.. that could be one of the few explanations as to why William Carruthers and Lesley Braddock used the genniker as a trawl net and let Neil Currie expand his lead in the second race of the weekend series. Neil and Judith had taken the lead from William in the first race as the wind ebbed and flowed as the fleet rounded mark 7 just off Scarness Bay. With two firsts in the bag overnight, Steve Hunt’s appearance (and disappearance from the fleet!) on Sunday was not going to take victory away from Neil. Could this be the reason for Judith suggesting it’s time for Neil to get a new boat?

In the GPs there was some close and consistent sailing, David and Lynn Lawson fought all the way to take the series with three firsts and a second. Phil Smith and Toggle Cowan fought off the blues to secure two 2nds and a 4th, which although it matched Hugh and Rhonwen’s (who had sailed so consistently) 8 points, it was enough to beat them in the series.

Next week Bass is host to the GP14 North West Area Championships – we are sure to give the visitors some strong competition.

Weekend results

GRISEDALE CUP

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts
 1     501  N CURRIE      RS400        1   1   4   2   4
 2    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK         2   2   2   4   6
 3     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400        3   3 DNS   7  13
 4    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400        4   5   6   5  14
 5    1210  S HUNT        RS400      DNS DNS   1   1  18
 6   13327  M FAIRLAMB    LAS        DNS DNS   3   6  25
 7     103  A NICHOLSON   VARIO        6   6 DNS DNS  28
 8   13142  R HODGKINS    RS400      DNS DNS DNS   3  35
 9   69960  M CHAPPEL     MS         DNS   4 DNS DNS  36
10   13733  A HODGKINS    RS400      DNS DNS   5 DNS  37
11     595  H KNOWLES     TOPAZ        5 DNS DNS DNS  37
12     400  T KNOWLES     GP         DNS DNS RTD DNS  40
13     382  G HEMMINGWAY  RSFEVA     DNS DNS DNS RTD  43
13   40894  S HALL        TOP        DNS DNS DNS RTD  43
13   40892  J HEMINGWAY   TOP        DNS DNS DNS RTD  43

                     Points for RTD =  8   7   8  11
                     Points for DSQ =  8   7   8  11
                     Points for DNS = 16

 3 races to count

MCMILLAN CUP

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4 Pts
 1   13176  D LAWSON      GP           1   2   1   1   3
 2   13791  P SMITH       GP           2   4   4   2   8
 3   13839  H GODFREY     GP           3   3   2   3   8
 4   13789  J TELFORD     GP         RTD   1   3 RTD  11
 5   13749  R DAWSON      RS400        5 RTD   5   4  14
 6   13142  R HODGKINS    RS400        4   5   6 DNS  15
 7   12329  J WOOD        GP           6   6   7   5  17
 8   13326  S WATSON      GP           7 DNS DNS DNS  25

                     Points for RTD =  9   8   8   7
                     Points for DSQ =  9   8   8   7
                     Points for DNS =  9

 3 races to count

The winds were a reasonably steady force 2, but the direction was unusual and very variable! The OD set an excellent windward leg towards buoy 2 from the middle of the lake – at least it was excellent until about 5 seconds before the start gun when it turned into a fetch. Fortunately, half way up the leg, it turned into a beat again. Richard and Philip are still trying to suss out their new RS 400 and for some reason seemed to be tacking all over the place about 10 yards over the start line. Jose and Ginge took an early lead, but were soon overtaken by John and Islay Crosbie in their flying fifteen. Once the boats were within about 50 yards of buoy 2, it was anyone’s guess as to who would get round first or where the wind was coming from. Richard and Philip began to pull away, but seemed to put in twice as many gybes as anyone else on the downwind legs.

Further down the fleet, Tim Knowles was sailing his old boat, with its new owner, Des Wright, in the front. Des has only been sailing for two months, but was given a quick crash course in spinnaker handling and roll tacking. They were rather late over the start line, but were soon making their way through the fleet.

Another new combination was Roy and Michaela in a GP rather than their lark. It turns out that Roy isn’t too keen on a spinnaker pole stored in the boat – Michaela tried to store it in his face! There were also a few toppers out with Sam Hall leading the way. On the last lap, a couple of gentle gusts came through – they registered ‘one shriek’ on the gustometer scale in the front of Ginge’s boat.

After handicaps were calculated, Tim and Des were first with Ginge and Jose second.

….the Englishman, Irishman, Scotsman and an Italian? While most of the population were watching some football match last Thursday, the Englishman preferred sailing to football and the Irishman and the Scot preferred anything to watching England play football. The Italian said ‘What football competition?’ and went to set the course. Three minutes later they were off – the Scot got a good start, but was soon overtaken by the Englishman who had a faster boat. The Irishman went up the other side of the beat and was almost first to the mark. The Englishman set off downwind in the lead, but the Irishman had rigged his spinnaker in some strange Irish way – three times around the jib – and lost ground whilst his crew rectified it. As the race progressed, the Italian went ashore to watch the football and forgot about the sailing race. The Englishman continued to stretch his lead, but was never comfortably ahead. The Scot and the Irishman traded places numerous times depending on who had tacked on the right wind shift. After four laps, the Englishman was first across the line, with the Scot about 40 seconds later and the Irishman only 5 seconds behind that. However, once handicaps were calculated, the positions were reversed.

The weekend’s sailing at the club saw the conclusion of the first set of long series, but the damp forecast and lack of wind was enough to cause several would be sailors to find something else to do. Dave and Lynn Lawson secured the Spring Cup with two firsts, Hugh and Rhonwen did give them a challenge but managed to inexplicably tip their boat in and go for a swim.

Sunday’s racing was delayed waiting for wind, but when it did come in and settle from the West, there was a pleasant force 1/2. Malcolm Clayton concentrated so hard on ensuring that his son had uncleated the genny when they tacked, it slipped his mind that his new boat had a centre main which he had forgotten to uncleat – time for another capsize drill me thinks! The afternoon race was the Jimmy Lancaster Memorial Trophy, and as is the tradition, the fleet were sent around the lake. Ian Campbell broke away from the rest of the fleet with Mike Moore in hot pursuit, but no-one was able to catch them on the run down the lake. William Carruthers, still getting to grips with the RS, did try to reach down the lake, but with a lack of wind, and the challenge of going under the shade of Sale Fell, it did not prove to be a tactical move, and he duly tagged along behind the fleet for the rest of the race. He even experimented flying the genniker when close hauled – again, not a good tactical move! However, Joan Cowan took to the front on William’s boat while husband Toggle sat back and double checked her life insurance! She did say there would have to be a role reversal – she would lie down and have a snooze while Toggle made the tea that evening – did she get her way?

BARF PLATE

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4   5   6 Pts
 1  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS        DNS DNS DNS DNS   1   1   2
 2    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK       DNS DNS   2 DNS   2   4   4
 3  125514  R BRYCE       LAS        DNS DNS DNS DNS   3   2   5
 4    1117  K JAMIESON    FF         DNS DNS DNS DNS   4   3   7
 5     103  A NICHOLSON   VARIO      DNS DNS   3 DNS   5   6   8
 6    3521  P BURNELL     FF         DNS DNS   1 DNS DNS DNS  10
 7    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400      DNS DNS DNS DNS   6   5  11
 8    1210  S HUNT        RS400      DNS DNS DNS DNS  OD DNS  12

                     Points for RTD =  0   0   4   0   7   7
                     Points for DSQ =  0   0   4   0   7   7
                     Points for DNS =  9

 2 races to count

SPRING CUP

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8 Pts
 1   13176  D LAWSON      GP         DNS DNS DNS DNS   1   1   1   1   4
 2   13839  H GODFREY     GP         DNS DNS   2   3 DNS DNS   2   2   9
 3   13791  P SMITH       GP         DNS DNS   1   2 DNS DNS DNS DNS  23
 4  913789  A SMITH       LAS        DNS DNS   3   1 DNS DNS DNS DNS  24
 5   13161  S SPENCE      GP         DNS DNS DNS DNS   2   2 DNS DNS  24
 6   12329  J WOOD        GP         DNS DNS   4   4 DNS DNS DNS DNS  28
 7   13238  D NICHOLSON   GP         DNS DNS  OD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS  33
 8   13326  S WATSON      GP         DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS  OD DNS  33
 9   13142  R HODGKINS    GP         DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS  34

