Great North Asymmetric Challenge at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club - Preview
by Bass Press 15 Aug 2025 03:37 PDT
20-21 September 2025
Great North Asymmetric Challenge © William Carruthers
Bassenthwaite Sailing Club is pleased to announce that the Great North Asymmetric Challenge (GNAC), sponsored by Trident UK, will take place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September 2025. Now a well-established fixture in the northern sailing calendar.
This multi-class regatta is open to all asymmetric dinghies. Over the years, the event has welcomed a wide variety of boats, from Vareos to 49ers and VX Ones. The 2025 edition will feature an eight-race series sailed on windward/leeward courses. It will also form part of the RS200 and RS400 Northern Tours.
In 2024, the GNAC attracted 69 entries from across the UK, including Scotland, Wales, and the South Coast. Junior participation continues to grow, with many younger sailors competing in RS Fevas. The timing of this year's event is one week before the RS Feva Northern Training weekend at Bassenthwaite which is expected to encourage another strong youth presence (leave your boat for the following weekend!).
The fleet regularly features a mix of local talent (if they can stay off the Stella), national champions, and high-profile sailors, including current RS400 National Champs and Endeavour Trophy holders Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst, winners of last year's GNAC who plan to join us again this year, but in what class...?
We caught up with Ollie for his top three GNAC tips:
- Clean start - it's shifty with big pressure differences so you want options off the start.
- Pressure/Shift upwind - the pressure differences are huge and so are the shifts! Make sure you're either on the lift or in the pressure.. if you get both you're flying!
- Downwind - find the pressure! (Helm needs to be looking backwards a lot) Linking up the gusts will give you huge gains especially if you're planing while others aren't.
Anyone else thinking Ollie and Esther think Bass is shifty!?
Camping is available on site for tents, caravans, and motorhomes. The club and bar will be open on Friday evening, and a live music is planned for Saturday night. The galley will serve breakfasts and lunches throughout the weekend, and visiting food vendors will offer a range of options, including fish and chips, waffles, and ice cream.
The first race is scheduled to start at 13:00 on Saturday 20 September. Entry fees are £35 for a double-hander and £25 for a single-hander, with a £5 discount for helms under the age of 18. That's a bargain given the way prices have been going lately.
Entries can be made online here.
Read all about previous GNACs here - 2024 2023 2022 2021