Who cares if the South of the Country was at risk from a bit of rain? Rain what’s that? Yes sailors all enjoyed another weekend of blue skies and a bit of gloriously warm wind thown in. Ok, so the wind may have been suffering from a bit of sun stoke because it certainly struggled to make its mind up which way it should blow from! However it all lead to many changing fleet positions and some excellent racing.

Overall Results

FF EASTERLY TROPHY 

PN    Boat  Helm             1   2   3   4   5 Pts
 1    3268  W CARRUTHERS     1   2   1   3   1   3
 2    3560  I CAMPBELL       3   1   4   1   3   5
 3    3473  M MOORE          2   3   2   2   2   6
 4     530  K CLARK        DNS DNS   6   4   4  14
 5    3231  M PARRY        DNS DNS   3   6 RTD  16
 6  161866  M SOMERVILLE     4   4 DNS DNS DNS  16
 7    3385  M MIDDLETON    DNS DNS   5   5 RTD  17

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

 3 races to count

GP EASTER TROPHY

PN    Boat  Helm            1   2   3   4   5 Pts
 1   13176  D LAWSON        1   1   3   1   1   3
 2   13326  R DAWSON        2   2   6   4   2   6
 3   13482  J TELFORD       4   3   1   5   3   7
 4   13327  MiFAIRLAMB      3   5   2   6   5  10
 5   13254  A GREENHALGH    5   6   5   2   4  11
 6   13371  J RILEY         7   4   7   3 DNS  14
 7   13142  A HODGKINS      8   7   9   8   6  21
 8   13013  N LEWIS       DNS DNS   8   7   7  22
 9   13467  T KNOWLES      OD DNS   4 DNS DNS  23
10   11679  R HODGKINS      9   9  10  10 RTD  27
11   13113  JuCRUICKSHAN    6   8 DNS DNS DNS  30
12   13118  V BELL        DNS  10  11   9 DNS  30
13    6642  J SHARP       DNS DNS  OD DNS DNS  35

          Points for RTD = 10  11  12  11   9
          Points for DSQ = 10  11  12  11   9
          Points for DNS = 16

 3 races to count

Apologies to Jose for reporting verbatim the tale of her getting her knickers wet again. Now it seems she may be suffering from the Bridgette Jones syndrome as she doesn’t want mention of her Natsy Gants(?) ‘cos she now wears her cossie! Only joking (about the apologies)….

The sailing season started with a vengeance for the May Bank Holiday weekend. Clear blue skies, brisk winds (interspersed with the odd hole) and an excellent turnout.

Sunday’s Starter’s Prize racing comprised a two race series for all classes, sailed on a fleet handicap basis. In the first race the Flying 15s struggled to shake off Mark Somerville in his Laser and Robin Dawson/Phil Graham in their GP; they finished 1st and equal 2nd (with Scott Beattie in the lead F15) respectively. The second race took the fleet to the bottom end of the lake. William Carruthers/Alan Smith took an early lead but was passed by Scott Beattie and Ian Campbell after falling into the shadow of the point off Bassenthwaite Church. However, as the wind eased on the fleet that had hugged and crept up the western shoreline, William took the lead again and managed to break away from the fleet for the next 50 minutes to take first place on the water and on handicap. Robin and Mark again sailed very well to secure 2nd and 3rd on handicap. Overall positions: 1st Mark Somerville, 2nd Robin Dawson and 3rd William Carruthers.

Monday’s racing was the first club championship series. Light and variable winds in the first race were the cause of several frustrations but who cared on such a glorious day? The swinging winds continued throughout the afternoon to turn reaches into runs, runs into fetches, and reaches into beats! Indeed for the last race, the wind changed so much between laying the line and starting that the Flying 15s started on a run, but with freshening winds backed by a sea breeze, the race proved to be the most exhilarating of the weekend.

FF Results: 
FF JACK POT 2001 
PN Boat Helm         1   2   3 Pts
 1 3673 S BEATTIE    1   1   1   2
 2 3560 I CAMPBELL   2   2   2   4
 3 3268 W CARRUTHERS 4   3   3   6
 4 3473 M MOORE      3   4   4   7
 5 3332 W SOMERVILLE 5   5   5  10
 6 3385 M MIDDLETON  6   6   6  12
 7 530 K CLARK     RTD   7 RTD  15 
    Points for RTD = 8   8   8 
    Points for DSQ = 8   8   8 
    Points for DNS = 8 
2 races to count

Titbits:

• Submariner Tim Chittenden would have found a periscope (or should that be a snorkel) very useful after being tipped into the water by a wind change.
• Ginge and Jose Hodgkins suffered a similar fate after another shift, however, although swimming was not necessary this time, Jose is believed to have got her knickers wet!
• Richard and Philip Hodgkins were at risk of having their pocket money withdrawn after beating their parents in one of the races.

Ok so the forecast wasn’t very good and you preferred to stay at home and keep warm. But those that turned up braved the elements in shifty conditions and blew away all cobwebs!

The changeable winds lead to very close racing for the first lap of a windward leeward course. But Steve Hunt and Ruth Critchley then broke away in their RS400 and went on to win the first race.

Martin and Rachel Crouch are still new to the RS400s – a screaming reach, a lull and another gust lead to their demise. To top it all Rachel fell out on the way back to shore and they threw in another capsize for good luck (although Herb Telford may have distracted them at the time) but seemed to keep laughing about it all the way.

Strong winds eased throughout Sunday racing. Martin Crouch continued to dominate the first beats which again lead to some close racing. However, Steve Hunt pulled back through to win both races.

Prizelist: 1st Steve Hunt, 2nd Martin Crouch

One of the more unusual, but one of the best enjoyed, events of the northern sailing calendar is the annual Flying Fifteen team racing weekend generously sponsored by Harper and Hebson of Carlisle.

Teams of three boats combine all their scores in four races to find the winning team so allowing for a bit of tactics as well as serious sailing in this fun event.

A fleet of boats from around the country enjoyed some excellent courses set by Andy Smith and Herb Telford and, together with mainly warm southerly winds varying from a force 1 to a stiff force 5, gave every dog the chance to have its day.

Mastering all of these conditions, Neil Platt (Liverpool) forsook his GP 14 and very creditably won three of the four races sailing a new boat with a scratch crew, Bass S.C. member Andrew Nuttall {Whitehaven), who hadn�t sailed competitively for a few years whilst away at university.

Race two was won by Tyneside�s John Hardisty, chased by Cockermouth�s Neil Currie who has just returned to sailing after a year�s lay-off with back problems. Neil was sailing Paul Wright’s boat with Paul. Just how versatile the Flying fifteen is, was demonstrated with a wide range of helms and crews. It was great to see the wily old pensioner from Loch Earn, Ian Cameron, still up there with the top boats after a long beat up Bass in a force 5 making it look all so easy. At the other end of the age spectrum young Elizabeth Donkin, who has barely reached her teens, crewed for Graham Donkin in her second open meting. Well done Elizabeth!

Socially the event was also a big hit with a meal in the clubhouse on Saturday evening. Free lunches and teas were also provided on Sunday � thanks to Linda Beattie and her band of helpers.

So, if you sail a Flying Fifteen, make a note in your diary for next year. Get yourself to Bassenthwaite where there is free camping, caravanning and lots of socials to have an excellent weekend in the Lake District at this annual event with a great prize list on offer.

NB The wind change in the first race was NOT the reason why Neil Currie finished with only one boat behind him in the first race – he just sailed ****!

�(Full prizelist)

For the last championship series of the season, the flying fifteen and laser fleet champions had already been decided, but the following places up were for grabs

2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in the Flying 15s
2nd and 3rd in the Lasers
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in the GP14s

The unsettled forecast proved correct and Saturday produced some steady southerly winds, dampened by a few showers. However, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the fleets. The adrenalin was also high due to some crews who had not realised that the start time was earlier then usual.

In the flying fifteen fleet, Scott Beattie (Beverly) had already won the championship, so let his crew, John Somerville (Carlisle) take the helm. William Curruthers (Carlisle) was second in the championship and could only be beaten if Mike and Christina Moore (Preston) took five first places this weekend. Unfortunately, Mike and Christina were among the latecomers and never caught the rest of the fleet in the first race. John had an excellent start and was almost first round the windward mark. However, John�s wife Wendy, sailing with Elaine Fairlamb (Deanscales) was also battling for first place at the mark. John decided he wanted his tea and Wendy led the race. Wanting to prove how good a helm he is, John never gave up and pulled back the place to win the race. In the second race, Mike and Christina led from the start, but again John pulled through to win.

In the GP14 fleet, Dave and Lynne Lawson (Kendal) needed two first places to take the title. They have been sailing superbly since the middle of the season when they joined the fleet. Mike Fairlamb (Deanscales) and Mike Cowan (Maryport) had led the championship almost from the start of the season needed one more first place to win the championship. Further down the field, only two points separated Julian and Jane Cruickshank (Bolton), Ginge and Jose Hodgkins (Brigham) and Hugh Godfrey with Rhonwen Bryce (Whitehaven). This is the closest end to the GP14 championship for a few years. In almost predictable form, Dave and Lynne led from the start in both races to take the places they needed to win the championship. Lynne has done exceptionally well considering this is her first season in a boat. Mike and Mike took a second and third place, alternating with Julian and Jane. In the strong winds, Richard and Philip Hodgkins did very well to finish the first race without capsizing and finish with a very respectable championship position.

The gales forecast on Sunday did not materialise and the officer of the day, Hugh Godfrey, did very well to avoid most of the showers during the races. The first race saw John and Scott win the fifteen series. Behind them, William sailing with Rhonwen had been in second place, but the last leg proved their downfall when several places changed and Ian Campbell (Papcastle) with Tony Fisher (Carlisle) were second over the line. John also won the fourth race, but in the final race, Ian led from the start to avoid John getting a clean sweep.

In the GP14 fleet, Dave and Lynne again proved that they are worthy champioins, although they were pursued closely for most of the last race. Mike and Mike, Julian and Jane, Tim Knowles with Philip Hodgkins (both Brigham) and Ginge and Jose were all battling closely for the other places. There was considerable tactical play with everyone trying to steal everyone else�s wind. Mike and Mike took the three second places. The last two races, although not significant for the series and club championship, did decide the handicap championship. Julian and Jane, and Ginge and Jose had identical points for the fifteen races to count. Each took a first place on handicap, so discards were taken into account and Ginge and Jose were winners.

Light winds on Saturday lead to the postponement of a race and meant an early start on Sunday for three closely fought races held in a good breeze which helped blow away cobwebs after the effects of the night before!

PN    Boat  Helm          FleetClub             1   2   3   4 Pts
 1   13671  N THOMPSON    G    CHASE            1   4   7   1   6
 2   13686  C JEFFS       G    TRIMPLEY         4   1   2   3   6
 3   13676  J JONES       G    SSSC             5   2   1   4   7
 4   12876  I PLATT       G    BOLTON           3   5   3   2   8
 5   13681  M SENIOR      G    BOLTON          26   3   8   5  16
 6   13609  N EAVES       G    BARTLEY         10   7  15   7  24
 7   13176  D LAWSON      G    BASS             2  11  12  13  25
 8   13218  M BRENNAN     G    HLSC             7   9  20  11  27
 9   12655  S GRAHAM      G    BURWAIN          6  19  18   8  32
10   13650  A ROSE        S    RWYC            14   6  13  15  33
11   13482  J TELFORD     G    BASS           RTD  21   4  14  39
12   13687  J SINCLAIR    G    WEST LANCS      16  14  28   9  39
13   13680  N BROOK       G    HOLLINGWORTH    19  13   9  26  41
14   13225  J DIXON       S    WEST KIRBY      13  10  19  18  41
15   13463  A GILKINSON   G    CASTLE SEMPLE   11  22  11  24  44
16   13678  B KENYON      G    BUDWORTH        21  25   5  22  48
17   13484  T TAYLOR      G    SOUTH STAFFS    29  15  24  10  49
18   13371  J RILEY       S    BASS            17  18  14  29  49
19   13374  P GARDNER     G    COMBS           18 DSQ   6  27  51
20   13406  G DEIGHAN     G    BOLTON          20 DSQ  25   6  51
21   13693  P OWEN        S    SOUTH STAFFS     8  23  34  21  52
22    8162  C AUBREY      G    BOLTON          27  17  17  19  53
23   13254  A GREENHALGH  S    BASS            12  16  27  28  55
24   13561  C KNOTT       S    HOLLINGWORTH    31  28  16  12  56
25   13327  M FAIRLAMB    S    BASS            24  12  33  20  56
26   13603  A DAVEY       S    BURWAIN         15  26  32  16  57
27   13515  T HARPER      G    WEST LANCS      34  27  10  25  62
28   13164  L OWEN        S    WINSFORD FLASH  36  24  23  17  64
29   13215  G KNOX        S    HOLLINGWORTH    25  34  21  23  69
30   13683  D MIDDLETON   B    BLACKPOOL & FL  38  20  22  31  73
31   13444  J SHARMAN     S    BURWAIN         22  29  29  30  80
32   13322  S TAYLOR      S    RWYC             9  38  39  40  86
33   13630  B MOSEDALE    B    WEST KIRBY      30  30  30  32  90
34   13115  J WADDINGTON  B    BOLTON          32  35  31  33  96
35   13453  P DUTTON      B    WEST KIRBY      42  31  35  36 102
36   13701  N HARRISON    B    HORBURY         28  42  42  35 105
37   13113  J CRUICKSHAN  B    BASS            33  40  37  38 108
38    6425  R MARSDEN     B    B&FYC           46 DSQ  26  37 109
39   13633  N PLATT       G    BOLTON / WEST  DSQ   8 DNS DNS 110
40   12682  E SMITH       B    BASS            41  33  36  43 110
41   13142  A HODGKINS    B    BASS            37  39  40  34 110
42   13338  A MONK        B    GLOSSOP         48  32  38  42 112
43   13340  M MITCHELL    B    WINSFORD FLASH  39  37  43  39 115
44   13075  R DIN         B    HOLLINGWORTH    35  41  41  41 117
45   13467  T KNOWLES     S    BASS            23 DNS DNS DNS 125
46   11772  D HOOK        B    WEST LANCS      40  36 DNS DNS 127
47   13013  N LEWIS       B    BASS            47  43  45  44 132
48   12220  R BALDWIN     B    WINSFORD FLASH  43  44  47  45 132
49    6642  J SHARP       B    BASS            44  45  46  47 135
50   10822  R COY         B    BASS            45 DNS  44  46 135

                              Points for RTD = 51  49  48  48
                              Points for DSQ = 51  49  48  48
                              Points for DNS = 51

 3 races to count

At last weekend’s Annandale open meeting, which included the GP14 Scottish Area Championship, it was a case of Bass came, Bass sailed and Bass conquered!

This year’s GP14 Scottish Area champions are Bass members David and Lynne Lawson, with John Telford and Andy Smith coming second. All in all a very close event that Mike Fairlamb and and Mike Cowan also had a chance of second place if only they had been behind the line at the start of the last race!

In the laser fleet Mark Somerville took pole position with Matthew Fairlamb 2nd and Ian Macpherson 3rd.

Congratulations and well done everyone.

Concerns over fuel supplies reduced the numbers of entrants from 29 to 11 for the final open meeting of the Tinker Travellers circuit.

Light winds freshened over the weekend to a force 4 by Sunday afternoon. But spirits did not seem to be dampened by Sunday’s passing showers.

Standing in on behalf of the Commodore, Herb Telford (Official starter for the weekend) aided by Carol Thomas presented the weekends prizes. Final results

1st – David Warren
2nd – Stuart Warden
3rd – Bill James

After some close racing, the wine challenge was won by David and Lynne Lawson from Mike Fairlamb and Mike Cowan.

Yes, although Autumn arrived on Friday, those sailors not venturing to various open meetings enjoyed clear blue skies and warm, strong winds.

In the Flying 15s, William Carruthers and Alan Smith took the lead in the first race and held off Ian Campbell and Tony Fisher, even on numerous magnificent reaches and spinnaker legs. In the second race Ian lead from the start but on the second beat William’s boom outhaul broke and made various precarious attempts to effect a tempoary repair. In so doing Ian broke away and Paul Burnell, with Margaret Trotter, got through to second place. However, Willam managed to get back into second place but was unable to break Ian’s commanding lead.

Ginge and Jose Hodgkins seemed to wear out their opposition! – In the 1st race Wendy Lewis retired, while in the 2nd race John Sharp took a cautious route, but stayed upright and finished 2nd.

These races brought another long series to a close. Overall results;

FF MORGAN TROPHY 
PN Boat Helm          1   2   3   4   5   6  Pts 
1  3268 W CARRUTHERS DNS DNS  1   1   1   2   3 
2  3560 I CAMPBELL   DNS DNS DNS DNS  2   1   9 
3  3503 D LANCASTER  DNS DNS  2   2  DNS DNS 10 
4  3273 P BURNELL    DNS DNS DNS DNS  3   3  12 
5  3473 M MOORE      DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS OD  15 
     Points for RTD = 0   0   3   3   4   4 
     Points for DSQ = 0   0   3   3   4   4 
     Points for DNS = 6 
3 races to count

GP SPRING CUP 
PN  Boat  Helm        1   2   3   4   5   6 Pts 
 1  13176 D LAWSON    1   1   1   1  DNS DNS  4 
 2  13142 A HODGKINS  4   3   5   5   1   1   9 
 3  13013 N LEWIS     6   4   6   6  DNS DNS 22 
 4   6642 J SHARP     9   5  DNS DNS DNS  2  34 
 5  13482 J TELFORD  DNS DNS  2   2  DNS DNS 40 
 6  12329 H GODFREY   3   2  DNS DNS DNS DNS 41 
 7  69916 P SMITH    DNS DNS  4   3  DNS DNS 43 
 7  13327 MiFAIRLAMB DNS DNS  3   4  DNS DNS 43 
 9  13371 J RILEY     2  RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS 48 
10   3473 M MOORE     5   7  DNS DNS DNS DNS 48 
11 988683 J ROBERTS   8   6  DNS DNS DNS DNS 50 
12  13118 M TROTTER   7   8  DNS DNS DNS DNS 51 
13 113013 W LEWIS    DNS DNS DNS DNS RTD DNS 57 
13  13467 T KNOWLES  DNS OD  DNS DNS DNS DNS 57 
15  13161 TBA        DNS DNS DNS  7  DNS DNS 61 
15   9876 R HODGKINS DNS DNS  7  DNS DNS DNS 61 
17  11679 R HODGKINS DNS DNS DNS  8  DNS DNS 62 
Points for RTD = 10 10 8 9 3 3 
Points for DSQ = 10 10 8 9 3 3 
Points for DNS = 18 
4 races to count

Although no-one seems to know the real reason behind the name for this series (suggestions to the mailbox please) it has proved to be an important turning point for the various club championships.

FLYING FIFTEEN AT CUP

PN    Boat  Helm            1   2   3   4   5 Pts
 1    3673  S BEATTIE       1   1   1   1   1   3
 2    3560  I CAMPBELL      3   2   2   5   4   7
 3    3268  W CARRUTHERS  DNS DNS   3   2   2   7
 4    3332  W SOMERVILLE    2   4   4   6   5  10
 5    3473  M MOORE         4   3   5   4   3  10
 6    3293  I PRESTON     DNS DNS DNS   3   6  18
 7     231  M PARRY        OD DNS DNS DNS DNS  21
 8    2504  K THOMAS      DNS DNS DNS   7   7  23

          Points for RTD =  5   5   6   8   8
          Points for DSQ =  5   5   6   8   8
          Points for DNS =  9

 3 races to count

The 5 firsts achieved by Scott Beattie and John Somerville were sufficient to secure the Flying 15 Club Championship with nine races to go!

GP AT CUP

PN    Boat  Helm            1   2   3   4   5 Pts
 1   13176  D LAWSON        1   1   1   1   1   3
 2   13327  MiFAIRLAMB      3   2   3   5   2   7
 3   13113  J CRUICKSHAN    6   5   2   4   3   9
 4   13254  A GREENHALGH    4   3   5   2 DNS   9
 5   13467  T KNOWLES     DNS DNS RTD   3   4  16
 6    6642  J SHARP         9   7   6   8   5  18
 7   13482  J TELFORD       2   4 DNS DNS DNS  24
 8   13142  A HODGKINS      8 RTD DNS   6 DNS  24
 9   12682  E SMITH         7   6 DNS DNS DNS  31
10   12329  H GODFREY       5 RTD DNS DNS DNS  33
11   13201  R COY         DNS DNS DNS   9   6  33
12  169106  A SMITH       DNS DNS   4 DNS DNS  40
13  143093  P LAWSON      DNS DNS DNS DNS   7  43
14   13259  W ROBERTS     DNS DNS DNS   7 DNS  43
14   13118  M TROTTER     DNS DNS   7 DNS DNS  43
16  212324  S SPENCE      DNS   8 DNS DNS DNS  44
17   11679  R HODGKINS    RTD DNS DNS DNS DNS  47

          Points for RTD = 11  10   9  10   8
          Points for DSQ = 11  10   9  10   8
          Points for DNS = 18

 3 races to count

Consistent sailing by David and Lynne Lawson took them to first position in the GP14 Club Championship. As Mike Fairlamb and Mike Cowan are only a point behind, the remaining races will be closely fought (if David Lawson lets anyone get near him!)