Bartley Beast Series 2025/2026 - Round 2: The Beast Gets Angry

Bartley Beast Series 2025/2026 - Round 2 © Ben Julian

A grey and wet morning met the gathering teams at Round two of the 2025/26 Bartley Beast. The good news was the fresh 12-15 knot SSW had arrived as forecast, with the potential for 20 knot plus gusts through the day providing the ability to use the length of the lake and the opportunity for the 77 boats entered to stretch their legs. The 10:15 briefing led by OOD for the day, Chris Martin, included his intention to use a gate on the upwind leg - a note for latter.

With a slight committee boat bias for Race 1 start the fleet set off left, with the leading boats tacking of the shore and the Merlin fleet led round the windward mark, Rob Kennaugh and Andy Prosser led followed by Rich Adams and Ashanti, James Wells and Anna Aylward, and Nigel and Freya Hudson in hot pursuit. Rob was struggling to remember the course, a matter that would come back to haunt him later! Some exciting downwind sailing led to over excitement on the second beat. Rob and Andy had extended their lead (out of ear shot) and led Richie astray, leaving James and Anna to lead from Howard Eeles and Justin Jem with Rich in hot pursuit.

The gusty conditions led to a series of capsizes through the fleet, and some course correction to include the windward gate led to some snakes and ladders through the fleet, while an exploding gooseneck put pay to Chris Oates and Dan Boddice's day. James and Anna held off a hard charging Rich and Ashanti Lennox to take line honours and the win, with Howard and Justin 3rd. Phil Smith and Bill Calthorpe won the battle of the Albacores for 4th and John Tailby and Josh Oates looking to complete in both double and single handers completed their first race in the Scorpion.

The wind held and Race 2 set off over a similar course with improved reaching leg. Congested committee end start saw Rob and Andy lead again at the windward mark from James and Anna with Nigel and Freya. Split gybes on the run put Nigel and Freya in the lead to be overtaken by James and Anna on the second lap, ducking in at the windward mark. Rob and Andy's day was rounded of by a spectacular capsize gybing on the run in the biggest gust of the day.

The Merlin fleet again leading home with James and Anna taking line honours from Nigel and Freya with Richy and Ashanti in 3rd. Josh and John brought the scorpion in 4th and Phil Smith again as the leading Albacore.

A great day's racing with thanks to James and Anna travelling from the south coast and London, and Phil Smith from West Kirby. Finally to Nicola Howarth who crewed for Mark Reddington for only her third time in a Merlin, and left wanting more...

With 12 junior single-handers, the second round of the Junior Beast saw wonderful results and heavy winds of 15 knots and gusts of up to 28 knots all day.

The first Junior race saw 12 Toppers on the starting line just behind the double-handers but unfortunately due to confusion over the correct course this race was abandoned.

The second race however didn't disappoint and was extremely close, with lots of capsizes and hiking. Sophie Forbes finished with a loud scream of joy in first place, with Audrey Yang in second and Izzy Beechey in third place. Overall an excellent turnout of juniors including several taking part in their first ever race in very challenging conditions.

After two events Jake Day leads the way with Sophie Forbes 2nd and Audrey Yang in 3rd and with only a point separating each place it's very close in the Junior Beast

23 single handed helms took to the water whilst a few decided the cooked breakfast looked a more appealing option given the view of flags blowing off poles along the dam and the double handers somersaulting down the run during race 1. It was also a quick change (or not) for Josh Oates (ILCA 6) and John Tailby (Phantom) who also sailed a Scorpion in the prior double handed event. A great effort with many sailors looking weary after 2 races let alone 4!

The start was a very civil affair as the boats found plenty of space to start the upwind battle. Harrison Allen in the ILCA6 flew off the line like a bar of soap squeezed from the pack hitting mark 1 in first place. The following fleet split to get clear air and find a profitable lane. The leeward mark was a lesson in RS600 avoidance as Jake Willars showed impressive downwind speed but was missing the 'control' aspect as he capsized on the mark.

The fleet then spread out battling the conditions as much as each other with Sean Ricketts pulling ahead as the first Supernova and Simon Hardiman (ILCA7) and Tom Williams (Supernova) trading places throughout. Harrison Allen managed to stay in contention and again popped out at the front when the time calcs were complete to Sean Ricketts 2nd and Simon Hardiman.

Race 2 was forecast to be slightly less windy but a large black cloud had other ideas with boats charging back and forth on the start line, unfortunately rather zealously for Harrison who fell foul of the U-Flag in the final minute and out of contention for the event win. This handed it nicely to the high wind specialists and nearly a re-run of race one, however Josh Oates competing in his 4th event of the day muscled his way into 2nd place with Sean taking the win and Simon claiming 3rd spot. The overall results for the day and the second round saw Sean in 1st place, Josh 2nd and Simon 3rd.

Jeremy Hudson added a 4th and a 6th in the K1 showing his pedigree in a range of winds and leads the series going into part 3 of the Beast in January, but with the top 7 separated by just 20 points and discards to come into play the series is still wide open! The next round of the Beast will be on the 6th January, please check the website for availability if you would like to sail.

Results at www.bartleysailingclub.com

Bartley Beast Series 2025/2026 - Round 2 - photo © Ben Julian