It might be cooler but there’s still plenty of sun, and a lack of wind…

While team Bass are competing at Southport in the 50th 24 hour race, 11 Tinkers are visiting the club this weekend and held three races in light conditions, while three club boats competed for the Tinker Trophy in variable winds which kept them moving at worst. Joan and Jack in a GP got away well in the first race, taking first place with Jim in his Supernova 2nd, but the order was reversed in the next race.

Fortunately the wind returned on Sunday, and although the cloud was blown in too, the rain held off until after racing. A fleet of ten boats made for better racing, but it was Joan/Jack and Jim that mastered the conditions. Jim was all prepared for Poppy crewing and sailed the Hartley in the morning but, as she had slept in, he didn’t sail to full speed taking 3rd to Joan’s 1st. So it was all down to the last race in which Jim returned to his Supernova taking another win and the Tinker Trophy, with Joan 2nd.

Despite capsizing in the morning, Paul Gannon finished a creditable 3rd overall in the series. Banter sailed with Oscar in their recent�addition to the Mirror fleet, and were first to finish (albeit having sailed one lap less than the rest of the fleet).

Final�results

The Tinkers had another enjoyable rally, with a meal in the clubhouse on Saturday, and a cake sale in aid of MacMillan Nurses raised �116. The winner after six races was Malcolm Ellwood pictured receiving his trophy from Commodore Mark Somerville.

As for the 24 hour race, our team came a creditable 25th overall after suffering an early penalty which pushed them down into the 50s from 6th position. Well done to everyone involved.

Saturday started with an open day, promoted by the RYA, to introduce people to sailing with taster sessions for which there was a a lot of interest and some good sailing conditions being bright and sunny with light winds.

Saturday’s racing comprised the final two races in the Scarness Cup and Autumn Cup series. The winds were generally light, but the fleets kept moving. After some coaxing by the committee boat at the start of the second race, AJ seemed to have pulled out a good lead on Dave Lawson, however, it turned out that Dave was giving AJ some private tuition. Of course, Dave moved into top gear on the final two legs of the race, took the lead again, and a second win.

Interestingly, none of the series winners were out racing – they must have all been very confident of their positions!

Final results

Well done to Neil Garrison who had a successful Saturday winning the Kielder Laser open.

Sunday’s wind backed to the SW and strengthened as the day went on. Mike/Kayla took an early lead which they held to the finish, winning the morning race. While Jeff’s crew was on rescue duty, the boat most in need of rescue attention was Jeff, having capsized numerous times. Perhaps the gybes in the course were not to Jeff’s liking?

Over the lunch break the wind backed more to the south, and there we ere a multitude of sailors asking whether the 2nd race would be around the lake. Much to their relief, that hadn’t been planned. Whilst setting the course the wind continued to swing around Sale Fell, so there was a cautious assumption that a SW wind would prevail, not that it seemed to too definite as some boats struggled to round the windward mark in a major shadow of the fell. Ian/Lezli-Ann took advantage of some of the lulls to pass Mike/Kayla, but AJ, with Dave crewing, won on handicap with Hugh 2nd. Mike was 4th which, when combined with his 1st from the morning, was sufficient to win the Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy.

Final results

It wasn�t as rough as last week but it was still windy for this, the final round of the Night Jar. As last week, the wind was WSW and the course 0-2-B which used the same marks as, but the opposite way round to last week.

There were just four starters, AJ and Sue taking out the Fifteen and Val insisting that the GP�s kite remained down. These two boats had a good battle over 3 rapid laps. Neil�s Radial was with them until he hit a mark on lap 2 and lost so much time that he retired. Paul Gannon capsized his Radial on four occasions but did well to finish, albeit on 2 laps.

In both FH and PH categories Val & Ken were race winners from AJ & Sue with Paul third. Tony King had already won the FH Series and, by virtue of his third place points as OD in this final round, he took the PH Series as well. Joan & Jack were runners up and Val & Ken third in both. 

Thanks to AJ for this final meal and for organising the Food Rota. Also to Safety Crews, OD�s and to all others who have made this season�s 17 race / 45 boat series such a success.

Final results PH FH

A select group of boats turned out on Saturday for the fleet challenge. The rain had started on cue, and continued throughout the afternoon, which may have been an off-putting factor for some. The lake was initially partially shadowed by Sale Fell, but the wind backed and strengthened to the South, resulting in two of the four starters quickly peeling off and returning to shore soon after the start. That left Dave Lawson in a Laser and Jim/Poppy in their Hartley which, according to Jim, has a mind of its own in such conditions! Perhaps that would explain why the gybe mark at 0 became their downfall and resulted in Poppy’s first capsize, and Jim catapulting off a disappearing centreboard! That left Dave to finish another lap and take the only finisher’s hoot.

Perhaps Sunday would be a better day? The overnight rain had passed through (ask the Duncans about that!), but there was no wind. It wasn’t too long before there were ripples across the bay from the north, so a line was set and the od waited for boats to launch, as the breeze faded again… Racing was started in the very light air, and all 14 boats seemed happy to continue. it wasnt long before a some patchy winds came back, but from the west! The od opted to make the most of the light breeze, despite the lack of a beat, and sent the fleet around for another lap!

A little bit of a sea breeze kept the boats moving for the afternoon race.

Not the most thrilling of racing days, but most were happy to be on the water and sailing on a sunny Sunday!

Overall the winner was Dave Lawson, who opted to sail his GP with Lynn for Sunday’s races

Final results

An hour before the start this week�s Night Jar looking decidedly dodgy with rough water and white caps around Scarness. But several helms were keen to compete and, following a slight lull, the safety boats were launched.

The wind was slightly south of West and, to try to give some shelter, the line was set at 2 with the course 0-B-2. Six boats took the start, AJ choosing the Fifteen with Bob Gate as crew and Hazel selecting a Topper. Peter capsized his Laser on the first beat but righted with little loss of time. Lottie also went over in her Topper and, as she was near to the Club anyway, decided to retire.

The Fifteen, and Val & Ken in their GP, briefly tried their kites on the downwind run but decided discretion was the better part of valour and stowed them. After two 10 minute laps the decision was made to let the leading pair do another round and to shorten for the remaining boats. Peter�s Laser, Hazel�s Topper and John�s Pico were all in close company and were finished in that order.

By this time the wind strength had risen to force 5, gusting 6 and with heavy rain. But all made it back to the Club without further incident and were soon tucking in to a meal served by Sue who was happy to have stayed in the dry. 

Results showed that Hazel with the Topper�s favourable handicap had won in both FH and PH categories with Val & Ken were second on FH. The PH battle is going down to the wire with John who was second in the race, Jack & Joan and Tony all within a point of each other. Next week�s final round will be the decider.

Latest results PH FH