Waples Wines Flying Fifteen Open & GP14 Northern Bell Open at Bassentwaite SC

Flying Fifteen and GP14 Open at Bassenthwaite © William Carruthers

Superb sailing weather greeted both the Flying fifteen and GP14 Fleets which were sharing the Lake and most of the courses for their events.

An excellent entry of eighteen boats from nine separate clubs were received for the Fifteens which were first away in the 5 race series. Saturday's three races each had a different winner, Bass crews Neil Currie / Rory Yardley taking race 1 where there was a general recall and Simon Longstaff / Jon Denwood took the following race win. Longstaff / Denwood were OCS in race 3 but did not return and subsequently retired. Andy & Tom Goddard from Dovestone SC won this race and held a narrow lead overnight.

A stronger wind was straight blowing down the Lake on Sunday morning and the race officer took the opportunity to use the southern marks for race 4. This gave a hard beat of some two miles with exhilarating kite legs on the return. Longstaff / Denwood took the win after a close tussle with club mates Mike Moore / Kayla Sheard.

The final race was held back to back to allow an early prize giving and departure. Currie / Yardley won this one but second place for Longstaff / Denwood gave them the Series victory.

The GP14 fleet consisted of 10 boats of which 4 were visitors. Val & Ken Bell took the initial win from the fellow Bass crew of Mike Fairlamb / Eric Smith. The following two races went to another Bass boat crewed by Dave Lawson / Joe Roberts after close contests with Bolton SC's Julie & Chris Waddington.

So Lawson / Roberts held the overnight lead and cemented a win in the event with two further bullets on Sunday. And, with two additional second places the Bolton crew beat the Bells to the runner-up slot.

Overall Results: