Results / Great Northern Assymetric Challenge Bassenthwaite SC - 26/04/2014

RS Vareo Grand Prix Event Number Two at Great North Assymetric Challenge 26-27 April, Bassenthwaite SC  

report by Robin Dawson with photos thanks to Chris Hunt    
        
Great North Assymetric Challenge 26/27 April 2014

Despite several other asymmetric events in the lakes this weekend, the GNAC 2014 sponsored by insurance4dinghies attracted 23 entries, including Ovington’s new VX One and four RS Vareos.

Saturday greeted the competitors with sunshine and a strong south easterly breeze. With the wind forecast set to drop on Sunday the Race Officer opted to push for 5 races. Racing was close throughout with most races being won or lost depending if you managed to secure a gust downwind. Paul and Jude Allen RS400 battled it out at the front of the fleet with locals Robin Dawson /Phil Davenport RS400 and Nathan Batchelor/Nick Kincaid in the VX One.

Mike Cowan dominated the Vareo fleet on day one and showed steady progress from an 11th and 12th in the first two races to a 4th and 5th in the last races of the day. The Allen’s consistency saw them siting in pole position overnight from Phil and Naomi Smith RS200 who secured two bullets in Races 4 & 5.

Sunday dawned and the Race Officer’s decision to squeeze the extra race in on Saturday proved the correct one. A light and very shifty NE breeze arrived and posed the RO difficulties in setting a true windward/leeward course. In Race 6 it was again the Allens at the front of the fleet but some strong
sailing from the RS200’s saw the Smith’s picking up another race win and  Paul and Sharon Plested who have been away from the scene for a while secure a well earned third place. Dave Lawson borrowed a Vareo for the weekend and showed the light winds were more to his suiting beating Mike Cowan in all three of Sunday’s races.

Race 7 had a number of overzealous starters and a few retirements as a result. This included the Smiths and Plesteds. The slightly larger course led to the Allens and Dawson/Davenport showing the rest of the fleet a clean pair of heels and a first and second on handicap. Third was Alex Leonard and
Olivia Storey RS 200 and fourth Jon/Heather Ward RS200. Current RS Vareo National Champion Mark Somerville was trying his hand in a borrowed RS 100 and moved through the fleet to pick up a 5th place.

As the wind faded Race 8 got underway. Dawson/Davenport’s early lead was soon reeled in by the Allens who went on to take the final bullet of the series and the chocolates.  Somerville showed that with a bit more time on the water he will be a force in a 100 and took second, Leonard and Storey again sailed well to pick up third with the Smiths uncharacteristically outside the top three coming home fourth.

Top 6 results:

1.    Paul and Jude Allen RS400 Leigh and Lowton
2.    Phil and Naomi Smith RS200 Bassenthwaite SC
3.    Robin Dawson and Phil Davenport RS400 Bassenthwaite SC
4.    Alex Leonard and Olivia Storey RS200 Bassenthwaite SC
5.    Mark Somerville RS100 Bassenthwaite SC
6.    Jonathan Carter Laser Vortex Rickmansworth SC

Results can be found at: http://www.bassenthwaite-sc.org.uk/14gnac/