Vice-Commodore Naomi Smith and her team look forward to welcoming you to this year’s regatta for which planning is well underway. Your chance to enter is here with best early bird discounts available until 11 June. Unless paying by direct debit or PayPal, please ensure payment is made within seven days of placing order otherwise it will be voided.
Easter Weekend
After some varied weather conditions through the morning, the skies cleared for racing, but some of the shadows on the lake made the white horses visible, and that was looking down the wind! Consequently there was just two F15s and four single handers prepared to race.
The OD was kind to the F15s and let them do one lap more than the single handers, just enough for them to call it a day when the came in between races, with Mike/Kayla taking the win. However, the winds eased slightly during the break, so the handicap fleet raced again. Rob Cook won the first race in his Solo, and Dave Lawson won the second in his Laser.
As forecast, the rain clouds moved in, and the winds eased, but there was still a reluctance to get on the water! The first race suffered from major wind shifts, and pockets of very light airs, but the rain held off. The closest finish of the race was in the Mirrors between Bean and Sandy Simpson which, after some defensive cover tacking, was won by Bean.
The wind settled in to the west, and strengthened, for the remaining races of the day. There was some good planing conditions, a couple of capsizes, and the day ended with the first protest of the season between who else but Mike and Simon! Simon/Jon are the overnight leaders in the F15. Dave/Lynn lead the GPs with 3 wins, Scumper leads the Handicap fleet, and Bean leads the Mirrors.
Unexpectedly, for a Bank holiday, the sun was finding its way through the clouds, but the wind took its time settling down to the forecast NE-NW direction. Racing did start about 1pm but it proved challenging in the swinging, variable, winds. The wind shifts varied from laying the beat on starboard tack for the leaders, through beating for middle of the fleet, and laying the beat on port tack for others! Perhaps not the best conditions, but better than sitting on the shore wanting to sail.
The final outcome after two further races in the GPs and Handicap fleet was the same as the previous night, with Dave/Lynn winning the Bass Tankard, and Scumper, winning the Easter Trophy. Mike/Kayla won the F15s Easterley Trophy and Sandy the Mirror/Topper Image Trophy
Next weekend we host the Great North Asymmetric Challenge. Racing starts at 1pm
More Sunshine
With such brilliant weather forecast, sun and clear skies, it was surprising that we would have a breeze as well. The breeze was coming from two directions, the North, and the West (the start of a sea breeze perhaps?). These two wind streams fought each other all afternoon, and it was the sailors that ended up being piggy in the middle as the area of least wind was generally on the main beat of the course! The challenge was to decide which wind stream to pick, and it was that challenge that defeated some, and awarded others.
There being no contenders for the Asymmetric Cup, all boats were competing in a MJM Series on a fleet handicap basis. The light airs and holes of the first lap bunched many of the boats together. Although Banter Phil in his 100 worked through to the front of the fleet, with Ian/Lezli-Ann not far behind in a F15, in both races the honours went to Joan/Jack in a GP in the first race and Dave Lawson in a Laser in the second.
Sunday morning started with the lake as a mill pond, but the forecast breeze came in from the SW in plenty of time for racing. There was some tight reaches to test who could/would fly their spinnakers, and some broader reaches to take advantage of the good planing conditions. Although the gusts were not as severe as expected, the third lap of the course took its toll on many sailing, and they were glad of the lunch break. The windier conditions suited Mike/Kayla over Ian/Lezli-Ann in the F15s, Joan/Jack beat Alan/Sue in the GPs, while Joe took the honours in the handicap fleet in his Laser from Steve/Ruth in their Merlin.
The afternoon race was the first pennant of the season in aid of the Eric Twiname Trust, and took the fleet to the bottom end of the lake. There was a slight malfunction in the starting procedure, mainly due to distraction, but a temporary postponement soon had everything back on track! With the wind blowing across Sale Fell, sailors had to contend with the varied conditions caused by the down-draughts including holes, major headers, and gusting conditions. Some of the heavy gusts caused multiple capsizes, and Jim/Poppy had a capsize which they struggled to recover from, but all was well in the end.
Another Sunny Sunday
Another sunny Sunday with a lack of wind resulted in sailors having another early lunch, but the wind did fill in from the West to get both of the scheduled races sailed.
The Mirror fleet benefitted from a couple of new helms in the fleet, Bean with son Oliver, and new members Sandy and Douglas Simpson. Bean and Oliver had their first victory together, while Sandy struggled slightly with the Bass shifts.
There was the first capsize of the season by John Roberts (or was it Bob Gate?) in a Laser, Steve and Ruth lead the handicap fleet after tying with Ian Hall in the first race.
Mike/Kayla sailed consistently winning all F15 races over the weekend but they had some good competition from Ian/Lezli-Ann who seemed to share the mistakes between them!
Dave/Lynn found their form again to win three of the weekend’s races in their GP, but had some close competition from Mike/Eric on Saturday, while Duncan/Colin put up a good fight on Sunday.
The wind, though shifty and variable at times, was worth waiting for and topped off a successful weekend back on the water.
Saturday Racing
If the incorrectly published start time wasn’t an early April fool’s joke, perhaps OD Simon was trying a belated one with the first course of the season which had the fleet looping round the windward mark!? What he thought, and what he displayed on the course board were just subtly different!
Did anyone really mind? Not really as they were glad to be back on the water in wind conditions that were nicely stronger than forecast
All the Best Laid Plans
The multitude of sailors that turned up ready for the first race of the season were in for a bit of a wait for the wind to fill in, but at least the sun was shining! The OD opted to plan an early lunch with the the aim of having two races back to back. The waiting continued, and as Poppy was about to head out in a canoe, grandad Jim eagerly changed plans as the wind started to fill in, and got their boat back to the water’s edge. That killed what wind was there, and Poppy got to do some canoeing.
Shortly afterwards racing was cancelled for the day. Perhaps it’ll start next week?
Wakey, Wakey!
Not only did Spring start last week, but we’re now into Summer Time – yes, the clocks went forward an hour last night!
That means that the sailing season starts today! So get down to the club and enjoy this glorious weather, meet up with sailing friends old and new, and you could even go racing…
Enjoy
Lake Level
Can you believe it?! A week before racing starts and the wet weekend takes its toll on the lake level.
Friday update – All boats have been moved off the first row, but water still remains high for those boats at the foot of the embankment. If your boat is there, please check it’s safe.
New Season Looms!
With the new season just a week away it’s been a busy weekend (in miserable weather) preparing the club and grounds.
One final working party next Saturday if you can spare a couple of hours to help out it would be much appreciated. As a treat we’ll start the season the very next day. Are you ready