GP14 Northern Area Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club, sponsored by Impact Marine

GP14 Northern Area Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club © Neil Campbell

GP14 Northern Area Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club © Neil Campbell

GP14 Northern Area Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club © Neil Campbell

Bassenthwaite Sailing Club welcomed 25 GP14s for the Northern Area Championship over the weekend of 18-19 July, sharing the water with a fleet of 23 Flying Fifteens to create a vibrant dinghy park of 48 boats.

With wall-to-wall sunshine, sparkling water and the dramatic Lakeland fells providing a spectacular backdrop, it looked like a perfect weekend for racing. However, Bassenthwaite's notoriously unpredictable north-easterly breeze ensured that appearances were deceptive.

Light to moderate winds of around 5-10mph swung through as much as 60 degrees throughout the weekend, regularly fading before filling in from different directions. The surrounding hills made reading the shifts a constant challenge, with pressure often proving more important than choosing to follow the shifts. Crews who kept their heads out of the boat and adapted quickly to the ever-changing conditions were rewarded, while a wrong decision could cost several places in a single leg.

Three races on Saturday produced close, tactical racing across the fleet. Home club sailors Andy Smith and Ali Rimmer made the strongest start to the championship, posting two race wins and a third place to establish an overnight lead. Behind them, Russ and Ali Cormack of Budworth Sailing Club, together with Bassenthwaite's David Lawson and Joe Roberts, remained firmly in contention. Bill Kenyon and Mathew Williams (Budworth), Sam Platt and Zena Martin (Bolton) and Greg Thomas with Stuart Mackenzie (West Lancs YC/Southport SC) all demonstrated impressive pace during the day, underlining the depth of competition.

Away from the racecourse, competitors enjoyed Bassenthwaite Sailing Club's renowned hospitality, with many crews camping on site and gathering in the clubhouse on Saturday evening for a pie and peas supper before enjoying the warm summer evening with friends around the clubhouse and campsite.

Sunday began with another promising breeze that disappeared just as the fleet reached the start area, forcing the race team to repeatedly adjust the course while waiting for the wind to settle. After a delayed start and one general recall, racing eventually got under way. The breeze briefly strengthened before easing again, while further significant shifts kept competitors guessing throughout the final two races. As on Saturday, fortunes changed rapidly, with gains and losses of several places commonplace as pressure bands moved across the lake.

Despite the challenging conditions, Smith and Rimmer maintained their consistency to secure the Northern Area Championship with a race to spare. Lawson and Roberts produced an excellent final day to climb into second overall, while Russ and Ali Cormack completed the podium in third. Kenyon and Williams finished fourth overall, with Platt and Martin rounding out the top five after a consistently strong series.

The close racing extended throughout the fleet, with every shift presenting opportunities to gain—or lose—valuable places. Combined with efficient race management, excellent organisation and the warm hospitality for which Bassenthwaite Sailing Club is renowned, the weekend once again demonstrated why Bassenthwaite remains one of the highlights of the GP14 calendar.

GP14 Northern Area Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club - photo © Neil Campbell

The event was generously sponsored by Impact Marine so it was fitting that many of the top boats, including the winners, were using their sails.

Overall Results: