Please select your home edition
Edition
Ovington 2021 - ILCA 2 - LEADERBOARD

Ginger Boats Mirror Northern Championship and Catapult Open at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

by Bass Press 2 May 19:30 BST 29 April - 1 May 2023
Ginger Boats Mirror Northern Championship © William Carruthers

Seventeen Mirrors and eight Catapults descended on Bassenthwaite Sailing Club on the early May Bank Holiday for a joint open meeting and to compete for the 2023 Mirror Northern Championship, sponsored by Ginger Boats.

Saturday's forecast didn't promise much and at the scheduled start time of 14:30, PRO (and Commodore) Ian Preston signalled all racing postponed till Sunday. With most competitors camping on-site, this enabled those hungry and thirsty to enjoy the club BBQs and accompanied by a few sherbets whilst overlooking the attractive views of Skiddaw. The break in the schedule also benefitted the new owners of two newly launched Ginger Boats Mirrors with extra tinkering time and much admiring from onlookers.

Sunday dawned chilly and a little damp in places, the breeze however was looking much better for the earlier start time of 10:30. With four races planned, two before lunch and two after, both fleets headed to a busy racecourse accompanied by 30 club boats racing for the Jak Pot. As the day progressed the breeze gradually built, offering planning conditions after lunch, which kept Red Seal Rescue busy with several capsizes. After four races, defending champions Phil and Oliver Smith (Bassenthwaite SC) led overnight, counting just five points from four races. Will and Isabelle Crocker (Welton SC) were second overnight but some way behind, counting eleven points.

In the Catapults John Terry (YDSC) won the first race but eventually succumbed to Gareth Ede (CCA), who won the final three races of the day and started what was to later become a very convincing score line.

Competitors were somewhat weary on Sunday evening, with fuelling required by a visit from the local fish and chip van followed by waffles from the waffle van! Emma Rydal organised a pool competition which turned out to be much more competitive than the sailing. After many, many rounds, Iona Cheyne donned the sash and was crowned (literally) as the inaugural Bass SC Pool Champ.

With two back-to-back races scheduled on Monday, competitors were rigged and ready for another 10:30 start. The breeze was similar to Sunday, a slowly building westerly which allowed some stretching of legs.

In the Mirrors, Phil and Oliver Smith built a healthy lead, winning race five and with it the Northern Championship with a race to spare. Angus and Isla Armstrong (West Kirby SC) sailed consistently, counting a second and a third to claim second overall on countback from Will and Isabelle Crocker in third. Gareth Ede continued his dominance, counting a string of first places and winning by a healthy four points from John Terry in second. George Evans (Bala SC) finished third, counting sixteen points and a score line which was improving as the series progressed.

It was encouraging to see so many children competing in the Mirror fleet. Prizes sponsored by Ginger Boats were awarded to all young competitors. The joint Flying Fifteen and GP14 open meeting, Sponsored by Impact Marine, is next up at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club on 13/14 May. Entries are open here.

Related Articles

RS 400 Trident UK Northern Tour at GNAC
Bassenthwaite SC's Great Northern Asymmetric Challenge The Trident UK Northern Tour concluded at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club as the RS400 fleet competed as part of the ever-popular Great Northern Asymmetric Challenge (GNAC). Posted on 20 Sep
2023 Great North Asymmetric Challenge
Sixty boats take part at Bassenthwaite SC Bassenthwaite Sailing Club hosted sixty boats for the 2023 Great North Asymmetric Challenge sponsored by Trident. The GNAC has become a firm favourite in the asymmetric sailing calendar, with this year's event welcoming visitors from all over the UK. Posted on 18 Sep
Great North Asymmetric Challenge preview
Enter now for this ever-growing September event Bassenthwaite Sailing Club's Great North Asymmetric Challenge (known as the GNAC) will be held on the 16th and 17th September. For those who like a gybe this is a firm favourite in the northern sailing calendar. This years event is sponsored by Trident. Posted on 19 Aug
Craftinsure Bass Week 2023
230 entries, the biggest in the last 10 years Craftinsure Bass Week 2023 was a big one, with 230 entries, the biggest in the last 10 years. The club grounds were expertly prepared for the onslaught when the gates opened at 9am on Friday 5th August. Posted on 15 Aug
Graduate Northerns at Bassenthwaite
Held over the first weekend of Bass Week A select group of eight Grads entered the Graduate Northern Championships which were held over the first weekend of Bass Week. Posted on 13 Aug
Flying Fifteen Classic & Silver Nationals
A combined fleet of 27 Flying Fifteens at Bassenthwaite The first weekend of Bass week saw six Classic and five Silver boats join a combined fleet of 27 Flying Fifteens for a series of four races to determine who would be the Classic and Silver Champions for 2023. Posted on 11 Aug
RYA NW Junior Travellers Trophy at Bass
51 youth teams encounter a strong shifty windy blowing over Sale Fell 51 youth teams headed to Bassenthwaite Sailing Club for round seven of the RYA NW Junior Travellers Trophy. The south westerly forecast didn't disappoint, with strong shifty windy blowing over Sale Fell and onto the race course. Posted on 17 Jul
Bassenthwaite Solo Open
Conditions trying to give the race officer some grey hairs Saturday dawned with a decent forecast of breeze and some very nice weather forecast for the twelve Solos entered for the Solo northern open. Posted on 11 Jul
Catapult TT at Bassenthwaite
Always sure of a warm welcome at the club The Catapult fleet returned to its annual three day May Day Bank Holiday event at Bassenthwaite SC where it always sure of a warm welcome. After an early slip Gareth Ede regained his winning ways with five wins out of six. Posted on 28 May
Impact Marine FF and GP14 Open at Bass
Feeling like the first day of summer What felt like the first day of summer greeted a fleet of fourteen Flying Fifteens and nine GP14s at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club for a combined open meeting, sponsored by Impact Marine. Posted on 16 May