Flying 15 and GP14 Open Photos
Flying 15 and GP14 Open
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
Overall results:
Night Jar 7
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.
Windy Weather
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
Jubilee Weekend
Memories of a special platinum jubilee weekend courtesy of Nick Smith
Dubwath Silver Meadows AGM
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
Big Mark’s Big Race
Laser, Streaker, Tera Open
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.
Night Jar 4
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.
Scarness Cup
After some localised morning showers, there was another sunny Saturday for sailors, with F4/5 south westerly, for the start of the weekend series. Throughout the afternoon the wind freshened and eased, veered and backed, making for some testing conditions resulting in various capsizes, broaches, and changes of position.
In the F15s, Simon/Jon led the first race throughout, with Neil/Rory 2nd, though this was reversed in the next race, giving Ndeil the advantage overnight.
Mark led the handicap fleet in both races but not being able to make best use of his gennaker finished 5th and 4th on handicap. It was Joe in his Laser, John and Robbie D in their Solos, that were competing for the lead, all finishing within half a minute on handicap. John was consistent with two 2nds, while the other two each had a 1st and a 3rd. Joe is overnight leader.
Tog’s sail ripped in the 1st race, so he retired to tape it up, only for the rip to get worse when he fell through it during a capsize in the next race!
In the GPs, Val/Ken had 1st and 2nd, AJ/Sue had 1st and DNF, with James/Jenny 2nd and 3rd, putting Val as overnight leader.
Emma in a Mirror has a 1st and a 2nd to lead the slow handicap, with Alex/Saskia in a Mirror 2nd and James in a Tera 3rd.
Sunday brought in more wind, and lots of drizzly wet rain! Val and Ken turned up to defend their overnight lead, but there was no competition, and the rain didn’t tempt them to race in the handicap fleet, so an early exit back home as winners of the Graham Cup.
With a forecast for increasing winds, Neil was keen to get two races in before lunch with an aim to win the series and get home for the football! His plans were initially scuppered in the first race when Birthday boy Angus and Mike took a strong lead which neither Simon nor Neil could overcome. Angus took the lead in the next race as well, but Simon gybed into the lake to take advantage of the stronger gusts, and broke through to the lead. Neil did close the gap but missed a tack by Simon, and was caught out on port, and unable to clear Simon’s transom. Not his day, and Simon/Jon won the Scarness Cup.
Scumper led the handicap fleet, but capsizes, and heading for the wrong mark, didn’t help his cause, though he did take a 1st and a 2nd finishing 3rd overall. It was Joe and Robbie D that would be battling it out for the trophy, each netting 7 points. If the results had been available over lunch Robbie D have opted to race rather than watch the footie? As he didn’t, the tie on points was split in Joe’s favour to win him the Wythop Trophy.
With no racing in the slow handicap fleet, Emma wins the Reflection Trophy