Laser Vago Open North at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club

Laser Vago Open North at Yorkshire Dales © N Langford

In the ninth year of the Vago Open North at YDSC, a decent turn-out of ten boats attended to show their Weekend Love for sailing. Visitors from Tudor, Redditch, Hunts, Port Dinorwic and Royal Windermere were warmly welcomed, despite the vagaries of Bumper to Bumper traffic which was almost Too Much, and vehicle breakdowns, with Ed Deacon automatically winning the demolition derby prize for turning up (he did Say He'd be There) without a boat, or the usual pantechnicon with which he tows it.

Saturday's weather presented a stiff breeze and with Sunday looking like the wind would pick up further, it was agreed that racing was the order of the day. One windward-leeward race before lunch and four in the afternoon got the event off to a good start with Sharknado (Dave / Lou) getting the first bullet and VooDoo (James/Naomi) getting him to Move Over for the second with 742 (Lee/Kat) chasing close behind.

Smart use of the lake and choosing the right gusts helped 463 (Paul/Vicky) and Bagpipes (Chris/Eleanor) pick up a couple of thirds. Andy wisely jumped in with Bill, it wasn't a day for single-handed sailing, and despite the challenging conditions, Neal and Kelly had big grins coming off the water. What was noticed is that the fleet has matured with most boats making similar speeds up wind and down, most position changes were coming from speed off the line, mistakes (OK, capsizes), and time in tacks/gybes.

Sunday was pretty much a wipeout. Strong winds and large waves resulting in more boats upside down than sailing, and so the racing was abandoned. As, sadly, was the odd tent. However, the event is intentionally flexible with a reactive plan of racing, training and shore-based activities to accommodate the changing weather the Open North seems to encounter each year.

Once the rain had left after lunch, a sunny spot in the lee of the YDSC clubhouse allowed for shore-based training with Kate Mellor providing trapeze Headlines and Dave & Ed providing rigging advice. An extended Q&A session was also much appreciated, with Ed and Dave taking turns to Lead the Way. The gathering was sad to see Andy leave to dry...well...everything out, and James and Naomi Stop, as they had to miss the rest of the racing for some sort of concert...

Monday's weather was still pretty breezy, the RO kicked the morning's racing off with a pursuit race, the aim being to see if Dave and Lou had to do Something Kinda Funny to get to the front. They didn't: another bullet for Sharknado was secured. Bagpipes retired having broken the tiller, and promptly donated crew Eleanor to 742 so Lee, having broken his own crew, could sail the last couple of races: Several massive kite runs later, and some close racing, resulted in the biggest grin seen yet on the youngest sailor in the Vago Fleet.

Evening catering by YDSC/Vago CA Spice Invaders Chris (Saturday's Chilli) and Kat (Sunday's Curry) was well received, with lots of compliments and a great team effort (thanks all) both nights to clear up. Thanks must go to Pam and her galley crew for great lunches, and to the venerable Keith Escritt for being RO for the Open North. We hope to entice him again with our random capsizes and chaotic approach to...well... most of it really.

By all accounts much fun was had, despite the weather, and at the heart of it that's what the Vago CA is about. Vago Open North plans to return in 2020 for its tenth Year at YDSC - we're planning something special.

Overall Results: