Catapult Northerns at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club
by Stuart Ede 9 May 2009 21:14 BST
2-3 May 2009
Bassenthwaite Sailing Club hosted the Catapult Northern Championships over the May Day bank holiday weekend. Force 3 breezes on Saturday provided competitive sailing.
On the third lap of Race 1 Stuart Ede went from mid fleet to first by playing the shifts up the beat. By the finish he was being pressed closely by his son Gareth.
Justin Evans led the fleet for the first lap of Race 2, but Gareth Ede grabbed the lead up the next beat. Meanwhile his dad and Alastair Forrest duelled for second place, which Ede Senior snatched by a narrow margin.
Sunday was windy and gusty. A boat from another fleet interfered with several Catapults at the start of Race 3. Stuart Ede squeezed between him and the committee boat to take the lead. Evans dogged Stuart’s footsteps all the way to the finish.
Antill was first to the windward mark in Race 4 followed by Forrest. Gareth Ede fought his way through the fleet and led briefly until his outhaul snapped. After much place changing Antill crossed the line just ahead of Ede and Forrest.
Stuart Ede got clear away first in Race 5, while son Gareth and Antill battled for second. They were so absorbed in their duel that they went well above the rhumb line on the broad reach and let Forrest sneak through. As they rounded the last leeward mark, it was Forrest narrowly ahead of Antill and Gareth. Gareth was able to tack first to claim a dead heat with Forrest.
Going into the last race, Stuart Ede was ahead of son Gareth on points with Antill lying third. Stuart led for the first two laps, but Gareth reached past him on the last lap. Stuart’s second was enough to claim the Northern Trophy.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Stuart Ede | Filey SC | 7 |
| 2nd | Gareth Ede | Filey SC | 8.5 |
| 3rd | Cliff Antill | | 15 |
| 4th | Alastair Forrest | | 18.5 |
| 5th | George Evans | Bala Cat Club | 26 |