GP14 Northern Area Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

GP14 Northern Area Championship: Shandy with all the race trophies and the overall trophies. Tom had left to try to beat the traffic on his 8hr journey home © Vanessa Devereux

GP14 Northern Area Championship: Dave Lawson and Jo Roberts 2nd overall © Vanessa Devereux

With the Allen GP14 World Championship this August, over 50 GP's competed on both sides of the Irish Sea. In England the Northern Area Championships had 23 entries and the O'Tiarnaigh Challenge Plate and Cup were being raced for at Mullingar SC in Ireland with around 30 entries.

A high-quality fleet of 24 GP14s gathered at the picturesque Bassenthwaite Sailing Club for the 2024 Northern Championships, many using it as a chance to hone their racing as they prepare for the GP14 World Championships which less than 3 months away. With wall-to-wall sunshine and light winds, it was always going to be a tactical affair with suncream an essential but welcome addition to our sailing kit bags!

Race one got under way and it was the local boat Dave Lawson & Joe Roberts renowned for being fast in light airs who took the early lead at the windward mark, but with the wind filling in as the boats approached the leeward mark the fleet compressed and a four-way battle for the led developed between Sam Watson & Andy Dawson (Nantwich and Borders SC), Adam McGovern & Ellie Wheeldon (Hollinworth Lake SC and South Staffs SC) and Tom Gillard & Shandy (Sheffield Vikings SC and East Antrim Boat Club). The led changed hands a few times before Tom & Andy took control of the race and established a clear lead, which was a sign of things to come for the weekend. They took the win followed by Dave & Joe in second with Adam & Ellie just behind in 3rd.

In race two the wind had become slightly softer, but it wasn't long before Tom & Shandy took the led which they didn't relinquish. In second it was an impressive performance by father & son team, John & Jack Telford (Bassenthwaite SC) who sailed a good race to take a solid 2nd place. After a close battle for the remaining podium place it was Russ & Ali Cormack (Budworth SC), who took the final podium spot just ahead of Sam & Andy. In the main pack an interesting battle played out on the final run between, Hender Blewett & Josh Ryznar (Derwent Reservoir SC/ RAF), Ann Penny & Cat Gingles (Derwent Reservoir SC), and Nigel Lewis & Glenys Kett (Bassenthwaite SC) running side by side as they approached the leeward mark, I looked away at the wrong moment so I am not sure exactly what transpired during this battle but the result was one boat heading upwind to the finish, one quickly trying to drop the spinnaker as they headed to the finish and the final boat doing penalty turns, great close and fair racing by all! (Results show them as Hender and Josh 16th, Ann and Cat 17th, Nigel and Glenys 18th.)

The race committee tried to get a 3rd race in but unfortunately the wind didn't play ball and racing was abandoned for the day with teams heading for a well-deserved drink while enjoying the amazing scenery Bassenthwaite has to offer. Including an ice cream van which arrives as sailing finishes!!

The evening saw the club laying on a pie and peas supper for the visiting GP and Solo fleets, although a few nipped away to the local Pheasant Inn, for a birthday celebration.

Day two arrived with no wind at all and hopes of racing looking slim, some decided to cool down with a swim, Hugh Devereux, however decided to go for a 7 mile run, I didn't join him but rumour has it when he got the call the wind had arrived he had to up his pace considerably to get back in time! He still had evidence on his leg when sailing out to the race start, crew Zena asked him to wash off the mud/sheep sh*t.

Race 3 got under way, and it was a similar pattern with Tom & Shandy taking an early lead and with it the win. Dave & Joe had a good battle with Adam & Ellie eventually finishing in that order as they did in race one.

With time running out race 4 was going to be the final race of the series. After a general recall following a big wind shift, the race team reset the course and off we went. This time it was Adam & Ellie who took the early led followed by Hender & Josh who had an amazing first beat. After the first lap however Adam & Ellie were joined by both Tom & Shandy and Sam & Andy with these three boats establishing a big lead on the fleet. With the wind shifting all the time Tom & Shandy picked their route upwind perfectly as they had done all weekend to move into the lead and complete a clean sweep of race wins; with Adam & Ellie finishing second and Sam & Andy third. In the final race the standout performance was Julie & Chirs Waddington (Bolton SC), who finished on a high in 6th place, which ensure Julie was top female helm after a close battle all weekend with Sharon & Paul Freeland (LLandegfedd SC).

What an amazing weekend Bassenthwaite Sailing Club and their volunteers treated us to, many thanks to all involved!

Overall Results: