standings overnight.
Sunday morning dawned with some apparent reluctance; it was grey and dreary, with the strong overnight winds having eased. The Race Officer took the fleet out for two races back to back in a moderate SE breeze. As the start approached a watery sun threatened to break through. Close racing was enjoyed throughout the fleet with Steve Goacher and Richard Rigg again taking line honours from Rod Huddleston and Chris Tew, with John Hardisty and Roger Errington in third.
Although he had wrapped up the series Steve Goacher elected to stay out and contest the last race for the good of his team, although it could have been argued that he didn't really need the practice!
In the event a really close race ensued with Neil Platt and Ian Smith edging out Goacher and Rigg to take second overall. John Hardisty and Roger Errington took third place in the race, which secured them third overall.
The 'Mercenary Bass Tards' lead by Steve Goacher and Richard Rigg took the honours in the Team Racing event by a very comfortable margin.
The prudent timing of the Race Officer was applauded by all when, a short time after racing had finished, the wind increased to Force Stupid, in line with what had been threatened all weekend, and four foot waves rolled down the length of the lake.
Open Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 3721 | Steve Goacher | Richard Rigg | RWYC | -2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2nd | 3770 | Neil Platt | Ian Smith | Bass SC | -7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 3rd | 3906 | John Hardisty | Roger Errington | Derwent Res SC | 1 | -4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 4th | 3973 | Simon Longstaff | Jon Denwood | Bass SC | 3 | 3 | -5 | 5 | 11 |
| 5th | 3801 | Rod Huddleston | Chris Tew | Derwent Res SC | -9 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 14 |
| 6th | 3737 | S Robinson | Alan Baker | Derwent Res SC | 4 | -11 | 9 | 4 | 17 |
| 7th | 3940 | John Mathie | Steve Turley | Derwent Res SC | 5 | -13 | 6 | 9 | 20 |
| 8th | 3939 | Athol | Trevor | Derwent Res SC | 6 | 7 | -8 | 8 | 21 |
| 9th | 3496 | Dave Gebhard | Jackie Gebhard | Derwent Res SC | 10 | 6 | 7 | -11 | 23 |
| 10th | 3473 | Mike Moore | Sally | Bass SC | -11 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 25 |
| 11th | 3829 | David Douglas | John Thompson | Derwent Res SC | 8 | 10 | 10 | -13 | 28 |
| 12th | 3695 | David Vasey | Andy Vasey | Derwent Res SC | -12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 33 |
| 13th | 3390 | Tim Chittenden | Alan Jones | Bass SC | -13 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 35 |
| 14th | 3675 | Lionel Sainsbury | Richard Swinney | Derwent Res SC | -15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 43 |
| 15th | 3265 | Keith Thomas | Emma Davenport | Bass SC | 14 | 14 | (DNC) | DNC | 44 |
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