Sunday started off wet and windy (and it didn’t get much better), although not as strong gusts as were encountered on Saturday. Accordingly, there weren’t many takers – Mike and William were there for some more, Hugh (or was it Rhonwen?) thought better of it, and Paul Burnell ventured out as well.
Mike sailed the beats well to stay ahead of the RS400s, and although William and Jonathan managed to maintain an overlap on the run to 5, a jammed gennaker halyard meant it would take another lap before William caught up with Mike again. Paul Burnell seemed to be sitting in for Roy in terms of the capsize stakes, since he went in on the first beat, and again on a fetch. On handicap, Mike won the race.
The honourable OD, who had been evacuated from the hen house (well, the hen party lodgings), being concerned about the discontent with the morning’s course, was fully intent on putting things right in the afternoon, so with a south westerly wind swinging around Sale Fell, he set a course with two beats – the first to 0, the second to 7, problem being everyone had to sail through the shadow of the fell to get to 7. Shunty, who had managed to get Toggle to crew for the afternoon race, opted to fly his kite part way up to 7 – strange thing to do, especially as he occasionally had to tack with it up! The OD having seen the error of his ways opted to shorten the race after the first lap, and even came to apologise – what a gent!
As for the headline, that refers to Herb – some may think that he’s no longer got the control over the ODs in terms of guiding them to a good course, but no, it’s because the starter motor on the Bates is in for repair, and the engine is being started with the hand crank, and he admits to not having enough swing anymore!
Christenings and Weddings
The first taster session of the season proved to be popular and has hopefully resulted in four new memberships. The next session is to held on 5th June.
The 5mph wind forecast for Saturday seemed to be a bit of an error, but obviously they were not allowing for the Bass micro climate, as Herb reckoned that some of the gusts were hitting force 7 (but that could be fanciful in the extreme!). There were six boats that prepared for the race, five that ventured out, two that finished, and only one that didn’t capsize (and that was only because it had the advantage of Mike Moore sitting on the side plus a heavy keel!). As for the christenings, firstly there was Toddy in his new Mirror which, with the bermudan rig, got the mast stuck in the mud. Secondly, William and Jonathan were caught out by a self tacking header (verified by Rhonwen), and ended up donating their first burgee of the season to Neptune.
With no-one to follow, Mike Moore took the wrong course and let Hugh and Rhonwen get into the lead before he realised his mistake. The OD took pity on the two boats still upright, shortened course, picked up the anchor and start line, headed for shore, and abandoned racing for the rest of the day.
The weddings are in fact hen nights – so watch out Blackpool and Edinburgh, various Bass WAGS are on their way!
BARF PLATE
PN Boat Helm Class 1 2 3 4 Pts
1 1049 M SOMERVILLE RS400 1 1 1 DNS 3
2 1298 S HUNT RS400 2 2 2 DNS 6
3 1303 W CARRUTHERS RS400 3 7 4 RTD 13
4 1140 J CHRISTIE VORTEX 5 4 DNS DNS 33
5 1029 R BLACKBURN RS400 4 6 DNS DNS 34
6 130579 S HALL LASER RADI RTD 3 DNS DNS 37
7 167828 I MACPHERSON LAS RTD 5 DNS DNS 39
8 303 M COWAN VAREO RTD RTD DNS DNS 43
9 13905 H GODFREY GP DNS DNS DNS 1 49
10 3473 M MOORE FF DNS DNS DNS 2 50
11 1003 A SMITH RS200 DNS DNS 3 DNS 51
12 160516 T CHITTENDEN LAS OD DNS DNS DNS 51
13 69960 M CHAPPEL MS DNS DNS DNS OD 51
14 174889 S HALL LAS DNS DNS 5 DNS 53
15 70466 D TODHUNTER MS DNS DNS DNS RTD 54
15 338 R YARDLEY VAREO DNS DNS DNS RTD 54
16 125514 R BRYCE LAS DNS DNS 6 DNS 54
18 13259 J ROBERTS VAREO DNS DNS 7 DNS 55
19 501 J CROSBIE RS400 DNS DNS 8 DNS 56
20 13161 S SPENCE RSFEVA DNS DNS 9 DNS 57
21 379 R DAWSON RS 200 RTD DNS DNS DNS 58
22 103 A NICHOLSON VAREO DNS DNS RTD DNS 60
22 379 R DAWSON RS200 DNS DNS RTD DNS 60
Points for RTD = 10 9 12 6
Points for DSQ = 10 9 12 6
Points for DNS = 24
3 races to count