Great North Asymmetric Challenge (GNAC) 2022
by Paul Allen 20 Sep 2022 13:58 UTC
Great North Asymmetric Challenge (GNAC) 2022 © William Carruthers
140 competitors sailing 74 boats ignored the forecast and headed to Costa del Bass for the 11th Great North Asymmetric Challenge. This popular event attracts the who's who of asymmetric sailing in the North, with this year's entries over double what they were pre Covid. During the briefing visitors and members fell silent for one minute to honour Queen Elizabeth II.
The forecast was light winds Saturday and nowt on Sunday, but the reality was much better with sunshine and a force three on Saturday and similar on Sunday until the rain arrived and the wind faded for the last race. Race Officer Andy Smith and his team on the Bates set a busy schedule of four races per day, with quick turn arounds in-between races, no easy feat when the start line required constant tinkering in the shifting west to north westerly winds.
The fleet of 74 was split in two, with thirty RS400s and a handful of other fast asymmetrics starting first, shortly followed by twenty six RS200s also with a handful of similar speed asymmetrics including five youth teams sailing RS Fevas. The objective of splitting the fleets so the slower boats had a chance of a competitive start worked with seven races and seven different winners!
Following a postponed start and a course change, race one kicked off in a building force two to three. Those who started on the pin benefited from an early shift and tacked across those who started at the committee boat end. It was an RS200 top three, lead by Phil and Naomi Smith from Bass finishing thirty seconds ahead of John Reekie, also from Bass, sailing with his two sons Andrew and James - yes three in a boat!
With the breeze now in double figures the RS400s dominated race two. Dave Exley and Nige Hall (Bass/LLSC) used all two decades of their sailing partnership to finish 1st RS400 and first overall. Sam Waller and Martin Penty (Beaver SC) sailed consistently, adding a second to their fourth from the first race, also sailing an RS400.
In race three Jono Shelley and Graham Priestley (Ullswater YC) powered to victory sailing their VX One, finishing over two minutes clear of GNAC 2021 winners Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman who were second overall and first RS400.
The breeze began to ease for race four, the final race of the day. Sailing an RS400, Barrie Thornton and Nick Hunt (Scaling Dam) built a healthy thirty second lead to win, with Sam Waller and Martin Penty finishing second and making it a good day for the RS400s in the overall handicap. The RS400 of Sam Waller and Martin Penty lead overnight, counting eight points from four races. Phil and Naomi Smith were first RS200, counting just twelve points in fourth place overall.
As forecast, Sunday dawned windless, however by the time the fleet headed to the start line a west-northwest breeze kicked in, offering planing conditions to those who managed to spot the gusts and stay in the breeze. The RS200s dominated race five, won by Andrew Brown and Alex Sutcliffe (Tynemouth SC) with Phil and Naomi Smith not far behind. Starting day two as strong as their day one, Sam Waller and Martin Penty added a third to their results, and with it what was beginning to look like an unbeatable score line.
Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman won race six, finishing just fourteen seconds ahead of the VX One, sailed by Jono Shelley and Graham Priestley. A break for lunch was welcomed, with toasted paninis flying out the Bass galley. On shore there was rumour that Sam Waller and Martin Penty had it in the bag, with a very strong score line of 4, 2, 7, 2, 3. Not bad in a mixed fleet of 74!
The breeze began to ease for the seventh and what would be final race. Sailing an RS400, Hamish Gledhill and Ross Southwell (LLSC) finished just seconds ahead of Dave and Jethro Gebhard, also sailing an RS400. The heavens opened as race eight commenced, resulting in the wind slowly fading to nothing.
With dark clouds on the horizon the race officer made the right call and abandoned the final race as little to no progress was being made for those still to finish.
Sailing an RS400, Sam Waller and Martin Penty (Beaver SC) finished first overall and first RS400, counting just fourteen points from seven races. Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman, also sailing an RS400, finished second overall. In third place, and first RS200 was Phil and Naomi Smith from Bass.
Throughout the fleet there was some excellent performances, lot's of juniors and new teams mixing it up with the adults, and four female RS400 helms really encouraging to see.
What an incredible event both on and off the water. The racing was as frantic as it was exciting. 24 Bass asymmetrics on the water joined by 50 visiting entries.
GNAC 2023 - can we make 100 boats?
