Perhaps it was a return of Summer for the penultimate weekend championship series as there was blue skies and a medium breeze. Neil/Rory led the F15 fleet securing two wins from Chris/Julie.

In the handicap fleet, Steve/Ruth led the first race but were unable to break clear with sufficient ground to hold back Scumper or Robbie D/Amber in an RS200, who won on handicap. Steve blamed too many reaches (and sailing as bad as Hamilton drove in practice last week!) in the 2nd race for trailing Scumper round the course, Scumper won on handicap from Toggle, and then Steve/Ruth. Many others in the fleet suffered from the wind suddenly fading and becoming a drifter, and they opted to retire.

Dave/Lynn led and won both GP races, but the second race was particularly close as they struggled to shake off Paul/Vicky, especially when the wind faded.

The forecast for Sunday is in total contrast with rain, high winds, and gale force gusts. It seems unlikely that the Bass micro climate will work its magic this time, but time will tell…

It was not to be. So wild, wet and windy put even Jim into the mode that he wasn’t keen to be in (or more realistically in) the water. The OD soon cancelled racing for the day, so yesterday’s results stand.

Final results

Meanwhile there was a Kestrel open meeting at Ullswater in which Peter Ballard sailed with Chris Hunt. Due to 54mph gusts on Sunday, the event was curtailed but Peter/Chris still secured a creditable 2nd overall.

The final Thursday Evening Race enticed out eleven competitors including four trainees despite rainy and misty conditions. And what a race it was with five boats taking the lead on the water at various times. The start line was just out from 1 with competitors beating to 0 and wing legs to, and from, A.

At least it should have been a reach from A to 1 but the wind had swung 100 degrees making it a beat. Some boats were heading in the direction of 3 while others were pointing to N! The latter paid off and it was David Haselden in his Solo who was first over the line on the first lap. But his luck wasn�t to last as he inverted at 0 and the following boats bunched up while trying to manoeuvre around the obstruction in minimal wind.

The RS200 of Mike & Joan Cowan was first through on the next lap, trying to pull out a lead over the following three GP14�s and get a good result to add to their win in Race 2. But, with the wind swinging between SW and N, a top result depended on where you were on the water at any point in time. All the GP�s took the lead at various points before Mike and Joan regained it on lap 3 to be first across the line at the finish.

But, it seemed unlikely that the Cowans had built up enough of a lead to win the race on either Fleet or Personal Handicap. Results showed that, on the former they were third to Joan and Jack Hardie and Val and Ken Bell who finished in line astern. And these were the FH Series Results with the Hardies beating the Bells on Count back.

All boats finished in close proximity to one another and it was Jonathan Anson in his Laser who took a superb PH win from Val and Ken with Paul Clark in third place in his Streaker. The Winner�s Trophy for the Night Jar B Series on PH goes to Val Bell with a third and a second place in the two counting races.

In the trainees� contest the Wayfarer of David Ferguson finished seventh ahead of the three Toppers with Rosie Hogg just inching out Jamie Kerr with Mario Yeomans close astern.

Mike Chappell

Final results – PH FH

As sailors arrived, the forecast of strong, gusty SE winds was accurate, and there was an air of reluctance to venture out – even Ethan said he would be waiting for the wind to moderate!

The visiting Tinkers had an earlier start, and wanted a tight course that avoided the main swell in the bay. That meant they would be in the shade of Sale Fell… It did, of course, have its effect and there was about of wallowing as the boats tried to round 9

By the time club racing started, the wind had eased, but started to swing around Sale Fell too. Despite best attempts to maintain a beat by moving marks, the wind continued to swing. Repositioning 8 caused Eric/Kayla to head for the wrong mark after rounding it. By the time he realised, he was heading so low that he had to drop his spinnaker and beat back up to 5. Not only that, he ran aground!

Jim C was on the wrong side of one shift, causing him to be last to the windward mark behind Ethan.

It seems that luck was on Jim’s side, as he did manage to get the lead and win on handicap.

Sunday’s weather was much more settled – still a good breeze, and a bit shifty, but the sun shone too!

Jim didn’t need good luck this time – he sailed well, kept well ahead of Joan/Jack who were still getting used to their new GP, and he won both races to take the Tinker Trophy with a clean sweep of four races

Final results

In the Tinker open, after five races of straightforward triangular courses, the OD set a figure of eight course for the final race. Malcolm Ellwood led, but sailed the course as a triangle and his lead, together with the overall trophy, went to that regular winner at Bass, David Warren

A dry and warm evening with a light SW wind greeted competitors with the added bonus that a line had been set with the Bates on its end and safety boat all ready to go at 6.15pm. This was thanks to Neil who had already returned ashore to muster his trainees.

The RO decided to keep competitors out of the potential wind shadow with a course of B-3-5 with B near 9 but further into the Lake and the start line just upwind of 5. Eleven boats started although the FF of Eric Guillois / Chris Brooks was some five minutes late. The main start was followed by five Toppers in the Training Fleet.

After rounding the windward mark three boats opened up a gap, Dave & Lynn Lawson�s GP holding a slender lead from Mike & Joan Cowan�s 200 and Jim Christie�s Supernova. All competing boats, plus the trainees on a shortened course, completed lap one before the wind suddenly died leaving the RO to abandon the second lap and use first lap times to work out results.

Concerns have been raised about the results of Night Jar 3 being published when it had been abandoned by the race officer. Results were calculated using timings from the first lap but as, regrettably, Sailing rules do not allow this a decision has been made by the Sailing Committee to remove the race from the series