Although Saturday started off relatively mild, strong gusts had been passing over the lake all morning. By the time racing started, the rain had moved in and the gusts were coming down vertically and things didn’t improve much apart from the sun coming out later in the day.

Roy and Kayla were still a little anxious about their new boat, and it was well founded! A blustery first beat ended with a capsize that was enought for them to call it a day.

They weren’t the only ones to go swimming; Phil and Rich Hodgkins did their bit for the chandlery trade in the first race, and then Phil took Dave Lawson out for the second race, only to have another capsize and bend the tiller extensions.

As for the racing, Mark and Emma hung on in there in their Enterprise, securing a first and third overall. Scumper and Zefer sailed well in both races, but mistook A for 9 in the second race and had a valiant effort trying to stop capsizing (because they couldn’t lay 9 with the gennaker up) well after the point of no return! Robbie D and Toggle’s performance regained them the lead for the series overall.

The wind continued through the night, as did the partying, but when racing started the wind was a ‘slightly’ steadier westerly. Roy and Kayla were aiming for three marks before capsizing – and they did it!. Roy had a corker of a first beat to be in second position at the windward mark, but he felt obloged to hold his position by flying the kite – problem was with the gusts coming through he couldn’t lay the mark and then struggled to take down the kite – It’s tough at the top! Their tales of woe continued and they had an extra couple of capsizes along the way, however, they weren’t alone – Neil and Bean, Robbie and Toggle, Steve and Ruth, Scumper and Zefer, Phil and Andy T – all joined them. Both Steve and Robbie had to practice their swimming techniques to get back to their boats. It might have been easier to list that stayed upright – William and Lesley, Dave and Lynn, Val and Ken.

Close racing in the RS400 almost led to a demolition derby at a couple of marks, but fortunately everyone came out unscathed.

Monday started off flat calm, but once racing was under way sailors were treated to a variation of shifts and gusts passing through from time tio time that tended to break up the fleets somewhat. In the afternoon, the gusts (when they came) caught out a couple of GPs along the bottom reach, and they kept the rescue crews going by capsizing.

Apart from a heavy shower at the end of the day, the weather wasn’t too bad for a bank holiday!

 CELEBRITY GLASS 

 PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4   5   6 Pts 
  1    1072  R DAWSON      RS400        2   1 DNS DNS   2   2   7 
  2    1049  M SOMERVILLE  RS400        5   2 DNS DNS   1   4  12 
  3     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400        7   6 DNS DNS RTD   3  24 
  4   91029  R BLACKBURN   RS400        9 DNS   5   4 RTD DNS  26 
  5  167828  S HALL        LAS         12  10   3   2 DNS DNS  27 
  6    1298  S HUNT        RS400        1   3 DNS DNS   5 DNS  33 
  7   13885  M FAIRLAMB    GP         DNS DNS   1   1 DNS DNS  52 
  8   20181  M NINNIM      ENT        DNS DNS DNS DNS   3   1  54 
  9  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS        DNS DNS   2   3 DNS DNS  55 
 10    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400      DNS DNS   4   5 DNS DNS  57 
 11   13905  H GODFREY     GP           4   4 DNS DNS DNS DNS  58 
 12    3473  M MOORE       FF           2   8 DNS DNS DNS DNS  60 
 13   70142  T SMITH       MS           8   5 DNS DNS DNS DNS  61 
 14   69960  M CHAPPEL     MS          11   7 DNS DNS DNS DNS  66 
 15    1117  K JAMIESON    FF          10   9 DNS DNS DNS DNS  69 
 16   13867  D NICHOLSON   GP          OD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS  78 
 17    3293  I PRESTON     FF         DNS DNS  OD DNS DNS DNS  78 
 18   13176  D LAWSON      GP         DNS DNS DNS DNS   4 DNS  79 
 19  213142  R HODGKINS    RS400      DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD  81 
 20  122174  P DILLON      LAS        DNS DNS DNS   6 DNS DNS  81 
 21   13733  A HODGKINS    GP           6 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS  81 
 22    1140  J CHRISTIE    LAS        RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS  83 

                      Points for RTD = 14  11   6   7   8   6 
                      Points for DSQ = 14  11   6   7   8   6 
                      Points for DNS = 23 

  4 races to count

  
 MAY HOLIDAY 

 PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts 
  1    1072  R DAWSON      RS400        1 RTD   2   1   4 
  2    1049  M SOMERVILLE  RS400        2   1   4   2   5 
  3     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400        3   2   5   4   9 
  4    1298  S HUNT        RS400      DNS   3   1 DNS  17 
  5   91029  R BLACKBURN   RS400      RTD RTD RTD   5  17 
  6    1148  N CURRIE      RS400      DNS DNS   3   3  19 
  7  173813  P BURNELL     LAS        DNS DNS RTD   6  30 
  8     562  A SMITH       ENT        DNS DNS   6 DNS  32 
  9   20181  M NINNIM      ENT        DNS RTD DNS DNS  33 
 10     103  A NICHOLSON   VARIO      DNS DNS DNS RTD  34 
 11   61512  S PAGEL       MIR        DNS DNS RTD DNS  37 
 11      20  R PAGEL       TOP        DNS DNS RTD DNS  37 

