The final racing day of the season started with a light south-easterly in glorious sunshine. The sunshine stayed all day, but the breeze didn’t!

With seven boats racing, the Bates took to the water, for a change, and set a course to mark 8, but soon after the start the wind eased, and then started to fill in lightly from the East. The main two boats in contention were AJ/Sue in their GP, and Peter in a Laser. AJ led from the windward mark, with Peter some way down the fleet, not that it eased AJ’s nerves as the 3rd leg from 4 to 0 had the boats running in the Easterly, rather than the expected reach, and, of course, the wind fills in from the back!

Despite the wind filling in a little, the OD opted to shorten the course at 0, much to AJ’s relief as he managed to hold on to his lead in the race (and the series), with Nigel/Glenys 2nd.

Shortly after the last boat finished, the wind dropped again, with the lake like a mill pond, and it seemed unlikely there would be a further race. However, the wind came back in with gusto minutes before the final decision was about to be made, so the final race was on, though AJ’s lead in the series was unassailable.

The wind behaved itself reasonably well for the sailors to enjoy the final race of the season, which was won by Peter, with Scumper 2nd, and AJ 3rd.

Final results

The AGM is being held in the clubhouse next Sunday 25 November, so come along and have your say!

After a lot of recent rain the lake has risen 250mm over the last couple of days. Fortunately the rain held off for Sunday’s racing, though the showers could be seen to the East of the lake.

The OD agreed to another shore based start (phew!) for the fleet of eight boats. The initial southerly swung as the morning race went on causing some biased beats, and the wind easing slightly under Sale Fell. Despite AJ’s concerns that the swinging wind limited his opportunities to fly the spinnaker, he finished 2nd to Steve/Ruth in their Merlin Rocket, with Peter 3rd.

After lunch, the wind had swung to the SW, and freshened during the race causing a couple of capsizes. Steve led the fleet again but Peter, in his Laser, managed to tail him close enough to beat him and win by almost a minute on handicap. AJ was 3rd and leads overall

Latest results

The final racing of the season will take place next Sunday. Why not take part before taking your boat home, or securing it from Winter floods and storms that are bound to affect the boat park during the close season.

On this occasion, it was wall to wall blue skies that we had the pleasure of enduring, albeit that they were accompanied by a chilly northern breeze.

Eight boats took to the water in the freshening breeze. Dave/Lynn led the fleet again taking another two wins and the overall series on both personal and fleet handicap basis! Tony King secured two 2nds in his Solo, Neil and AJ/Sue each had a 3rd place.

AJ was trying out his new boom mounted camera, though no-one’s certain whether the footage is likely to become a best seller. However, in an incident in which AJ was crossing on port in front of Dave who was on starboard, the footage might have proved useful in determining whether or not he was at fault.

Autumn�Saturday series final results

Sunday was glorious as well but with only two takers there was a lack of interest in racing, so it was cancelled. The honours for both the fleet and personal series again go to Dave and Lynn, with Mike and Kayla 2nd.

Autumn�Sunday series final results

With the lake level down again, milder airs, and a gentle F2 it was good to get racing underway again after recent weekend weather conditions. Although there was initially two directions due to the wind coming round, or was it over, Sale Fell, the predominant SW prevailed so the course took the fleet on a beat from 3 to 9.

Though the direction remained true throughout the afternoon, the sailors were not so enthralled by the shifts, and holes, that they had to endure going into 9.

In the first race, John/Tim in their F15 gained a commanding lead in the strengthening winds. Paul had opted for a full Laser rig, but was caught out in the heavier gusts at a gybe mark and had his first capsize of the day before the wind eased again. Dave/Lynn sailed as well as ever, and took the win on handicap.

John/Tim were a bit too eager in the second race and had to be recalled, letting Mike/Kayla break away, though their lead was diminished significantly in the shifty winds leading into 9. Dave/Lynn remained in contention throughout taking their 2nd win of the day

Autumn Saturday series latest results

Low cloud and drizzle/rain was struggling to lure the five helms on to the water. Alex opted out, and then Sue decided she’d prefer to wait for the drier afternoon race. Nigel then offered to crew for AJ, so that meant there would be three boats racing. The suggestion of another shore based start was quickly taken up (so much better than spending a rainy morning in the Bates!).

Mike/Kayla opted to have a reaching start and raised their spinnaker, but started 10 secs after the two GPs because their stopwatch didn’t start when it was initially set. Mike soon was ahead of Dave/Lynn but couldn’t shake them off until the final lap by which time it was too late to pull out a big enough lead to win on handicap.

Over lunch the wind eased and Mike opted to pack his boat away, so there were only two GPs racing, both of which went for a reaching start, with spinnakers. AJ was heard to say “what could go wrong?”. At the start signal Dave/Lynn were half a boat length over the line, and AJ/Sue possibly half an inch behind it, so the recall signal was sounded and both boats returned to restart.

AJ sailed well and kept close to Dave throughout the race, but what would have been the result if he had not made an unnecessary restart?

So with another two wins under his belt, Dave and Lynn lead the Autumn Sunday series as well.

Autumn Sunday series latest results