Despite white horses being visible when looking downwind from the clubhouse, there were five boats keen to race on Sunday. The wind was relatively mild, but still gusty at times.
Four of the five boats were so keen that they were OCS though none were quick to accept they may have been over. A nudge from the sailing secretary had them returning through the start line. The Feva gained significantly by being first to return, and held the lead on the water for a full lap! A subsequent capsize caused minor gear failure and their retirement.
The winds gave rise to some spectacular planing conditions to counteract the gruelling beat.
The start of the next race was much more cautious by them all� Artur in his Aero took the lead initially, rounding the windward mark first, with Neil/Archie in their RS200 giving chase. It was another couple of laps before Neil/Archie took the lead, which was extended after two capsizes by Artur, the second of which was due him falling/being washed out of the boat and having to swim hard to catch it!
On handicap, Neil/Archie had two 1sts and take the lead in the series. Artur and James/Poppy in a Feva each had a 2nd
It is with sadness that we advise Mik Chappell passed away earlier today. He has suffered with ill health over recent years and been unable to attend the club very often.
Mik has been a long standing active member of the club, as a past Commodore, and Trustee. He started sailing with his wife Sandra in a GP, then they had a Flying 15, but after her death he continued to sail in Mirrors.
Mik has no dependents. His funeral is being held at 1pm Wednesday 15th October in Christ Church, Criffel Street, Silloth CA7 4DA, and afterwards at nearby Silloth Golf Club
This weekend the club hosted a training session for a fleet of 25 Teras and Fevas. On Saturday morning the conditions were challenging as the SSW breeze generated a large waves, and gusts caused numerous capsizes. However the wind eased over the lunch break, though it did freshen later in the afternoon. Fortunately the rain held off all day.
Club racing was for the start of the October Saturday series and comprised a fleet of five single handers, though Banter/Artur in RS400 treated it more as a pursuit race as they were caught out by the race starting on time!
The wind enabled good planing conditions, and there some capsizes. In the second race, Banter/Artur built up a lead good enough for them to race one extra lap and chase the tail enders, two of which they managed to pass, though a hiccup taking down their gennaker resulted in a capsize when Artur ducked inboard to sort, forgetting he was in a RS400 rather than VX One�
On handicap, Rory in his K1 leads with a 1st and 2nd, with John in his ILCA 7 2nd, and Banter/Artur 3rd.
On Sunday morning the lake was covered in mist/fog which soon burnt off to leave mirror like conditions. Some light airs came in by noon, but the OD opted to let the wind settle for another hour before starting racing.
The air remained light for the first lap then, but settled in for the rest of the afternoon.
On handicap, Mike/Jack in their Graduate, and Caroline in her Lightning, each shared a 1st and a 2nd, so Caroline leads the series, with Richard in his Solo taking two 3rds.
Saturday started overcast and dry with a lack of wind for the 58 competitors from north of England and south of Scotland. An hour before the scheduled start the wind filled in across the bay, and the OD set off to set a line, though with some drizzle moving in, the wind eased, and direction started to swing.
The course was reset for an easterly breeze, and racing was underway after a short delay, and apart from three boats being caught OCS under the U flag, the starts were clear. The wind did swing slightly, but there was some good racing in the F1-2 breeze. Alistair/Helen Norris in RS200 from Leigh & Lowton took the honours, with Tom/Poppy Moss in RS Vision from Bass 2nd, and Sam Watson/Phil Hodgkins in VX One from Bass 3rd.
The course had to be reset again for the next race, but within 10 minutes of the start the wind had swung so much that the windward/leeward course had become reach/reach, so the race was abandoned, and restarted after resetting the course again for a NNW direction. Through the race, the wind eased and veered round to NNE. It was the RS200s that mastered the conditions with Chris/Evie Pickles from Bass winning, Brendan Lynch/Ellie Clark from East Lothian 2nd, and Ewan Wilson/Anna Sturrock 3rd.
There was a delay before race 3 while waiting for the wind to settle from the SE, and resetting the course again. Four boats were caught OCS and later advised there would be no further racing as the wind had eased yet again. Frustratingly, soon after the race was shortened, the wind started to bed in (roughly from the SE), but a long afternoon in cold and wet conditions meant no-one contested the decision to stop racing for the day. Graham Pristley/Artur Dembinski in VX One from Bass/Ullswater won, with Alistair/Helen Norris 2nd , and Brendan Lynch/Ellie Clark 3rd.
Overnight lead is held by Alistair/Helen Norris, with Brendan Lynch/Ellie Clark 2nd.
The forecast for Sunday was brighter, dryer, with lighter winds, and it started without any wind whatsoever, so racing was postponed for over an hour. When setting the course it was apparent that there were two winds; one was from the forecast NNW, and the other from the W. By moving the course further towards Scarness, generally, there was a merger of the winds with numerous shifts for the sailors to contend with as differing gusts came through.
The first two races of the day went smoothly, and were both won by Ollie Groves/Esther Parkhurst in a RS400 from Beaver. A shift during the start sequence of the next race resulted in a general recall, and the wind then eased, before veering the best part of 60 degrees, so the race was curtailed early, enabling one further race to be held. The first being won by Ewan Wilson/Anna Sturrock in a RS200 from East Lothian, and the next by Ollie Groves/Esther Parkhurst. Wind conditions throughout the day were mixed but offered good challenges/opportunities, with occasional planing conditions.
Overall, Alistair/Helen Norris were clear winners with a net 10 points, Ollie Groves/Esther Parkhurst 2nd, and Chris/Evie Pickles 3rd.
Overall winners Alistair and Helen Norris from Leigh & Lowton
Saturday was blustery and wet for the start of the Tinkers open meeting. The conditions resulted in several capsizes, with one Tinker getting their mast stuck in the mud; when it was brought up the mast was bent, and the rudder broken, so it needed a tow back to shore. Unfortunately a rope then wrapped around the prop of the rescue boat, so the Bates towed both ashore, not before the vice Commodore pushed out one of its windows!
Another Tinker capsized and broke its dagger board while trying to right itself.
In terms of club racing, there were no takers for the final weekend series in the club championship.
Sunday�s conditions were much more appealing, and there was a selection of club boats ready to race.
The forecast was for rain to come in, and the wind to pick up as the day went on, so two races were held before the lunch break, and a final race afterwards which had the asymmetric fleet heading to 7 in the freshening SW wind.
There were many great gusts for planing, and numerous shifts, together with the occasional lull to contend with. Not many capsizes, but a couple of gear failures that affected positions.
Neil/Archie took the honours in the Asymmetric fleet, with Scumper/Toggle 2nd, and Banter/Emma/Oscar 3rd.
In the handicap fleet, Ant in his F15 mistook marks A and 1, giving Paul in his Laser the opportunity to gain ground and win on handicap. Though the results show Neil winning the next race, he retired after being informed he may well have missed a mark out, making Paul the overall winner, with Ant 2nd.
Saturday was mild with a good F2-3 SSE breeze and a fleet of 9 boats, including 3 trainees trying their hand again.
Neil/Archie led the way in their RS400, winning both races in the water and on handicap with Artur in an Aero securing two 2nds and daughter Olivia in an ILCA 6 two 3rds. Toggle in his Solo was the only one to capsize though he quickly recovered from it.
Sunday started mild with a stronger F4, again from the SSE but only Neil/Archie turned up to race and defend their lead in the series, so racing was cancelled and Neil/Archie won the series
Disappointingly the conditions weren�t appropriate to take any visitors to the Baton of Hope event being hosted at the club out for a sail, but they enjoyed the music in the clubhouse, and welcomed the baton which was being taken around the county by Blood Bikes Cumbria
A poor forecast and the end of the school holidays resulted in a lack of competitors this weekend.
On Saturday five trainees had the opportunity to race without being impeded by club members. They sailed well in the strengthening winds, and there were no capsizes. Fortunately the rain that was approaching from Keswick direction held off until all the crews were ashore!
The forecast for Sunday was windier and gustier than Saturday, but it didn�t come to fruition in our micro climate. Unfortunately there was only one boat ready and willing to sail, so racing was cancelled.
Don�t forget about the Baton of Hope being hosted at the club next Sunday 7th September. Plenty of help required to cope with the 100+ visitors that have booked in
Congratulations to Phil and Lucy Smith who were 6th overall at Mirror Nationals at Netley sailing club . Massive congratulations to a fantastic 22nd overall for Oliver Smith crewed by mum Naomi in a top class fleet of 53 boats entered.
Sunday started with a katabatic breeze that faded all too quickly such that the first race of the weekend championship series was in light, variable airs, and the next race being abandoned�
In contrast, the final bank holiday Monday of the season provided champagne sailing conditions with a SSW freshening F3.
Beating up to Scarness extended the typical lap time, and overall race length. There was some close, exciting, racing, but sailors were happy to break for lunch, and some opted to sit out the remaining races on shore.
With two further races to squeeze in, the beats and race length were shortened. Neil/Rory in their F15 were first to windward mark 8 only to realise they should have headed to mark B!
The F15s remained the focus of discussion when three were OCS by a good margin for the final race. Neil/Rory returned of their own accord, but the others sailed on. As they completed their first lap Robbie D/Toggle were first to be informed of their misdemeanour and rapidly bore away back to shore. Shortly after, a gust came in and flattened Andy T/Andrea as they were tacking, then Jon/Ian�s main halyard came adrift, and finally as Rob/Pete were being advised they had been OCS, they tacked, and Rob slid out of the boat having missed his toe straps.
Of the 19 boats in the Asymmetric fleet, Banter/John in RS400 took the honours with Chris/Jack in RS 200 2nd
There were 11 entries in the fast handicap fleet with Steve/Ruth in an Enterprise clear winners and Hugh in his Solo 2nd.
Also 11 entries in the F15 fleet which was won by Neil/Rory with Robbie D/Toggle a very close 2nd.
The GP fleet of 6 was won by Dave/Lynn, with James/Jenny 2nd.
There was a good turnout of 11 boats in the Mirror/Tera fleet which was won by Andrew in a Tera Pro with Reuben in a Tera Sport 2nd.
Great to have a total of 58 entries for the series!
It is with sadness that we advise Mik Chappell passed away earlier today. He has suffered with ill health over recent years and been unable to attend the club very often.