                      Points for RTD =  5   7  11   8 
                      Points for DSQ =  5   7  11   8 
                      Points for DNS = 13 

  3 races to count

  
 LYNE TANKARD 

 PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts 
  1   13176  D LAWSON      GP           2   1   1   1   3 
  2  113142  N PLATT       FF           1   2 DNS DNS   9 
  3   13118  V BELL        GP           3   3   3 RTD   9 
  4   13905  H GODFREY     GP         DNS DNS   2   2  10 
  5   13655  N LEWIS       GP         DNS DNS   4   3  13 

                      Points for RTD =  4   4   5   5 
                      Points for DSQ =  4   4   5   5 
                      Points for DNS =  6 

  3 races to count

  
 PEEL POT 

 PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts 
  1   70142  T SMITH       MS         DNS DNS DNS   1   1 
  2   69960  M CHAPPEL     MS         DNS DNS DNS   2   2 

                      Points for RTD =  0   0   0   3 
                      Points for DSQ =  0   0   0   3 
                      Points for DNS =  3 

  1 races to count

A Spanish fancy dress evening was held at the club on Sunday. Of course Manuel was there causing havoc….

Sailing has been challenging with unsettled winds all weekend so far. When it did blow there was some good planing, but there were many holes to be buried in. The Catapult fleet enjoyed themselves so much last year they came back for more, so Sunday afternoon they had the treat of a race around the lake! As ever, it was challenging (and that’s being polite!) and that was for the people who should know better. Scott Beattie and John Somerville on their first day’s sailing of the season were difficult to shake off by the RS400s and won both races on handicap.

Monday started off wet, but the drizzle was soon blown away by the blustery winds which caused several capsizes during the day. In fact, the first casualty was a dismasted catapult that had to be towed ashore. The gybe mark was a challenge for many, including Andy and Bean who was under instructions to ‘tickle’ their 49er around mark 6. Whatever that may mean, Bean successfully completed the challenge, but on a later gybe concentration was lost and they ended up capsized with mast in the mud.

The Monday series was the Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy for which the main contenders was the first winner of the trophy Robbie D with Toggle in an RS400, and defending champion Mike Moore with Sally Roberts in a F15 – after the handicaps were calculated that was the order during the lunch break. this meant it was all on the last race. William Carruthers with Lesley Braddock in an RS400� were first to the windward mark and held off Robin for the first lap, until Robin pulled through on the next beat. For the next couple of laps there was some breathtakingly close racing and spectacular spinnaker reaches, but Robin eventually broke away to win the race and the series with William second and Mike third

The catapult visitors enjoyed their weekend, unfortunately I don’t have a copy of the results at present, but here’s Stuart Ede, the winning helm, receiving his trophy from Rhonwen

Weekend Results:

HANDICAP BARF PLATE

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts
 1    1298  S HUNT        RS400        1   3   1   1   3
 2    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK       RTD DNS   5   5  14
 3    1072  R DAWSON      RS400        2   1 DNS DNS  21
 4     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400      DNS DNS   2   2  22
 5   13867  D NICHOLSON   GP         DNS DNS   4   3  25
 6    3473  M MOORE       FF         DNS DNS   6   3  27
 7  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS        DNS DNS   3   7  28
 8     338  R YARDLEY     RS300      DNS DNS   7   6  31
 9  130579  S HALL        LASER RADI DNS DNS  10   8  36
10  160516  T CHITTENDEN  LAS        DNS DNS   8  10  36
11    1049  M SOMERVILLE  RS400      DNS   2 DNS DNS  38
12   13733  A HODGKINS    GP         DNS DNS  11  11  40
13    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400      DNS DNS  12 RTD  43
14   69960  M CHAPPEL     MS         DNS DNS DNS   9  45
15   13259  J ROBERTS     GP         DNS DNS   9 DNS  45
16     562  A SMITH       49R        DNS DNS  13 DNS  49
17  168995  G HEMMINGWAY  OPPIE      DNS DNS  14 DNS  50

                     Points for RTD =  4   4  15  13
                     Points for DSQ =  4   4  15  13
                     Points for DNS = 18

