Autumn on the way?
Saturday started bright and windy, but as the fleet headed to the start the heavens opened, and hardly eased for the rest of the afternoon. The gusty winds caused a few capsizes even before racing started but everyone made the race. During the second lap the wind started to swing, and ease to almost drifting conditions by the time all boats had finished.
With the wind having swung through 180 degrees, it wasn’t looking promising for a second race, but the original westerly quickly returned, though slightly lighter, so the line was quickly reset, and another short race got underway (there’s only so much rain the committee boat team can cope with!)
Ethan led both races in his RS100, and by taking advantage of the better winds he secured two wins. John/Jack in their GP took 2nd in the first race, but fearing the wind had gone headed straight ashore. Dave in a Laser Radial had a 3rd and a 2nd, so is 2nd overall overnight.
Those that returned on Sunday found it was raining as much as Saturday (perhaps its had rained all night?), and the wind had disappeared. However, this did not totally dampen everyone’s enthusiasm as there was an interest in racing if possible. By 11.30 there was a hint that the rain was passing through, with some wind appearing from the SE, so the OD opted to test the sailor’s mettle, and arranged for the rescue boats to be launched before heading out to set a start. With the wind failing to settle from a given direction, it was after 1pm before racing got underway for five contenders, despite it being in the lightest of conditions, and a reaching start.
The wind filled in from the forecast NW direction, AJ/Sue reached the windward mark first ahead of Ethan in his RS100, and things looked promising. In fact they were sailing so well the race continued into the 2nd lap, only for the wind to ease yet again, so the race was shortened at the next mark. There would be no more racing, but at least it was a sunny afternoon, such a change from the morning.
Although AJ beat Ethan on handicap by a matter of seconds, Ethan won the Tinker Trophy series overall, with AJ 2nd, and Nigel/Glenys 3rd
Tinker Trophy 2020
August Holiday Weekend 2020
The majority of members hadn�t sailed since the end of last season and were desperate to get onto the Lake and involved in competition. So, by the Holiday Weekend, nearly forty crews were ready to take to the water. Some were encouraged by the very light winds while others were put off by the conditions.
On Saturday there was a two race series for the Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy. Scumper won the first while �training man� Reekie got the second. Overall it was Phil & Naomi from Mark. Dave & Caroline Exley in a RS400 were third ahead of Robbie D.
A five race class series on the following days was held in light to non-existent winds which drifted in from virtually every point on the compass. There were no FFs so the Fast Handicap Fleet led the way. Bean in the RS200 crewed this time by young Oliver took the series with three bullets. Shunty & Ruth were second in their Merlin, and Neil third in his aged Solo.
The nine strong GP fleet was won on last race by Telf with Jack crewing, from a high performing Mike Fairlamb who had �Sally Sailor� as crew. The Ginger Boats entry of Andy & Phil could only manage a series third.
Mik took the MT Slow Handicap win by a whisker from Matty in his Tera Pro. Stephen and son in their Mirror were third.
Flying Free/August Trophy/Aitken Cup/Mirror Mug/Weekend E 2020
Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy 2020
Sunday 23 August
Persistent drizzle/light showers seemed to flatten the lake and give the impression of fickle winds, but once on the water there was enough wind to keep the boats moving, and after the first lap, it freshened resulting in a few capsizes, and a few near misses.
Paul Gannon moved in to a Laser in the lighter airs, and sailed well to take the lead, lost quote a bit of the lead after hitting the penultimate mark, finishing 3rd behind Rory and Neil in their Solos.
Toggle was getting ‘excited’ while explaining to Joanie what had to be done in some of the gybes as gusts kicked in. Despite Tog/Joanie leading in the Pink RS200 most of the second race, on handicap the finished 4th, with the honours going to Ant in a Vision, and Rory in a Solo 2nd. Neil Currie finished 3rd and won his second series of the weekend, the Skiddaw Trophy
With Val OD, Mike Fairlamb took the opportunity to nab Ken as a crew and sail his GP for the first time this season, winning both races from AJ/Sue. Perhaps their umbrella was too much of a hindrance? However, AJ’s results were sufficient to win the GP Autumn Cup.
Bean/Oliver in their Mirror won the first slow handicap race ahead of Katia in a Topper, but both boats retired in the next race. The MT Bates series was won by Bean.
Saturday 22 August
Recent high winds and heavy showers may have put many sailors off, but it proved to be sailable for the three boats that took to the water, perhaps to Sue�s frustration as she had her heart on going out for afternoon tea!
Both the single handers had capsizes throughout the afternoon, but AJ/Sue stayed upright, then quit while they were ahead after the first race.
The wind freshened during the second race, and a few white horses appeared, but the two single handers battled on, despite capsizing, with Paul in a Pico first through the finish line ahead of Hugh in his Vareo.
The racing was the last of the series, but did not affect the overall results with Neil Currie winning the Barf Trophy handicap series, Pail/Vicky the GP Spring Cup, and Paul Gannon the MT Red Sails trophy for slow handicap.
Another Shifty Sunday
The wind was a reluctant participant, but it did start to appear around the northern buoys, so the OD went out to set a course. While waiting for the fleets to join in, a breeze in the southern end started to fill the lake, so the proposed start area was relocated and racing got underway.
During the first half of the race, despite occasional light patches, the two beats were maintained, and then the inexplicable shifts, and some opposing winds moved in. Phil/Izzy in a RS400 kept in the wind to win on handicap from Neil Garrison in his Laser. By the end of the race, the long run in to the leeward mark became a beat… That proved to be the final straw for some, and they called it a day. AJ/Sue had solid races to to takes wins, with Nigel/Glenys 2nd in each race.
The wind quickly reverted to the south, the next race sequence was started, and most boats started on a reach or run! An easterly bedded in, resulting in an alternate beat, and lasted throughout the rest of the race. Despite a ‘casual’ start by Neil Currie in his Solo, he pulled back to finish 2nd to Neil Garrison who currently leads the series. As for the rain showers that the rest of the country/county were enduring, the worst we suffered was some light drizzle. The Bass micro climate continues.
Sultry Saturday
The day started with a mirror like conditions which continued on through the cadets training up to lunch time. However, with the arrival of AJ, aka Mr Fixit,� there were signs of� ripples on the water around the northern end of the lake, far too many to be created by the 10(0?)s of people on the lakeside. The ripples soon filled the lake, with a strength probably twice that of the forecast.
All afternoon the sun shone, without finding a cloud to hide behind! For the first race the wind was in a generally consistent direction, not always steady of course, whereas the racing on the eastern side of the course became challenging with strange wind gusts from the east, south, and west!