Overall Results:
Pos | Class | Sail_No | Helm | Crew | Club | PY | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts |
1st | RS 400 | 1492 | Sam Waller | Martin Penty | Beaver | 942 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 |
2nd | RS 400 | 1453 | Pix | Matt | Bassenthwaite SC | 942 | 6 | OCS | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 21 |
3rd | RS 200 | 1369 | Phil Smith | Naomi Smith | Bassenthwaite | 1046 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
4th | VX One | 180 | Jono Shelley | Graham Priestley | UYC | 860 | DNF | 3 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 2 | 11 | 24 |
5th | RS 200 | 1682 | Andrew Brown | Alex Sutcliffe | Tynemouth SC | 1046 | 16 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 11 | RDG | 25 |
6th | RS 400 | 1511 | Hamish Gledhill | Ross Southwell | West Riding/Leigh and Lowton SC | 942 | 55 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 32 |
7th | RS 400 | 1460 | Dave Exley | Nigel Hall | Bass | 942 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 30 | 8 | 40 | 41 |
8th | RS 200 | 1606 | Martin Joesbury | Sian Joesbury | Budworth | 1046 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 11 | 6 | 20.5 | 13 | 43 |
9th | RS 200 | 600 | Fiona Rigg | Helen Wightman | East Lothian Yacht Club | 1046 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 49 |
10th | RS 400 | 1455 | Garry Knott | Amy Hinsliff‑Smith | Notts County Sailing Club | 942 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 40.5 | 9.5 | 37 | 53.5 |
11th | RS 400 | 1414 | Alex Oyston | Nathan Batchelor | Tynemouth SC | 942 | 36 | 13 | 19 | 6 | 16.5 | 7 | 12 | 54.5 |
12th | RS 400 | 1398 | Philip Murray | Neil Schofield | Tynemouth | 942 | 29 | 7 | OCS | 4 | 34 | 9.5 | 8 | 57.5 |
13th | RS 200 | 1709 | Alex Leonard | Olivia Leonard | Bass SC | 1046 | 11 | 19 | 5 | 26 | 7 | 44 | 17 | 59 |
14th | RS 200 | 990 | Luke Shaw | Marie Shaw | Budworth/Bass SC | 1046 | 5 | 28 | 4 | 17 | 10 | 38 | 24 | 60 |
15th | RS 400 | 1508 | Richard Catchpole | Gary Coop | Leigh & Lowton SC | 942 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 23 | 22.5 | 20.5 | 9 | 63.5 |
16th | RS 400 | 1316 | Mike saul | oliver Kent | Yorkshire dales | 942 | 13 | 27 | 49 | 18 | 43 | 6 | 10 | 74 |
17th | RS 200 | 1642 | John Wilson | Laura Glover | East Lothian Yacht Club | 1046 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 18 | DNC | 75 |
18th | RS 200 | 1068 | Martin Smith | Barbara Smith | Yorkshire dales sailing club | 1046 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 13.5 | 19 | 40.5 | 20 | 75.5 |
19th | RS 400 | 1467 | Martin Spencer | Vanessa Evans | LLSC | 942 | 23 | 35 | 27 | 9 | 39 | 4 | 15 | 78 |
20th | RS 200 | 1120 | Peter Collings | Iona Smith | CSSC | 1046 | 30 | 22 | 21.5 | 19 | 14 | 35.5 | 5 | 81.5 |
21st | RS 200 | 1314 | Jon Chapman | Wendy Marrin | Budworth | 1046 | 57 | 16 | 17 | 28 | 16.5 | 19 | 14 | 82.5 |
22nd | RS 200 | 1730 | Kevin Gerald | Bex Smith | Budworth | 1046 | 59 | 14 | 23 | 33 | 9 | 35.5 | 4 | 83 |
23rd | RS 400 | 1456 | Barrie Thornton | Nick Hunt | Scaling Dam | 942 | 19 | 25 | 15 | 1 | 27 | 26 | 28.5 | 86 |
24th | RS 200 | 1560 | Jon Ward | Hether Ward | Budworth SC | 1046 | 20 | 21 | 16 | DNC | 11 | 29 | 21 | 89 |
