Night Jar 12
It was a superb evening for racing. The wind was a southerly force 4 but it was constant. The course was A-B-1-0 with the finish line close upwind of the mark leading to some spectacular tacking close to the Bates.
Eighteen boats took the start but we were only two minutes in before Kath & Caroline turtled their Geep. They accepted a lift back to the Club and let the wind free the mast from the mud and drive the boat ashore with no obvious damage.
They weren�t the only ones to go swimming. Jon Anson inverted the Radial at A and Joe Watkins lost the 300 on the screaming reach from 1 to 0. Harry did likewise in the Aero a lap later describing it as an interesting death roll! Mike Fairlamb decided on a cautious approach and tacked his Streaker around the gybe mark.
The lead crew was Alex and Olivia relishing the planning conditions in the 200. Tony King with Radial Rig was 2nd with the Ent of seldom seen Mark Ninnim & Emma Smith, battling with Dave & Lynn�s Geep, close astern.
The other Geeps of Joan & Jack and AJ & Sue were next up in close company. David Haselden�s was the only Solo on the water this time and he was in close company with the impressively sailed Radial of Mike Hunter.
The Toppers of David and Izzie were finished on 2 laps but not before the 200 had gone through for its fourth. Tony was the leading boat on 3 laps to cross the line.
After recovering Kath�s boat all prepared for the meal prepared by Neil who was chef for the evening. Results showed Alex & Olivia, Tony, and Dave & Lynn in the podium positions on FH. But there were three Radials in the lead positions on PH with an excellent win by Mike Hunter from Tony and Paul Clark.
This was the last round of the Night Jar for a month. Next week it will be thrills all around with the Ladies, Crews, juniors and 60+ race. If you don�t fall into any of those categories come and race for the fun of it. It will be a mass start.
Garden Party Update
Toggle (the black flag man), thanks everyone that attended the garden party last night, and for their all help in moving boats, cutting the grass, and tidying the site ready for Bass Week. It was nice to see new faces and new members helping out.
Final Countdown
Bass Week 2015 is just weeks away. Yippee we hear you shout!
If you haven�t entered yet don�t forget to do so before the online bookings and discounts come to an end on 27 July.
Bass members that do not intend to sail are requested to move their boats, preferably off site, as soon as possible to ensure prime berths near the launching areas are available for�visiting sailors. Don’t forget that if they are not moved by their owners, they will be moved by enthusiastic, but weary, working party helpers…
While we are�talking of helpers, please try and make yourself available for at least some of the many tasks that need to be undertaken through the week such as
- Bar
- Clubhouse and site cleaning
- Rescue
- Race office
Weekend Series
This weekend some of our�Flying 15s are sailing away at the National Championships �being held at Rhu on the Clyde. Club racing comprises a 5 race championship series and started on Saturday in sunny, blustery conditions. Check latest results
There were many capsizes, and a few retirements as well, including our black flag man Toggle, and even F15s were flattened occasionally. There was a contingent of five Solos racing in the handicap fleet. Scumper/Zefer made the most of the gusts on the reaches gaining a strong lead to take first place on handicap in both races.�Similarly, Jim in his Hartley, Mike/Eric in their GP, and Neil/Nick a F15, led their fleets in both races and taking the overnight lead.�Our black flag man Toggle, despite missing a mark and having to return, took 2nd place in the handicap fleet in the first race, but his retirement in the second race led to David Haselden taking 2nd place on the overnight leader board for the handicap fleet.
Another three races were scheduled on Sunday, which started off drizzly and with lighter winds. Aj was keen to postpone the start in the expectation of drier weather, and although there wasn’t much of a delay, the drizzle soon stopped, and there were intermittent sunny spells.
There were no F15s racing which meant Neil could go home triumphant in winning the Scarness Cup after being overnight leader, and watch the Mens’ singles final at Wimbledon.�Keen to make the best of the good sailing conditions, two races were held back to back before lunch (even though Mike F was starting to feel peckish after the first race). By lunchtime the�other three winners were declared – Scumper/Joe in the�Wythop Trophy for the handicap fleet, Mike/Eric in the GP Graham Cup, and Jim C in the Reflection Trophy for the slow handicap fleet.
�After lunch three new additions to our training fleet in the form of RS Teras were launched. They were bought with support from a scheme by the Eric Twiname Trust. Eric, the son of a former member Alec Twiname, and author of Start to Win, sailed occasionally at the club. The wind had freshened a little and Josh was the first, but not only helm, to capsize one of the new boats! Other notable capsizes include one by Val/Ken just after the start – Ken is quick to tell how much of a lead they’d have had if they hadn’t tipped it in… With Jim C taking to his Supanova for the final race, Hazel/Izzie were pulling out a good lead in a Feva on Mik in his Mirror only to capsize at the�gybe mark and let him past.
Rain, rain go away
After a damp, stormy start to the day, the sun broke through and made for an inviting afternoon on the water. However, with various people away at The Lord Birkett event on Ullswater, and an earlier forecast for a wet weekend, and some stronger than expected gusts passing through. there wasn’t a lot of takers on Saturday.
