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.

Final results

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.

Final results

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.

Final results

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.

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Sunday’s forecast was for a repeat of Saturday’s weather, but on arrival sailors were greeted with a SE force 4, believed to be a katabatic wind. The big question was, would it last?! As soon as the sequence was underway, there was signs that the forecast NE direction was coming through.

The course was set with a beat from 2 to 7 (well B, which was a temporary replacement for 7). The handicap fleet started ok, and Paul/Jude in their Nacra managed to keep in the wind, while others had mixed fortunes, with memories of round the lake racing where wind seemingly comes from multiple directions at the same time, because the NE wind kept trying to fill in. Paul’s pace was so good that they were sent on a second lap, not that it did their final position on handicap any good, as they finished 3rd behind Banter/Izzy in a RS400, and Steve/Ruth in a Merlin.

In the GPs, Andy/Phil won, with John/Jack 2nd, while Mik in a Mirror won the slow handicap from Matty in a Tera. Despite a couple of capsizes at the windward mark, Cameron battled on to finish 3rd.

Between races AJ/Sue opted to go ashore to drain their GP. Did someone forget to put the bungs in?

The start line was moved for the next race, to try and maintain a steadier wind, which was still coming from the SE. A simple windward leeward course worked, though apparently there was still challenging shifts to contend with. Steve/Ruth took 1st in the Handicap fleet with Scumper 2nd. The leader results for the GPs and slow handicap fleets were the same as the first race.

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Overnight rain had passed through leaving a slightly lighter breeze than Saturday, but there were many sunny spells.

In the GPs Andy/Phil joined in to challenge Dave/Lynn, succeeded in winning the first race. John/Jack led the next race, but there were some cruel shifts on each of the beats that Dave/Lynn mastered to work up from third to win the race with Andy 2nd.

Steve/Ruth in a Merlin led both races in the handicap race, and despite not being able to fly their spinnaker in the second race, took two wins with Stan in a Solo 2nd.

Katia was getting used to her Topper in the slow handicap race against Mik. Despite Mik being late for the start, he made enough ground on Katia to beat her in both races

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