Congratulations to our very own Mr Robbie D, who finished 5th at last weekend�s Solo Inland National Championships in a fleet of 73 boats.

Final report

The Tinker fleet returned for their annual visit and enjoyed F3-4 westerly winds on a mild, and overcast day, with some sunny spells.

The gusts caused a couple of capsizes, and there was some minor gear failures, but racing was good and competitive.

Club racing for the weekend comprises a handicap series of four races. As with the Tinkers, the six club boats had hard, but great, sailing conditions, on a course which encompassed all points of sailing, and numerous opportunities to plane.

Steve/Ruth in a Merlin led both races, but Dave L in a Laser Radial, gave them a run for their money. AJ/Sue were revelling after their recent success, understood to a championship of the universe (or some near equivalent), and were merrily chuntering most of the way round the course!

Sunday was a different kettle of fish. A lack of wind initially, started to fill in from the west, veered to the north (coincidentally the Bothel turbines seemed settled to the north too), so a line was set. As the fleet came out, the wind backed to the west, though the turbines held their indicative north direction. The line was moved, a course with a westerly beat set, race started, then the wind veered to the north!�.

Perhaps unexpectedly, Nigel/Glenys took the lead, and definitely unexpectedly, held it for the second and final lap to win the race both on the water, and on handicap.

Due to the light wind, there was a lunch break, but with no sign of the wind returning, racing was cancelled for the rest of the day.

Dave Lawson won overall, with AJ/Sue second

Final results

After the extended camping weekend and prior to the 7-week A66 weekend roadworks, on Saturday a south easterly breeze took all 3 fleets on a lopsided beat to the infamous gap, during which no matter about the odd change in wind direction, �keep going left before heading to the windward mark� was the mantra. (Just took some of us longer to listen.) After which the spinnaker colours easily identify the dinghies, as they were rarely dropped during some mild/pleasant planning conditions

Sunday morning�s wind strength and direction started much the same at 7 gusting 12 mph. The reduced numbers of boats saw everyone join the handicap fleet. In the afternoon with the sun shining a very enterprising (and loud!) OD started the fleet at mark 7 up to the top of the lake. Chris with his daughter led the beat in the Pennant race in his graduate that seems to point straight into the wind. A lead that although diminished, he never relinquished.

Latest results DW etc

Final results RNLI Pennant

AJ

The August Bank Holiday camping weekend commenced early for some, thanks to an extra nights camping. A fine forecast helped with numbers both on and off the water. The Night Jar started in a steadyish easterly and a beautiful view of the setting sun on Skiddaw. Unfortunately for the faster boats, mainly Caroline and Jonathon in the RS400, the extra lap started about the same time as the dying breeze.

Latest Night Jar results

The junior and youth Splash Day was well attended, with 40 smiling faces at the 11am briefing. The day started with a mixing of abilities and ages, helping encourage the youngsters in teams with more experienced sailors. A le-man start, followed by sailing a lap of a triangle course, a run around the grounds followed by another lap of the course and then to finish, just a few press-ups and sit ups!! Lots of new friendships made and some encouraging signs of enthusiasm for some of the younger sailors. Almost 50 members enjoyed lunch (and a tipple) on Scarness Beach (the island as Andrea calls it?). It was a tricky sail to the other side of the lake. Starting on a reach, beating in the middle then running almost to the end, where it was a beat again! Reuben said �it looks closer than it is�, after sailing across two-up with Oliver S, with the other Oliver S leading the way in a Tera. The parents either canoed, paddle boarded or climbed into the luxury of the pioneer.

Chris Pickles set some fine courses on Saturday, in a solid westerly gradient breeze possibly bumped up by a sea breeze. Chasing the sun and the massive temperature differences, those on the top hill gifted those less fortunate with a visit to the back field, only to realise they�ve been missing out all along.

Latest DW etc results

Sunday started with a small postponement as a new OD team was put in place 10 minutes before the start. Vice Commodore team of Ian and Andrea, helped by liz, stepped up and run some great racing in a punchy and chilly northerly. Jonathon was OD on Sunday in a shifting breeze, making it challenging to set a course.

Unfortunately the author was back in Manchester by then and has no idea what happened, but is sure it was fun!

Final Flying Free etc results

Paul Allen

Torrential overnight rain faded late morning, as did the wind, but with only one potential competitor in attendance racing was cancelled for the day.

Sunday started in a similar way, dry after a wet night, and little wind, but with a few more sailors interested in racing.

A light breeze did fill in from the south, then faded as the OD went out to prepare a start line… Fortunately it came back again, then promptly eased shortly after the start. With mirrorlike conditions the OD was ready to shorten the race at the 2nd mark, only for the wind to fill from the W/NW, which held sufficiently for the fleet to complete two laps. Despite the change in direction, the course still had a run and beat in it, which gave cause to a few changes in position, including Robbie D taking the lead from Dave L, both in Solos. In the GPs, a nervous AJ was keen to stop whilst leading at the end of the first lap, but he held his position to beat James/Jenny.

Latest results DW etc

Though the wind was patchy, the fleet opted to hold the pennant race immediately after the first race. The start line was moved to suit the NW direction, which held with a few variations in strength throughout the race. Neil was trailing during the first lap, but took advantage of a major curve in the wind to take the lead which he held to the end, with Dave L a close 2nd.

Banana Stakes overall results

With increased prevalence of COVID infections and the cancellation of the ET Championships, members had the club to themselves for the weekend, and benefitted from the Bass microclimate. The forecast showers did not come to fruition, whilst the sailing was underway at least! Saturday was declared a fun day with a combination of racing, running and paddle boarding.
The racing took the form of a pursuit race, perhaps more aptly chasing the wind which was a reluctant participant. During the start sequence, the light airs swung through 90 degrees, but did bed in from the west a while later.

Sunday started with another good early morning southerly. There was an excellent turnout of 32 boats for the two race fleet handicap series. The wind eased towards the end of the first lap, but came back again. Banter/Rory were putting up a good fight against Bean/Naomi, both in RS200s, but after claiming water at the leeward mark, Banter touched it and then promptly capsized as he started to do his turns.

Just before the start of the next race, the wind veered massively to the SW, so the line was moved. Perhaps the threatening rain cloud was disturbing the wind, but it took a short while to find a settled wind direction, and then get the race underway. Beating into mark 1 is not always ideal, especially when the wind eases, fortunately it filled in again, to get the fleet ashore just in time to pack their boats away in a major downpour!

Final results

Overall Results for Saturday