25th | RS 200 | 1037 | John Reekie | James & Andrew Reekie | Bassenthwaite SC | 1046 | 2 | 29 | 20 | DNC | 15 | 42 | 26 | 92 |
26th | RS 200 | 728 | Adam Catlow | Martyn Catlow | Leigh & Lowton | 1046 | 22 | 11 | 32 | 31 | 13 | 31 | 19 | 96 |
27th | RS 400 | 1484 | Mark Somerville | Joe Roberts | Bassenthwaite SC | 942 | 15 | 23.5 | 25.5 | 34 | 26 | 13 | 38.5 | 103 |
28th | RS 200 | 807 | Phil Davenport | Oscar Davenport | Bass SC | 1046 | 25 | 12 | 34 | 27 | 18 | 27 | 22 | 104 |
29th | RS 400 | 973 | Dave Gebhard | Jethro Gebhard | DRSC | 942 | OCS | 34 | 33 | 25 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 107 |
30th | RS 200 | 1739 | Ginger Phil | Poppy Christie | | 1046 | 38 | 26 | 8 | 20 | 22.5 | 40.5 | DNC | 114.5 |
31st | RS FEVA XL | 4766 | Emilia Kidd | Friedrich Woods | DRSC | 1244 | 32 | 32 | 54 | 16 | 21 | 16 | 31 | 116 |
32nd | RS 400 | 1410 | Jacob Ainsworth | Kayleigh Roberts | Tynemouth SC | 942 | 18 | 37 | 30 | 24 | 47 | 23 | 36 | 131 |
33rd | RS 400 | 1191 | Louise Mckeand | Alistair Coates | Bass | 942 | 28 | 38.5 | 21.5 | 38.5 | 25 | 34 | 25 | 133.5 |
34th | RS FEVA XL | 4470 | Ben Welfare | Ada Daniels | LLSC/DRSC | 1244 | 37 | 45 | 62 | 13.5 | 35 | 12 | 38.5 | 136 |
35th | RS 100 8.4 | 360 | Andrew Todd | | Bala/Chester | 1004 | 24 | 41 | 24 | 32 | 44 | 17 | DNC | 138 |
36th | RS 200 | 1437 | Adam Din | Alastair Rimmer | HLSC/SSC | 1046 | 63 | 23.5 | 25.5 | OCS | 28 | 43 | 18 | 138 |
37th | RS 400 | 1461 | Caroline Exley | Jude Allen | Bass | 942 | 12 | 36 | 36 | 43 | 66 | 25 | 33 | 142 |
38th | RS 400 | 8 | Keith Escritt | Ian Escritt | Yorkshire Dales SC | 942 | 41 | 30 | 31 | 37 | 50.5 | DNC | 6 | 145 |
39th | RS 400 | 1197 | Robin Dawson | Mike Cowan | Bassenthwaite | 942 | 9 | 33 | 38 | DNC | 37 | 32 | DNC | 149 |
40th | RS 200 | 1071 | Matthew Somerville | Henry Bullen | Bass SC | 1046 | 62 | DNC | 35 | 36 | 8 | 45 | 32 | 156 |
41st | RS 100 10.2 | 481 | Ethan Dawson | | Bassenthwaite | 981 | 26 | 50 | 57 | 30 | 29 | 39 | 34 | 158 |
42nd | RS 400 | 1370 | Peter Taylor | Ruary Williamson | Dalgety Bay SC | 942 | 34 | 40 | 37 | 40 | 42 | 28 | 27 | 166 |
43rd | RS 200 | 1033 | Gareth Williams | Jen Williams | Leigh and Lowton SC | 1046 | 21 | 18 | 28 | 29 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 173 |
44th | RS 400 | 1513 | Neil Parkhurst | Thomas Parkhurst | Beaver Sailing Club | 942 | 61 | 46.5 | OCS | 35 | 36 | 22 | 41 | 180.5 |
45th | RS 400 | 1363 | Ross Ryan | Kathryn Hinsliff‑Smith | Notts County | 942 | 33 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 31 | 33 | 43 | 182 |
46th | Devoti D‑One | 906 | Stuart Halman | | Leigh & Lowton | 948 | 58 | 31 | 42 | 41 | 33 | 51 | DNC | 198 |
47th | RS 200 | 223 | Lindsay McCosh | Pizzly Burroughs | ELYC | 1046 | 64 | 43 | 60 | 44 | 40.5 | 52 | 30 | 209.5 |
48th | RS 400 | 1148 | Hester Robertson | Richard Hope | Dalgety Bay | 942 | 42 | 66 | 51 | 49 | 45 | 37 | 46 | 219 |
49th | RS 400 | 1427 | Carl Whitehead | Carol Milner | Filey/YDSC | 942 | 43.5 | 42 | 48 | 47 | 49 | 47 | 42 | 221.5 |
50th | RS 400 | 768 | Angus Marshall | Imogen Marshall | | 942 | 31 | 48 | 45 | 50 | 48 | 55 | DNC | 222 |
51st | ISO | 1008 | Paul Allen | Grace & Reuben & Oliver | Bass SC | 922 | 43.5 | 51 | 52 | DNC | 50.5 | 49 | 28.5 | 222.5 |