Of those that did venture out, there were various capsizes, and three retirements, even before racing got underway. Of the two F15s to start, Chris Rolle, with a novice crew, realised the strength of the wind was going to be too much and retired at the end of the first beat leaving Tim/Ian to complete the course on their own. OD Val wasn’t giving them an easy ride, sending them around two laps of the course.
The handicap fleet comprised three single handlers, two Lasers and a Vareo, which had some close racing. At the gybe mark all three opted to ware round. Peter was first, but capsized. Tony was next but took it rather cautiously letting Hugh get through to the lead. However, Hugh retired on the next beat. Peter righted his boat with a mud stained mainsail, and retired shortly after, leaving Tony to complete the course for a win. However, a couple of capsizes on the reach into the gybe mark put paid to his intention to sail the final 300m and he retired as well.
So with eight boats taking to the water, there was only one finisher… No takers for the second race meant an early finish on a gloriously sunny afternoon.
Sunday started sunny with a southerly which seemed slightly stronger than forecast. The beat was set from 1 to 7 (Scarness in old money), and with laps taking over 25 mins for the leaders, some commented how far it was. That didn’t stop them going round for a second lap though! There were just two boats in the slow handicap fleet but Joyce in a Splash soon retired leaving Jim in his Hartley racing alone. Once his course was shortened the OD raced to a wing mark on the course to shorten other fleets, but was beaten by the lead F15, so back to the startling to shorten their course before racing back to the wing Mark to shorten other fleets. Ok, it may have been a slightly moving finish line, and Val did point out she was catching Mike/Eric, but they were pleased to finish.
The afternoon race was the Jubilee Sailing Trust Pennant. OD Hugh had determined the course before heading ashore for lunch, during which time the wind freshened and white horses appeared, however by the time the race was due to start the wind was swinging towards the SW and Sale Fell was casting a shadow over the northern end of the lake. Upon seeing the course the OD was bombarded with numerous not so witty comments (NB must try harder) about the length of the course and number of marks being used. Racing got underway and the wind filled in a little as it swung back to the south for some good racing conditions. After 40 mins Angus/James were first to the windward mark in their F15 with Tim/Ian close on their tail, and Joan/Jack in a GP not too far behind. On the return legs, Tim broke through to the lead, but didn’t shake off Angus. Val/Ken caught up with Joan on the return trip and, with a matter of seconds between them at the finish, the GPs took 1st and 2nd with the F15s 3rd and 4th.
By the time Mik had finished in his Mirror after 2+ hours, the rain moved in, the wind had swung, faded!
Poppy strengthened her lead in the Sandra’s Salver Trophy with another 1st.
Jubilee Sailing Trust Pennant
Sandra’s Salver Pennant
Are you a winner?
If you were skilful enough to win any trophies last Bass Week please ensure you clean, polish, and return them to us for award at this year’s regatta.
Nearly famous
Credit where credit’s due
Following last weekend’s NWJTT we were pleased to receive the following note of thanks.
Many thanks for putting on a great event on Saturday with such perfect weather conditions. Please pass on my thanks to everyone who was involved in making the day a real success. I heard nothing but compliments from parents during the day….
The icing on the cake was seeing the Vulcan fly down the Lake.
Kind regards
Peter Hadfield
Sunday Sunshine
Despite a �wet and windy forecast, as well as a drizzly morning, Sunday turned out to be a great sailing day. A short postponement was all that was needed for the drizzle to disappear, the strength of the gusts to subside, and a few gaps in the clouds to appear.
Ever positive, OD Preston was raring to get proceedings underway only to find HE had left the OD bag ashore so the rescue crew were tasked with fetching it. It’s funny how they never seem to go flat out when you want them to!
The close reaches, and blustery gusts, were challenging for many (had Kayla’s arms stretched by the end of the race?), and too much for some, but it meant there was great planing conditions. Peter W started his day in a way that was to continue – capsizing, and getting into irons. Alastair may well have kept him good company in the capsizing stakes had he sailed his Vareo, but he took the cautious option and crewed for AJ while Sue preserved her energy for the afternoon pennant race.
With Poppy keen to maintain her lead in the Sandra’s Salver series, OD Preston just sent the fleet down as far as 11 (Surely he could be home by the time the race finished?). With a SW wind, the sailing conditions were as flukey as they come past 7, with sailing flapping and calm conditions occurring within seconds! Mike/Kayla led the fleet home winning with a six min lead on handicap. While retrieving his boat to shore he cooled off with a full immersion after slipping off the foredeck. Kayla was too shocked to ask if it was cold in there!
Fortunately Jim/Poppy’s efforts were worth it as even taking a 3rd place behind Kayla and Sue, Poppy remains in the lead for Sandra’s Salver (Long may it continue!)
BL Series etc – latest
RNLI Pennant
Sandra’s Salver – latest