 3 races to count

HANDICAP DODD TROPHY

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts
 1    1072  R DAWSON      RS400        2   1   1   2   4
 2    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK         1   2   2   7   5
 3  130579  S HALL        LASER RADI   4   4   4   9  12
 4  160516  T CHITTENDEN  LAS        DNS   3   3   7  13
 5     103  A NICHOLSON   VARIO      DNS   5   5  10  20
 6    1148  N CURRIE      RS400      DNS DNS  OD   3  23
 7     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400        5 DNS DNS   4  26
 8    1298  S HUNT        RS400      DNS DNS DNS   1  35
 9    1049  M SOMERVILLE  RS400        3 DNS DNS DNS  37
10    3473  M MOORE       FF         DNS  OD DNS DNS  39
11     562  A SMITH       49R        DNS DNS DNS  OD  39
12  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS        DNS DNS DNS   6  40
13   20181  M NINNIM      ENT        DNS DNS DNS   5  41
14    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400      DNS DNS DNS  11  45
15    1246  R RHODES      OSPREY     DNS DNS DNS  12  46
16    1140  J CHRISTIE    VORTEX SP  DNS DNS DNS  13  47

                     Points for RTD =  6   6   6  14
                     Points for DSQ =  6   6   6  14
                     Points for DNS = 17

 3 races to count

ALBERT BATES ROUND THE LAKER

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1 Pts
 1    3673  S BEATTIE     FF           1   1
 2     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400        2   2
 3    1072  R DAWSON      RS400        3   3
 4   13905  H GODFREY     GP           4   4
 5    1148  N CURRIE      RS400        5   5
 6    3473  M MOORE       FF           6   6
 7   20181  M NINNIM      ENT          7   7
 8    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK         8   8
 9   13118  V BELL        GP           9   9
10  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS         10  10
11    2504  K THOMAS      FF          11  11
12   13655  N LEWIS       GP          12  12
13     103  A NICHOLSON   VARIO       13  13
14  160516  T CHITTENDEN  LAS         14  14
15    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400       15  15
16   13867  D NICHOLSON   GP          16  16
17  813467  D WRIGHT      GP          17  17
18    1140  J CHRISTIE    VORTEX SP  RTD  21
18    1298  S HUNT        RS400      RTD  21
18   13161  S SPENCE      GP         RTD  21

                     Points for RTD = 21
                     Points for DSQ = 21
                     Points for DNS = 21

 1 races to count

PAUL CARRUTHERS MEMORIAL TROPHY

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2 Pts
 1    1072  R DAWSON      RS400        1   1   2
 2     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400        3   2   5
 3    3473  M MOORE       FF           2   3   5
 4  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS          8   4  12
 5  160516  T CHITTENDEN  LAS          9   5  14
 6   66942  A HILL        LAS         11   8  19
 7   13905  H GODFREY     GP           4 DNS  20
 8   20181  M NINNIM      ENT          5 DNS  21
 9   70142  T SMITH       MS         DNS   6  22
10    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK         6 DNS  22
11     114  T FLYNN       M16        DNS   7  23
12   13867  D NICHOLSON   GP           7 DNS  23
13  130579  S HALL        LASER RADI  10 DNS  26
14    1140  J CHRISTIE    VORTEX SP  RTD DNS  30
14     562  A SMITH       49R        RTD DNS  30

                     Points for RTD = 14   9
                     Points for DSQ = 14   9
                     Points for DNS = 16

 2 races to count

GP14 SPRING CUP

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1 Pts
 1   13885  M FAIRLAMB    GP           1   1
 2  213142  R HODGKINS    RS400      RTD   3
 3   13655  N LEWIS       GP          OD   3

                     Points for RTD =  3
                     Points for DSQ =  3
                     Points for DNS =  4

 1 races to count

GP14 MUSTARD POT

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts
 1   13176  D LAWSON      GP           1   2   1 DNS   4
 2   13885  M FAIRLAMB    GP           2   1   2 DNS   5
 3   13655  N LEWIS       GP           4 DNS DNS   2  14
 4   13867  D NICHOLSON   GP         DNS   3   3 DNS  14
 5   13905  H GODFREY     GP         DNS DNS DNS   1  17
 6   13733  A HODGKINS    GP           3 DNS DNS DNS  19
 7   13874  J TELFORD     GP          OD DNS DNS DNS  19

                     Points for RTD =  5   4   4   3
                     Points for DSQ =  5   4   4   3
                     Points for DNS =  8

 3 races to count

MIRROR RED SAILS

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3 Pts
 1   70142  T SMITH       MS         DNS DNS   1   1
 2   69960  M CHAPPEL     MS         DNS DNS   2   2

                     Points for RTD =  0   0   3
                     Points for DSQ =  0   0   3
                     Points for DNS =  3

 1 races to count

Tips

Some racing tips courtesy of Pinnell and Bax can be found here