                     Points for RTD =  0   0   5   5   3   3   4   3
                     Points for DSQ =  0   0   5   5   3   3   4   3
                     Points for DNS = 10

 4 races to count

FF BLENCATHRA TROPHY

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4   5   6 Pts
 1    3560  I CAMPBELL    FF         DNS   2   1 DNS   1   1   3
 2    3473  M MOORE       FF         DNS   4   3 DNS   2   2   7
 3    3521  P BURNELL     FF         DNS   1   4 DNS   3 DNS   8
 4    3332  W SOMERVILLE  FF         DNS   3   2 DNS DNS DNS  10

                     Points for RTD =  0   5   5   0   4   3
                     Points for DSQ =  0   5   5   0   4   3
                     Points for DNS =  5

 3 races to count

MUSTARD POT

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1   2   3   4   5   6 Pts
 1   13749  R DAWSON      GP           1 DNS DNS   2 DNS DNS  15
 2   13655  N LEWIS       GP          OD DNS DNS DNS DNS   1  16
 3   13176  D LAWSON      GP         DNS DNS DNS DNS   1  OD  16
 4   13327  M FAIRLAMB    GP           2 DNS DNS   3 DNS DNS  17
 5   13839  H GODFREY     GP           3 DNS DNS   4 DNS DNS  19
 6   13791  P SMITH       GP         RTD DNS DNS   1 DNS DNS  20
 7   13238  D NICHOLSON   GP         RTD DNS DNS DNS   2 DNS  21
 8   12007  M CLAYTON     GP         DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD  27
 9  913789  A SMITH       LAS        DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS DNS  31
 9   13118  V BELL        GP         DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS DNS  31
10   13142  R HODGKINS    GP         RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS  31

                     Points for RTD =  7   0   0   7   3   3
                     Points for DSQ =  7   0   0   7   3   3
                     Points for DNS = 12

 3 races to count

JIMMY LANCASTER MEMORIAL TROPHY

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1 Pts
 1    3560  I CAMPBELL    FF           1   1
 2    3473  M MOORE       FF           2   2
 3  161866  M SOMERVILLE  LAS          3   3
 4  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS          4   4
 5  137629  Ma FAIRLAMB   LAS          5   5
 6    1140  J CHRISTIE    VORTEX       6   6
 7     937  W CARRUTHERS  RS400        7   7
 8    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK       RTD   9

                     Points for RTD =  9
                     Points for DSQ =  9
                     Points for DNS =  9

 1 races to count

On Sunday afternoon there was a pennant race in aid of the RNLI which is usually sailed around the lake. As the sun shone, the wind picked up over the lunch hour (60mph gust according to the new weather station in the Clubhouse!), but with the wind blowing from the West the competitors were liable to suffer from some interesting downdraughts as the wind passed over Sale Fell.

It seems that drifting boats being passed by boats with helm and crew hanging out were the least of the problems during the race. Mark 10 was stated to be so far out of position that some helms never spotted it at all! Paul Burnell took advantage of its position and sailed up the middle of the lake to pass Mike Moore and Ian Campbell while they sat in a hole. Steve Hunt secured a massive lead only to find a calm patch at 13. However, he must have made good time on the way back, because when the results were calculated on a fleet handicap basis, his 6 minute lead was sufficient to win him the race.

Ian Campbell ‘enjoyed’ the experience so much he vowed to cherish it and never sail down the lake again!

Final results

RNLI PENNANT

PN    Boat  Helm          Class        1 Pts
 1    1210  S HUNT        RS400        1   1
 2    3521  P BURNELL     FF           2   2
 3    3473  M MOORE       FF           3   3
 4    3560  I CAMPBELL    FF           4   4
 5  167828  I MACPHERSON  LAS          5   5
 6   69960  M CHAPPEL     MS           6   6
 7   13118  V BELL        GP           7   7
 8   13176  D LAWSON      GP           8   8
 9   13013  J SEDGWICK    GP           9   9
10    1125  JoHALLIDAY    RS400       10  10
11       1  TBA           TOP         11  11
12    2324  R BLACKBURN   LARK       RTD  13

                     Points for RTD = 13
                     Points for DSQ = 13
                     Points for DNS = 13

 1 races to count