GP14 End of Season Championships at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

GP14 End of Season Championships at Bassenthwaite © Mik Chappell

GP14 End of Season Championships at Bassenthwaite © Mik Chappell

Stewart Elder & Kayla Sheard in their Vintage GP14 during the End of Season Championships at Bassenthwaite © Mik Chappell

The weekend of 19th/20th October saw the annual End of Seasons event at Bass SC, now firmly fixed on the GP14 calendar. The weekend served a variety of purposes; the prize-giving of the 2013 Craftinsure Grand Prix, the opportunity for a fantastic social "Black Tie Do".

As a first for the GPs for a number of years, Bassenthwaite welcomed the vintage fleet, any boat that has a sail number of less than 10,000, three of which were towed up the M6 to the Northern Lakes to be rigged alongside the 33 more modern hulls, some younger than others. Race Officer Neil Currie gave a briefing, advising the 70+ sailors that it was to be a mass start of both fleets. A decent wind direction for Bass, from the South, a forecast of 10-15mph, all were ready to go - bring it on.

Well, racing would have got underway but for the over-zealous starting traits of the GPs. It took three attempts to get the race underway, the first beat up to the clubhouse on Bassenthwaite's northerly shore. Race 1 was lead, pretty much from gun to gun by Neil Marsden & Derek Hill sailing their "Marsden Sails" semi-vintage Hull, they were able to build an impressive lead – from afar they could watch a real battle between the next ten boats. Depending on who found the gusts at the right time, different boats snatched second to then find themselves thrown back down the order as the next gust missed them, transporting their competitors past them. It was whoever got the gust at the right time to teleport themselves to the front at the crucial time; Greg Thomas & Sarah Allen using North Sails timed their charge to perfection, squeezing out a group of boats who had gone high down the last run to round the final mark before the short beat to the finish. Mike & Liz Senior took third.

Leading the way in the vintage fleet were Stephen Parry & his super-light crew Louise Rodger, a late stand in for Stephen's usual crew.

A very fast turnaround, similar lottery conditions and the start sequence was underway for race two. This time the fleet got away without much of an issue, just a single gun followed the start, someone had been early. Leading the way in this race were Matt Thursfield & Nic Booth using their new Goachers, Mike & Liz Senior with their HDs again right on their transom, both Boon hulls line astern as the small gusts came and went around the racetrack. Neil Marsden was slicing his way up the order to start to put some pressure on the Seniors and Dave & Jackie Gebhard in third, allowing Matt & Nic to build enough of a lead to take the bullet. Mike & Liz kept second ahead of the Gebhards. So overnight, as the clubhouse was being prepared for the Black Tie Bash, Marsden was leading the way, The Seniors in second, Greg Thomas & Sarah Allen well up there in third.

The Vintage were again brought home by Stephen Parry & Louise Rodger giving them control of their small fleet at the halfway stage.

Saturday night was an enjoyable, relaxed celebration of the 2013 Craft Insure Grand Prix, won by Mike & Lizzie, Richard Instone & Jim Toothill coming a close second, Bass SC putting on a great evening's entertainment, from food & drink to the late night bash for the youthful GP fleet. As part of the prize giving, the assembled acknowledged the hard work put in to the traveller series by Gill Beddow and her committee, without whom the events just would not happen.

Sunday morning, a few sore heads, a stronger breeze, a course further up the lake with long tactical runs where huge gains (and losses) were to be found. Race 3 belonged to the Marsden/Hill combo to almost wrap up the weekend with a race to go. They were able to get their white hull to pull away from the chasing pack, again lead by Mike & Lizzie, the Gebhards and Thursfield/Booth having their own private battle for third. Halfway through this race, Chris Robinson crewing for Andy Tunnicliffe took control of their rig, generating a huge amount of speed. They cut through the top ten taking third place ahead of capsizing/drowning Dave Gebhard who'd pirouetted out the back of his Trident powered hull.

Once again the dominant Parry / Rodger pairing had taken the race win in the Vintage fleet to give them victory overall – although it was to be a costly weekend as Stephen's boat was to prove it really is a tank when compared to the more contemporary GPs on the water. A collision ended their weekend at the start of race 4, as well as one very unlucky GRP hull's owner.

Whatever the Goacher boys of Tunnicliffe & Robinson had done halfway Race 3, they were to repeat in the final race of the series. Despite Lee Thomas & Laura Richardson's early race pace, it was Tunnicliffe who flew in this one, leading Matt Thursfield & Nic Booth around for the majority of the hour long sail. Marsden & Hill with their superior boat handling jumped into second, but was unable to get close enough to the lead boat. Second place however was enough to see off the challenge to take the "Craft Insure" End of Seasons for the first time. Mike & Liz Senior ended with their discard, however they'd been consistent throughout the weekend the give them second, ahead of Matt & Nic in third, Andy & Chris fourth.

Leading the Silver fleet home were Greg & Sarah, punching well above where Greg thought they'd be – gold fleet next year you two – brilliant to see. Lewis & Harry Coppinger sailed an excellent series to be first Bronze as well as lead Youths, just pipping lead female helm Val Bell in the overall standings. Martin Brennan, crewed by Alistair Knott took first Grand Master just inside the top ten.

Bassenthwaite really put on a great weekend for the GPs, excellent on and off the water management giving the decent fleet a weekend to remember for a variety of reasons, whether it be on, off or in the water!! Thank you all for your contribution to the running of the event.

The Championship Committee are trying to encourage the GPs to be seen out and about on the SailJuice Series this winter. We are extracting the GP14 results out of the winter series to find the top GP winter sailors, your top three from seven events. See the new website at www.gp14.org over the coming weeks for more information.

Overall Results: