Annual Flying Fifteen Team Racing at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

Flying Fifteen Team Racing at Bassenthwaite © William Carruthers

Flying Fifteen Team Racing at Bassenthwaite © William Carruthers

I didn't really understand the logistics of Team Racing until this year's Event. I had watched the Bassenthwaite Meeting in previous years but had thought the objective was simply to summate the scores of each team's boats. This year was an eye opener with crews luffing and covering to hold back the opposition and enhance the team's score sometimes to the detriment of their own result. (OK, so I was in the support boat and had a bird's eye view of proceedings).

There were six teams entered, two from Derwent Reservoir SC, one from Royal Windermere YC and three from Bassenthwaite.

Saturday's first race, held in a light southerly wind, saw DRSC's John Mathie crewed by Bass' Olivia Storey (DRSC A) take an early lead but Steve Goacher / Tim Harper from RWYC and John Hardisty / Nick Christie (DRSC A) got through them before the race was shortened and the wind faded completely.

After an hour's delay a strong NE breeze suddenly appeared and there was a hectic rush to re-rig and reach the re-laid start line. Neil Currie / Rory Yardley (Bass B) took the win with Hardisty / Christie again second. In the final race of the day, while others were employing tactics, there was another different result with Simon Longstaff / Jon Denwood (Bass A) winning from Mathie / Storey.

Overnight, Goacher / Harper led from Mathie / Storey. Derwent A were leading Bass A by a single point.

Sunday's wind was somewhat stronger and, again, NE as forecast. Goacher / Harper won both race 4 from Longstaff / Denwood and the final Race 5 from RWYC team mates Nigel & Gavin Tullett.

Overall, the RWYC boats took the first two places. The consistent Rob Dawson / Ian Smith (Bass A) took third with some assistance from Longstaff / Denwood who played the Team Game and dropped to fourth.

So it was Bass A who took the Team Trophy with RWYC second and Derwent A who had faded somewhat placed third.

Flying Fifteen Team Racing at Bassenthwaite - photo © William Carruthers

Overall Results: