Online entries for The ONE Bassenthwaite Lake Sailing Week can be made at�bassweek.org.uk/book-and-enter-bass-week/
To obtain substantial�discounts entries must be made no later than 15th June.
Celebrity Glass Pursuit
High winds caused racing to be cancelled on Saturday.
Rather than have a two race series on Sunday it has been decided to sail the Celebrity Glass Pursuit as a one off race in the morning and then resail last Sunday’s cancelled pennant race in the afternoon
Though there wasn’t much happening at the club on Saturday, however it was slightly different in the Davenport household where our latest addition to the membership was brought into the world by Phil’s helm’s wife Becky! Nothing like keeping it in the Bass family. Congratulations to Phil and Emma on the birth of Rory, a brother for Oscar. All doing well.
Sunday’s weather was much more amenable, with strong, though sailable, winds and the sun nosing through the clouds from time to time. The Toppers were first to start in the pursuit race, but it wasn’t too long before Dave/Lynn took the lead. The strength of the wind was deceptive and resulted in various capsizes, subsequent retirements, and cleaning of mud stained sails… Capsizing wasn’t Jim/Poppy’s reason for retiring, it was Jim’s confusion as to where he should have been heading! Scumper/Zefer in their RS400 were last to start, but first to finish ahead of Bean/Naomi, having taken the lead in the final 15 mins of the race.
The afternoon race was the Albert Bates Retirement Trophy, postponed from last Sunday. As is usual, the course took the fleet down the lake, though only to 10. The SW wind was certain to enable Sale Fell to do its worst in terms of creating shadowy, shifting winds, and it did! After passing Scarness there were holes, shifts, down draughts, all intermingled with some good gusts. Scumper took an early lead which he held through to the end, but it was the battling GPs of Dave/Lynn and Val/Ken that would secure 1st and 2nd on handicap. Scumper was 3rd and Jim/Poppy 4th.
Final Results:
Celebrity Glass Pursuit
Albert Bates Retirement Trophy
Sandra’s Salver�(Latest)
Night Jar 6 , Summer eventually arrived and the Wind disappeared.
Not much to say about this one except At least we got a race in! With 21 boats on the water on a pleasant sunny evening it seemed a shame to abandon.
When the Bates went out there was a glimmer of hope. Start around A and then 0-B-A maybe? After asking a number of competitors where the wind was coming from it was decided to start at 0 and go A-B-O. But then B was removed and an asymmetric course was posted – but with the run first and a beat back!
After twenty minutes the postponement flag was lowered and all duly headed down wind. What wind?! Most of the boats with kites managed to get them – sort of – flying for a while. Most headed directly towards A but a few had noticed some disturbed water between B and A so headed left. It turned out to be a good move and a small group of Geeps and Lasers plus Toggle / Joan in their 200 gained from it.
Mike Fairlamb & Eric Smith rounded first and pulled out a lead on the water from Tony King. Eric Guillois / Chris Brookes were sailing their FF really well in the light airs and were pulling the lead boats in up the beat. The Solos of David Haselden and Richard Broughton were also in contention. Mike & Eric finished first on the water and took the FH win from David, Eric & Chris and Richard.
On PH Richard was classified first ahead of Mike & Eric, Tony King, David and then Eric & Chris. That meant that there were four different types of boat in the top five positions.
After six rounds we have had no less than forty helms entering the Night Jar series. What that number will be after the sixteenth and final round is anyone�s guess!
Weekend Racing
After a changeable week weatherwise for the Whit half term there was a great turnout, especially in the slow handicap fleet. Various Flying 15s were competing in the Northern championship being held at Windermere so Chris/Julie sailed in the handicap fleet.
Although the wind was not too strong on Saturday, there were massive wind shifts for sailors to contend with resulting in numerous capsizes, particularly, but not only, in the single handers, and some mixed fortunes positionwise.
Mik recalled that he was not sailing to his best (a more polite version of his description of his efforts!) and gave substantial distance away by heading for the wrong mark. Joan/Jack had similar issues after sailing a fantastic first beat only to finish 3rd in the first race, which was won by Val/Ken, after getting intermingled with other boats. They got their act fully together in the 2nd race and maintained their lead through to the finish.
All in all a good days racing.
The forecast for Sunday must have put many people off with the expectation of persistant rain. The two GPs led the campaign to not bother with the morning race but have an early afternoon pennant race, however, Harry’s interest in racing urged the OD to get racing underway, albeit a little later than scheduled. The two GPs of Val/Ken and Alan/Sue were on the line in time, as were Jim/Poppy and Izzy. When Harry/Josh reached the line in a Mirror he innocently asked ‘have we started’ with the other boats some minutes up the beat!
Late in the race a squall came through, along with pleading by Ken and Val for the S flag to be raised. Their wish was granted, but conditions were too much for Izzy who suffered a couple of capsizes before retiring. Harry retired after receiving assistance following a drooping mainsail, leaving Jim/Poppy to battle with the shifts to stay upright and finish.
For the afternoon race there were only two takers – Harry in his Aero, and Alan/Sue in their GP. An early squall had both boats upside down before the start, and opting for shore leave even before racing was underway. Harry was toying with death rolls on the beat on the return ashore (perhaps deliberately, or possibly due to the gusty conditions) which he seemed to beam all the way through.
So apart from some muddy sails, and dinted pride from a chipped tooth (nothing to do with the sailing), no harm was done, and all went home happy.
Latest results Sat series Sun series
Night Jar 5 – still chilly for late May!!
The fifth round of the Night Jar took place in a medium strength westerly wind. The forecast squalls went to the North and the South of Dubwath Bay but it was again chilly for late May.
The course was 0-B-A-3-4 so there were a few gybe marks to contend with.
The fourteen boats had a longer line this time and most went for a port end start. Alex & Olivia again led in their 200 followed by a gaggle of GP�s and Neil�s Radial. Val & Ken, as well as being the evenings chefs, were giving Mike with usual rival Dave as crew and then came Joan & Jack in close company with AJ & Sue. All were enjoying the planning kite reach across from A to 3 and the slightly broader leg up to 4.
Peter Winfindale pulled out on the first lap and Jack & Joan on the second when they touched a mark. Izzie spectacularly fell out of her Topper when she missed the toe strap during a tack. Meanwhile, Harry was teaching Josh Hunter the art of helming in one of the Club�s Mirrors.
The lead boats went on to complete three laps but Toppers and other boats with high PY Handicaps were finished after two. These included newcomer Sol White who is consistently sailing the Pico well above its handicap.
A wind shift to the south gave an interesting finishing line and time was gained by strategic tacking between 4 and YZ.
On the water, the first finisher was the 200 followed by Mike & Dave closely followed by Val & Ken who had been challenging all evening. This was the order on FH but nobody had foreseen a mega two lap performance by Hazel who took the win on PH ahead of Alex & Olivia with Sol�s Pico next up.
Push the Boat Out Memories
With thanks to Victoria Murray, here’s some photo memories of the recent open weekend encouraging everyone to Push the Boat Out!
[lg_slideshow folder=”album/15sundry/push the boat out/” display=”slide”]
Topper NW Areas and Laser Open
Online entries for�Topper NW Areas on�13/14 June and Laser Open on 13 June can be made at�http://www.bassenthwaite-sc.org.uk/pre-entry/
To obtain �5 discount on either event, entries must be made no later than 6th June.
Late May Bank Holiday
Sailors were greeted with more cloud and slightly less wind than Sunday for the conclusion of the weekend series. The race officer set an excellent course for the first race which included 3 beats, numerous spinnaker legs utilising most of the Northern end of the lake. Neil who had Nick Smith crewing today led the Flying Fifteens from start to finish which gave him victory in the series without needing to sail the final race. Simon & Jon finished second in both the race and series and did not take part in the final race either. The handicap race was won by Robin & Phil in a RS 400 from Phil & Naomi in their RS 200. This gave Phil & Naomi the series win. Mike and Eric won the Gp14s from Dave & Lynn whose 3 firsts on Sunday led to victory in the Spring Cup. Mik won the Slow Handicap fleet from Jim & Poppy.
With a number of winners and places already decided some sailors decided to stay on shore and enjoy the sunshine that had broken through, those that sailed had excellent conditions and exciting racing. Mike who had Ian Preston crewing easily won the Flying Fifteen race finishing 3rd in the series. The handicap race was great for spectators as Robin & Phil battled with Mark & Joe in RS 400s positions changed throughout the race with Robin & Phil just coming out on top. This gave Mark second place in the series with Robin 3rd. Normal service resumed for Dave & Lynn as they won the GP14 race from Val & Ken. Jim & Poppy won the slow handicap race from Hazel & Izzie in a Feva giving them a series win.
Overall it was a fantastic weekends sailing 40 different boats took part including 9 Flying Fifteens and 7 GP14s. The social events were well supported and appreciated by all. Oh! who won the Rounders Match? No one has the answer but it was great fun.
Great Winds – Shame About the Clouds
Sundays sailors were greeted with a Westerly Wind, force 3-4, but it was also Cloudy and Cold in contrast to Saturday. A number were feeling under the weather, apparently bedtime was 0430hrs, including the rostered OD who had swapped his duties so he could sail then slept in! A fine replacement, Ian Preston, cup of tea in hand stepped up to the mark as OD and ran 3 excellent races. He received advice from a number of competitors, ignored them all and did his own thing.
The Flying Fifteen Fleet was particularly impressive with 9 boats taking part and some close exciting racing. Neil and Rory led from Simon and Jon overnight both on equal points. The handicap fleet was dominated by Phil and Naomi in their RS 200 who won all the races from Mark and Joe in a 400. Dave and Lynn continued their domination of the GP14 fleet with 3 wins and Jim and Poppy were the only finishers in the Slow Handicap fleet and lead overnight.
A Rounders match is the entertainment tonight, we will report tomorrow on the result. I should mention that the crack on the Bates was so good the OD forgot to sound the Preparatory Signal in the 3rd race and had to postpone!!
Final Races in Morgan, Barf, Spring Cup & Red Sails Trophies
Saturday saw the above long series come to an end. Mike & Kayla had a 1st and a 2nd which made them clear winners of the Flying Fifteen Morgan Trophy. Dave & Lynn won all the races in the Spring Cup for GP14s. The Barf Trophy for the handicap fleet was won by Ian Hall in his Solo from Joe Roberts and various crews including mum Sally in a RS 400. The Mirror, Toppers and Slow Handicap were competing for the Red Sails Trophy and the winners �were Jim & Poppy in the Hartley 12 from Mik in his Mirror. The BBQ that followed was superb and many, or some, did not retire to bed until 0430hrs celebrating our performance at the Eurovision Song Contest.