With Bass Week becoming but a memory, and after a busy triathlon yesterday, numbers at the club were lower than usual. Those that did race enjoyed some good sailing conditions, with a southerly breeze that was better than forecast, and increased as the day went on.

Newcomer John Roberts got to grips with our way of racing and won the Slow Handicap fleet race in his Pico, while Scumper/Joe took the honours in the Fast Handicap fleet, and Val/Ken in the GPs.

The afternoon race was a pennant race around the lake, and sailors seemed to appreciate the simplest of courses – 12, 0 for which they didn’t seem to need a pencil to write it down!

Scumper had a good lead at the windward mark, but the wind on the way back favoured the later boats resulting in close finish and just 2 secs separating the lead boats with Joan/Jack in a GP beating Banter in his RS100 (who was pleased to ‘reel Scumper in’ on the run back.

BL latest results
Pennant race
Sandra’s Salver

Thursday evening Night Jar starts again this week, but don’t forget that there is an earlier start time of 7pm to suit the nights closing in.

Saturday sunshine and a good wind were the order of the day for a fleet of 21 boats in Fleet Challenge B. Originally programmed as a pursuit series of 5 races, there was a last minute change to a four race series on fleet handicap.�There was a wide range of skills and handicaps within the fleet ranging from RS 400 though to Mirror.

The wind strength caused a few capsizes, and several retirements before the second race which only had 12 competitors. Tony was a premature starter, then had a collision returning, and�had to do a 720 before getting back into the race.

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Robbie D/Banter have a clear overnight lead with two 1sts, Joan/Jack are 2nd, but the next three boats (Tony, Joe W & AJ) are all on equal points.

Sunday started bright with a good southerly, nothing like the forecast! Perhaps the wet and windy forecast was too off-putting for some as the turnout was half that of Saturday. By the start of the race, there seemed to be two winds, but keeping the course out of the shadow of Sale Fell kept the boats in wind, if somewhat variable at times. Over lunchtime the clouds were more threatening, and the rain finally appeared just before racing started in a slightly lighter breeze.

Robbie D/Banter won the series with three 1sts, while Joan/Jack took second overall, neither boat opting to venture out in the rain soaked final race!

Final results

Bass Week starts next week, so your help at Tuesday’s working party would be appreciated – be at the club from 6.30pm

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.