52nd | RS 200 | 1538 | Matthew Luxton | Desmond Luxton | Staunton Harold SC | 1046 | 46 | 54.5 | 39 | 48 | 57 | 64 | 35 | 222.5 |
53rd | RS 200 | 507 | Stephen Kirkpatrick | Georgia Kirkpatrick / Lucy Thomas | Bass SC | 1046 | 48 | 46.5 | 41 | 46 | 52 | 48 | 47 | 228.5 |
54th | RS FEVA XL | 5279 | Grace Stockdale | Iona Cheyne | Bassenthwaite | 1244 | 35 | 38.5 | 59 | 57 | 63 | 54 | 45 | 229.5 |
55th | RS 200 | 867 | Chris hunt | Beth hunt | Bass | 1046 | 45 | 56 | 50 | 38.5 | 65 | 65 | 50 | 239.5 |
56th | RS 400 | 603 | Graham Fraser | Patricia Wells | Tynemouth Sailing Club | 942 | 40 | 62 | 63 | 56 | 54 | 50 | 44 | 244 |
57th | RS 400 | 1136 | Justin Smith | Sarah Kincaid | Tynemouth SC | 942 | OCS | DNC | 47 | 45 | 46 | 30 | DNC | 245 |
58th | RS 400 | 451 | Alan Bennett | Ben Sandover | Carsington/ ECMBC | 942 | 39 | 57 | 65 | DNC | 38 | 46 | DNC | 245 |
59th | RS 200 | 501 | Rob Howard | Clare Howard | Sunderland YC | 1046 | 49 | 59 | 40 | 52 | 60 | 60 | 49 | 249 |
60th | RS 200 | 1312 | Paul Clark | Emily Clark | Bass sc | 1046 | 47 | 58 | 46 | 51 | 59 | 62 | 48 | 250 |
61st | Buzz | 578 | Jacob Din | Kieron Freer | Hollingworth/Jumbles | 1030 | 51 | 61 | 43 | 53 | 53 | 56 | 52 | 252 |
62nd | RS 400 | 1272 | Andy Wilcox | Hannah Wilcox | Bass SC | 942 | 67 | 49 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 53 | 51 | 269 |
63rd | RS 400 | 142 | Anthony Walton | Philip Cowans | TSC | 942 | 66 | 52 | 55 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 53 | 270 |
64th | RS FEVA XL | 9 | Tristan Shaw | Cameron Somerville | Budworth/Bass SC | 1244 | DNC | DNC | 53 | 55 | 61 | 59 | 56 | 284 |
65th | RS 400 | 1077 | Sven Richards | Andrew Nel | Tynemouth SC | 942 | 56 | 65 | 56 | 59 | 62 | 63 | 55 | 288 |
66th | Devoti D‑One | 7 | Steve Dawson | | LLSC | 948 | 60 | 53 | DNC | DNC | 55 | 57 | DNC | 302 |
67th | 29ER | 1 | Charlie Exley | Jack Exley | Bass SC | 903 | 53 | 64 | 61 | 60 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 315 |
68th | 29ER | 2175 | Max rawlinson | Mathew Posslethmwaite | Roa Island BC | 903 | 52 | 60 | DNC | DNC | 68 | 66 | DNC | 323 |
69th | 49ER | 132 | Colin Rawlinson | Graeme Rowe | Roa Island BC | 697 | 50 | 63 | 66 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 333 |
70th | RS FEVA XL | 7814 | Charlie Rowell | Toby Kidd | Bass SC/DRSC | 1244 | DNC | DNC | 64 | DNC | 64 | DNC | 54 | 336 |
71st | RS 400 | 647 | Charlie Exley | Jack Exley | Bass SC | 942 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 67 | 61 | DNC | 359 |
72nd | RS 200 | 447 | James Lawton | Joseph | Ribble Cruising Club | 1046 | 54 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 362 |
73rd | Norfolk Punt | 94 | Andy Tunnicliffe | Ian Hopwood | Bassenthwaite | 886 | DNC | 54.5 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 362.5 |
74th | 2000 | 2272 | Simon Evans | Lucy Evans | Delph | 1114 | 65 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 373 |
75th | RS 200 | 1510 | Brendan Lynch | Ellen Clark | ELYC | 1046 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 385 |
75th | ISO | 1032 | Andy thomas | Henry Kirkpatrick | Bassenthwaite | 922 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 385 |