GP14 Northern and Scottish Bell Training and Open at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

GP 14 Northern and Scottish Bell Open at Derwent Reservoir © Al Conn & Bob Vaughan

With a high pressure system dominating over mainland Europe, we were blessed with unusually warm summer weather and South Easterly prevailing wind conditions. Saturday's training day was fully booked with 12 boats on the water. Training to sailors was provided by Adam McGovern and supported by Justin Smith, to all ability levels.

On Friday night visitors were greeted and gathered together with a pub meal in Edmundbyers.

Training numbers were split around 50:50 between visitors and local boats. Experience ranged from seasoned open meeting competitors to beginners, Dom and Rebecca and Chris and Gabe. Chris and Gabe had an unfortunate capsize after the main sheet block parted from the centre of the boat, but this was quickly fixed during the lunch break on Saturday.

Justin came across during the training to give Arthur and Fiona some advice on the spinnaker. Arthur was indicating not to worry too much, as Fiona was just filling in for the weekend. He took some delight in explaining that it wasn't Fiona, it was Arthur who needed educating.

On Saturday evening the club put on a group meal and cheeseboard in the clubhouse. Cat Gingles provided entertainment with a challenging pub quiz across five categories, followed by a sweepstake for the Grand National. It was likely that Adam McGovern and Justin Smith would dominate the racing results on Sunday, and so leaving the keys to the bar in their hands on Saturday night was deemed the optimal strategy to try to level the playing field.

We woke up to champagne sailing conditions and the race officers Alistair Conn and Bob Vaughan set up a square line and tidy course near the eastern end of the lake due to the easterly prevailing winds forecast of 10 knots. 4 races were scheduled for the day and they were all delivered.

Race 1

Race one was a clean start for the top two, Adam McGovern and Justin Smith who led Hender Blewett and Nicky Leech to the windward mark. Lap two saw Tom and Jamie Partridge slip past into second at the leeward mark, and on the last leg of lap 3, Blewett renewed his membership to the idiot club, throwing a third place finish down the drain after thinking he had one more leg to go, and slipping into 7th Place.

GP 14 Northern and Scottish Bell Open at Derwent Reservoir - photo © Al Conn & Bob Vaughan

Notable performance by Alan Jones and Sue Watson as they skipped up two places into 3rd, closely followed by Simon Henshaw and Sue Webb into 4th. Simon McVey and Lillian Ainscough were extremely competitive all weekend; but dropped a place on their last lap and came 5th. Paul O Neil also suffered in race 1, after slipping down the ranks to finish in last place.

Paul had problems with his spinnaker in the first race, and for the greater good he didn't fly it again! Steve Parry had a great day- just quietly getting better and better.

Race 2

In race 2 Adam McGovern progressed from 2nd place fighting with Simon McVey and Lillian Ainscough to prevail in first place overall. Simon Henshaw and Sue Web started in 5th place dropping to 7th on lap 2 but pulled out a fantastic recovery to finish third, beating Alan Jones and Sue Watson in the process. Hender Blewett & Nicky Leech had a poor start and suffered spinnaker rigging trouble causing them to be in 10th place after the first lap but a series of good beats brought them up to 7th. Tom Partridge and Jamie Partridge started in 7th gained 2 places on the second lap before dropping back and holding onto 6 after a close battle with Steve Parry in his famous old yellow boat.

Race 3

Seasoned competitors, Alan Jones and Sue Watson from Bassenthwaite led the fleet all the way round and successfully defended against Adam McGovern and Justin Smith; who took second from Steve Parry and Oliver Gabbitas. The yellow boat sailed consistently well with a top finish in race three of third place. Simon McVey and Lillian Ainscough secured a 4th place. Consistency is King! Something must have gone seriously awry with Jonathan and Seb Neagle from RWYC, dropping from 9th place all the way down to 14th, which is unusual for this very racy lightweight helm & crew combination.

GP 14 Northern and Scottish Bell Open at Derwent Reservoir - photo © Al Conn & Bob Vaughan

Lunch was delayed and the Galley & Race Organisers took the wise decision to send out all the pre booked packed lunches via the safety RIB crew who kindly delivered meals on the water between race 3 and race 4, (a nice touch)

Race 4

Alan Jones and Sue Watson received penalty turns on the start line for not keeping clear (windward boat) of Hender Blewett and Nicky Leech, whilst Jonathan and Seb Neagle immediately put the trouble in race 3 behind them by leading the fleet in the first two laps only to be overtaken by Adam and Justin on the last lap. Simon McVey and Lillian Ainscough once more demonstrated their killer consistency. Noteworthy recoveries were from home boats; Ann Penny & Cat Gingles finished in 7th, gaining 3 places and Bob Skelly & Chris May jumped up 4 places during the race, going from last place to 11th. Adam Vaughan & Susan Goodchild had a shocking race for starting 7th in lap one but ending up in 13th by lap 3. Perhaps the spectre of rigging failure was hitching a ride with them in the last race of the day.

GP 14 Northern and Scottish Bell Open at Derwent Reservoir - photo © Al Conn & Bob Vaughan

A huge thank you to all of the travellers who supported the event and to Adam McGovern and Justin for taking time out of their busy schedules to do the training. Thanks also to Ann Penny for her help and experience in ensuring the event ran smoothly, and to the Derwent Sailing Committee for all the arrangements that go unnoticed behind the scenes.

Round 2 of the Northern Area Championship is in Bolton on Sunday 11th May and we look forward to seeing you there.

Overall Results: