51 boats turned out across four fleets for a day’s racing in varied conditions to test across the sailors’ range of skills. Leigh and Lowton sent the largest fleets of boats, and won three of the four fleets, allowing(?) our own Sam Hall to win the Junior fleet, from Kirk�Knights of where other than Leigh & Lowton
Andrew Green��Leigh & Lowton SC
Sam Hall Bass SC
Tom Keegan Leigh & Lowton SC
What better way to end such a hot day with a sail? There were 22 takers for the Night Jar which was held in the northern corner of the lake which generally held a slight breeze even though it had made a quick about turn from the SE breeze that had been blowing an hour before. Alan Waugh’s 2nd gave him back the lead in the series
The GP14 Northern Area Championship was held at the club on 20/21 June. The forecast suggested there should be a good breeze to benefit good racing, and with a bit of luck racing would be over before the showers move in later in the afternoon.
There was a fleet of 28 boats competing for the trophy, with six from Bass. After a hard afternoon’s sailing the sailors retired to the bar for a well earned drink or three. The visitors head the series overnight, with Dave and Jackie Gebhard taking the lead after race one and two, but Neil Platt, with our own Phil Smith crewing, in overnight lead with two firsts and a fifth. Mike Senior and Luke Shaw is second on equal points. Best Bass boat is Dave and Lynn Lawson, presently lying in 6th position.
Sunday started with a bit of an overcast morning, but what would you expect for the summer solstice?! The threat of rain had reduced, and the wind would be lighter than Saturday but there should be plenty to ensure there is a fair competition between those fighting for key positions.
Just two races, but all to race for. Despite the forecast, the light winds resulted in a delay to the start of racing which is now underway. Mike Senior is the helm that took best advantage of the conditions in race 4 and he went on to win the race. After race 4 the only two boats in contention for the championship trophy were that of Mike Senior and Neil Platt.
As the rain came in at the end of the race the wind filled slightly, and the fleet was very much split depending on whether they had taken the port or starboard side of the beat. Neil clearly must have taken the wrong side as he retired at the end of the beat leaving Mike the championship winner, who went on to finish the race in pole position. Locals Dave and Lynn Lawson had a good final race finishing in 2nd place and 3rd overall.
Josh Gebhard and Kieran Parsloe of Derwent Reservoir sailed well, finishing 9th overall winning the silver fleet. Gareth Hughes and Charlotte Hill of Hollingworth Lake finished 19th overall and won the bronze fleet.
As luck would have it, the sun came out as the race finished!!
Overall winner Mike Senior and Luke Shaw
Best Bass boat – Dave and Lynn Lawson
First in silver fleet Josh Gebhard
First in bronze fleet Gareth Hughes and Charlotte Hill
Commodore’s wife Pauline Nicholson with the array of prizes
It was a little disconcerting to see two wind turbines on Moota turning in opposite directions!!! What would we be in for today? At least they were turning even if from the wrong direction! Did we speak too soon, as the wind quickly faded 🙁 Surprisingly by 12 the wind had filled in from the south west and racing was underway by 12.30. Bean and Naomi led most of the race, though William and Cristina did manage to get past them briefly, and went on to win the race
The afternoon race was the Jimmy Lancaster Memorial Trophy, traditionally sailed around the lake. Just before the start the rain was seen creeping across the lake. Herb and OD Matthew Page got togged up to protect themselves, then merrily hid in the cuddy knocking on the window and waving and those of us who were not so appropriately dressed! Despite the SW wind, the breeze was relatively steady and the boats were close hauled/fetched the full length of the leg from 5 to 12. As the lead boats sailed near St Bede’s church the water turned white with the rain beating down (or had we done something wrong?!!).There was a roar of thunder too but was all.
There wasn’t much beating on the way back either. Robbie D and Big E led the fleet and won the race on handicap from by a good margin from Tim Chittenden, having found a crew (Des Wright) for the afternoon race. Is Mike Moore just breaking in his new crew, Martin, gently at the moment?
The Youth Squad were out again, and giving OD Andy Smith a hard time asking for more challenging courses! Report to follow, but results can be found here
A light breeze has filled the northern end of the lake, and it is tempting the fleet on to the water, but is it enough to get a couple of races in? Very muggy. 🙁 Would it thunder?!
Well there was enough wind to get the racing started, but just before the RS400s completed their first lap the wind started to fade and the race became a drifter. It may be some time before the race finishes! Having taken 24 mins for the first lap, the 400s took another 65 mins for the next! As they crossed the line the wind picked up, and following a bit of a breather the fleet went out for another race but in a good breeze. If the first race hadn’t taken so long no doubt everyone would have given up the ghost and went home missing the best breeze of the day
Sunday was another glorious day for sailing. The wind blew from the south west, and was strengthened with the sea breeze for the afternoon racing.
William and Elaine were a little too eager for the first start and were recalled for being over the line, but that was not the only reason for Scumper sailing off into the distance. Scumper was sailing with the youth squad’s Joe Watkins. A light weight crew who sailed very well in the mixed airs, and is certain to sleep well tonight after his first venture out in an RS400. It has been reported that at one point Toggle (centre of attention yet again!) almost cut Hugh Godfrey�s boat in half causing Hugh to almost capsize but he went on to beat Tog by a whisker. In the afternoon, Robbie D and Big E came out to sail, and had some close racing with Scumper, but it was Robbie that took the winning honours.
In the MJM Trophy, Val and Ken Bell won the morning race from Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith, but in the afternoon Mike won, followed by John Riley, with Sam Hall crewing, and then Val. All good practice for next weekend’s GP14 Northern Championship being hosted by Bass
On Saturday, the showers passed through early, the sun’s poked its way through the clouds, and there was a breeze too! Don’t need any more for a good afternoon’s sailing.
The rain did hold off, and the wind freshened slightly as the afternoon went on. The first race was part of the Celebrity Glass pursuit series. Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith broke away from the GPs and eventually in the lead which it looked impenetrable. As the staggered start times are based on a set length of racing, it was important that the race was stopped after the correct length of time which on this occasion meant there were to be two fast final reaches for the Vareos to take advantage of and close the gap that Mike had gained. On this occasion, Mike held his lead with Rory Yardley and Toggle following closely behind.
The run to the leeward mark caused confusion as some boats came in on starboard gybe and rounded it to starboard instead of port. Four boats were caught out by this, and spotted by the OD, so when they crossed the finish line there was no finish signal. Mike Moore was the first to cross, but realised he had been caught! Having rounded the mark to port the second time round he knew his mistake and apparently had made a pact with Tim Chittenden that he wouldn’t say anything if the other didn’t! The other two caught out were Ethan Dawson, and Nigel Lewis – he reckoned he was sailing Thursday evening’s course!!
The second race was normal long championship series racing. Neil and Judith Currie led the handicap fleet well for a lot of the race, despite being surprised by the increase in wind strength (Judith doesn’t like it too windy!), but Robbie D and Big E fought back to take the lead. Mike Fairlamb led the GPs throughout, and Mike Moore fought to catch up with Tim Chittenden and take pole position. There were no Mirrors racing
Sam Hall sailed at Derwent Reservoir. Having been caught out by an earlier than usual start, he missed the first race and finished 2nd junior and 4th overall in the Lakeland Laser Grand Prix. Shame their racing start times aren’t as casual as ours can be!
Sam Hall sailed in the NW Junior Traveller event at Ullswater on Saturday. Just one second separated him from victory and winning the event.
This weekend’s weather was somewhat different to the sunny conditions we enjoyed last week. The sun has been replaced with showers, the wind is still here(!), the temperature has dropped, and shorts have been replaced by thermals and woolly hats!
