Catapult Open at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

by Stuart Ede 10 May 2007 07:31 BST 5-7 May 2007

The 5-7 May TT was a family affair, when Gareth Ede beat father Stuart in the 10 boat fleet.

A cracking start in Race 1 enabled Gareth to seize a lead he steadily increased, while Stuart worked his way through the fleet to second place.

George Evans and Stuart overtook leaders Cliff Antill and Gareth by going a different way up the last beat of Race 2. George won, but Gareth reclaimed second, when a header slowed Stuart in the last 50m.

Cliff Antill led Race 3, chased by Gareth. Stuart, who had come from the back, tacked ahead of Gareth near the finish, but Gareth had the speed to sail over him and regain second place behind Cliff.

In Race 4, the long distance race, John Peperell, followed by Gareth, grabbed the lead approaching the furthest mark, and then a prolonged, localised gust helped them disappear into the distance while the fleet languished. Gareth overtook John on the last beat to snatch a win, which assured him first place overall.

Race 5 determined the other podium places. Confusion over a changed starting sequence gave Stuart a head start that he held onto, despite challenges from Justin Evans and Gareth, “catapulting” him into second place overall.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Club	Pts
1st	521	eXCIse	Gareth Ede	Filey SC	6
2nd	247	Curved Air	Stuart Ede	Filey SC	9
3rd	510		George Evans	Bala Cat Club	12
4th	17		Cliff Antill		18
5th	518		Justin Evans		19