As the storm clouds gathered over Keswick, 16 boats took to the water in a fickle West/Northwesterly with sufficient windshifts to ensure beats on at least 2 legs of the figure of eight course.
Barbara’s splendid effort to get off to a flyer was thwarted by the Race Officer (OCS). Meanwhile, Mike and Jack set the pace closely followed by John and Rory in their Solos. Two laps were completed by all but two boats and full marks to the Teras for sticking it out till the end just as the rain started in earnest.
Blustery and shifty westerly winds were managed well by the two fleets totalling 30 boats racing on Saturday.
With three races sailed back to back there was bound to be a few aching bodies overnight, especially as there had been a few capsizes, particularly after gybe marks.
There was just one general recall with Ian Preston leading the Flying 15 fleet to the course side of the line! A later involuntary gybe by Ian just in front of father in law Graham created a target rear quarter which Graham just could not avoid hitting. Oops!
Three varied courses tested sailors on all points of sailing, and it proved to be the visitors that mastered the challenging conditions as they won all races with three straight wins. Steve Goacher/Tim Harper from Royal Windermere lead the Flying 15s with Scumper/Robbie D 2nd, and Matt Mee/Chris Robinson from Burghfield lead the GPs with Dave Lawson/Zefer 2nd
Sunday was overcast with light drizzle as the sailors rigged their boats, but the sun soon broke through. The Flying 15s may have been slow to launch, but theey were too eager to start, resulting in two general recalls and the introduction of the black flag!
The wind was lighter than Saturday but just as shifty, which mixed up positions more than usual. Even Steve Goacher was caught out on the final beat, losing his lead to Mike Preston/Karl Sloane from Blackpool.
By the final race the wind has swung to the forecast northerly direction, and started to freshen with some gusts being beneficial to those able to take advantage.
In the final race, Steve took most of the first lap to break away from Mike, finishing in that order overall with Neil Currie/Rory Yardley 3rd.
Val and Ken Bell had their moment of glory when they took the lead in the final GP race, though a wind shift, and a gybe later it was but a memory! Dave/Zefer broke Matt/Chris� winning streak by pipping them on the line. Overall the honours went to Matt/Chris, with Dave/Zefer 2nd, and Val/Ken 3rd
Flying 15 winners Steve Goacher and Tim HarperLakeland Grand Prix winner Neil Currie GP 14 winners Matt Mee and Chris Robinson
With the thought of yet another “N” flag looming large, four intrepid boats rigged giving the Race Officer the hint that sailing might be possible. A small triangular course was duly set in a barely perceptible Westerly and Mike and Jack disappeared over the horizon in their own private breeze! With more windless patches appearing over the course, Mike and Jack somehow managed to maintain their momentum and had successfully completed one lap before Simon and Richard had managed to cross the start line as they were left stuck in a windless area.
The GPs elected to stay ashore and as Val’s voice echoed across the lake summoning all to supper, the course was shortened.
Several days of windy weather is putting paid to club racing at present.
Thursday�s wind didn�t tempt anyone to race, while a gusty forecast, and a Killers� concert in Manchester, meant there were no takers on Saturday either.
Sunday�s forecast wasn�t much better, and although a few sailors appeared, the sight of breaking waves looking downwind dampened their enthusiasm.
Hopefully sensible conditions will return for next weeks F15 and GP open
Dubwath Silver Meadows will be holding their AGM in the clubhouse on Friday 10th June at 7pm
It will include a talk by Dr Mark Tilzey, Associate Professor in Political Ecology & the Governance of Food Systems, Coventry University
Conserving our Humble Hedgerows
“Hedgerows can make an important contribution to agroecological transitions and to an overall contribution to multifunctional agro-ecosystems with multiple benefits for biodiversity, climate change�mitigation, soil health, human health, well-being, and livelihoods.”
All are welcome to attend. Members will have received separate details of a link to watch the proceedings using Zoom
There was a great turnout of 39 boats for this one day event, and, whilst waiting for the forecast wind to bed in, sailors were able to enjoy some blue skies.
Racing got underway a couple of hours late. Although the general direction was similar to the forecast, there were some massive swings to contend with, especially when the wind eased and freshened again. Fortunately, generally, a beat was maintained throughout the afternoon as it was in the centre of the shifts, but the way the gusts came in could be cruel with nearby boats not all necessarily benefitting to the same extent.
It was skills, rather than local knowledge that enabled Bass sailors Robin Dawson in the Laser fleet, and Matthew Somerville in the Tera fleet, to win the first two races, and their respective trophies. In the Streakers, Mike Fairlamb won the first race, but couldn’t hold off Guy Wheeler from Annandale who won the next two races and the trophy.
Laser winner Robin DawsonStreaker winner Guy WheelerTera winner Matthew Somerville
It was with some trepidation that the 9 boats launched into a brisk, shifty NorthWesterly under blue skies after earlier rain. By the start time, however, the wind had moderated resulting in more manageable conditions but the shifts continued.
Race Officer, Val, set a figure of eight course starting with a beat to number 1. John Reekie used the shifts to best effect to round first which he held to lead on the water throughout, closely pursued by Alex in his Laser. James Reekie was the solitary Tera competing, getting in some valuable practice ahead of Saturday’s Open, together with Mike Fairlamb who had earlier safely delivered the pies!
It was good to welcome Jeff Tweddle and Robert Hedges back to competition both sailing without mishap to complete the course.