As a result, the conditions were less inviting and there was just a small turnout of four boats on Saturday – certainly a fleet challenge in that there’s not two boats from the same fleet!
Dave and Lynn consistently led the fleet. Hugh seemed to regularly capsize! Joe capsized at one of the gybe marks, and Ian just sailed quietly around the course.
Sunday racing had a lot more takers, and the wind was almost as blustery as Saturday and there were numerous capsizes. With a strong on shore wind, it proved to be challenging stopping boats in time before there were grounded as the fleet returned to the slip after racing. As can be seen from the results, there were only a few qualifiers for the series, buth the first three places were closely contested with just one point difference. It was Hugh’s two first from Saturday that split the tie in his favour from Ian Macpherson.
Mike Turner was as keen as ever to go sailing, but his crew Sue Watson had been out celebrating a big birthday – he did suggest the party started last Saturday – boy do these nurses know how to party! She did appear in a disguise comprising some large dark glasses – not certain they were for the sunny conditions though, more the result of some serious partying 🙂
The series was run on a personal handicap basis, and you can see how the handicaps changed from race to race. Indeed several positions were split by a matter of seconds. The handicapping is not a precise science, but it does give helms of differing abilities to compete – whether it is fair may depend on your point of view, but overall everyone should be in with a chance!
The Youth Squad had planned a sail around the lake with a break for a picnic lunch, however conditions just did not suit so the picnic was held in the clubhouse, and then the fleet went out for what seemed like a capsize drill between main racing. Not that any of the hardy sailors were at all bothered about capsizing – many of them seemed to be deliberate!! Hopefully the picnic will be incorporated into one of the future social sailing events
Will the rain hold off for the evening? Nice breeze to get the fleet around the course, even though it’s not as warm as it was at the weekend.
The wind held and the rain held off (well a little drizzle but does that count?!), and there was a good turnout of 16 boats, Ginge reckons he was the one that pushed two boats over the start line causing them to be recalled!
The wind was there at the start of the day, but was from� the wrong direction and then faded again. The answering pennant was raised, so sailors thought they could be waiting for a sea breeze before taking to the water. Glorious day though!
The wind settled down from the south after a while, although the forecast direction was from the east. There was a fear that the sea breeze would come in and cause havoc, so racing was delayed a while.
With a lack of OD, Herb went for a shore based start which resulted in a busy start line as it was not exactly an unbiased line! Some of the fleet went right towards Peel Wyke and others stayed out in the breeze. The ones that went right had the advantage and got some lifts up the shore, but positions did chop and change. The wind came through in phases, but three of the RS400s managed to break away sufficiently to take 1st, 2nd and 3rd
The second race was the RNLI Pennant, and took the fleet around the lake. Again the fleet started from a shore based line although we’re certain that the far end of the line was too far away for Herb to really tell if anyone was over! Robbie D and Big E took an early lead with Scumper and Toggle on their tail. There was a good beat up the lake in reasonably consistent airs, which took just over 35 mins. But the other fleets came down on slightly better gusts and Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith only just lost out to Robbie D by 30 secs on handicap
The Youth Squad managed to sail the first two of their Sunday series (the previous 4 having been cancelled due to too much wind!). Joe Watkins continues to master the fleet with another two wins
In the end, it turned out to be an excellent days racing complimented by sunshine!
Overall
The morning breeze filled the lake with white horses from the southerly breeze, but as the race time approached the wind eased to give the sailors some exciting legs in the Celebrity Glass pursuit. William and Elaine were last to start in the race and should have paid more attention to where the fleet went, as they headed for 4 instead of 5! Going back cost them valuable time and probably the race as the final two legs of the race were fast reaches which pulled them through to second while Rich and Phil Hodgkins were in their sight but too far ahead to catch.
In the second race Robbie D made a similar mistake gybing round 9 instead of 0 – although he was on William’s tail at the end of the race, it was Toggle that took the honours on handicap