The wind was SE although there wasn�t too much of it. During rigging AJ was telling everyone that the OD should send them down the Lake. After a barrage of this I told him that I would set two courses with the lower one, just for him, being AJ12 (No return mark!). He concentrated on the GP after that!

We had 17 boats out but only 12 came to the line. These included Martin & Alison Overend who were late and at the wrong end so decided that some cruising was better than being last The beat was 1-A with B as the wing mark. The line had heavy port bias which Joan & Jack in the GP and Neil in his Laser picked up and these two battled to be leading boat throughout the first lap with the Laser of Terry Hall third.

Although the wind was dying, only 20 minutes had passed so most were sent for a second lap. The exceptions were the last two on the water who were asked if they wanted to finish the first time around. Bob Gate in his Radial gamely refused saying he wanted to catch the Pico, but Steve and Simon in the 2000 were shortened.

Going into B the wind disappeared and virtually all the fleet were in drift mode. Was there a flag N on the Bates the OD wondered? But then it kicked in again. Jack hoisted the kite which didn�t seem to work as Neil went zooming by � well, comparatively speaking! And Tony was working his light weather magic in the Solo with shoulders over the lee gunwale and boots out to port. He rounded the final mark a length behind and closing. But Neil held on to be first on the water by 3 seconds. 

Results showed the effect of the fleet being so bunched up. John in the Pico had taken PH from Richard�s Solo by over 3 minutes on corrected time with Hazel�s Radial third. Not only that, but the Pico�s boat handicap advantage had allowed it to finish first on FH well ahead of Tony and Joan.

Latest results PH FH

For lasting memories of the week, Ben Unwin’s photos can be found and purchased at http://www.benunwinphotography.co.uk/Bass-Week-2016

Similarly John Spittle has created a gallery site where you can purchase his photos of Bass Week and some pre Bass Week visits to the club: http://johnspittle.smugmug.com/

Not the best GoPro footage ever filmed (Ben’s words!), but you may wish to watch it. The music was unknowingly chosen by the rowdy lot who were trying to remember the lyrics at 2:00am one morning

After the frenetic activity of Bass Week, normal racing resumed on Thursday evening and Sunday. On Saturday the club hosted the Lakeland Triathlon.

On Thursday evening it was race 13 of 17 in the Nightjar series. Despite the unseasonal weather a small competitive fleet enjoyed a good race in a testing variable wind. On fleet handicap the honours went to the GP14s of Val and Ken Bell, followed by Joan and Jack Hardie, and Neil Garrison in a Laser. However on personal handicap Harry Binns in his RS Aero 5 was first, ahead of the Bells and Hardies. Overall, Tony King still leads both series.

Sunday morning brought a good light breeze for fleet racing. In the handicap fleet the RS400 of Robin Dawson, crewed by daughter Erin, led on the water but on corrected time the winner was Joe Roberts in a Laser, with Neil Garrison third, also in a Laser. The GP14 race became a tussle between the Bells and the Hardies, this time Joan and Jack Hardie finished first.

The afternoon race for the Jimmy Lancaster Memorial Trophy took the fleet half way down the lake and back. At the half way point the leading Lasers and GP14s were close together until the leading Laser rounded the mark the wrong way and had to re-round correctly, letting the GP14s of the Bells and Hardies through.

If you missed the Bass Week TV article view it here

As many will know the trailer for the new Film based on Arthur Ransome�s book, was shown to a selected audience at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick some two weeks ago. We look forward to the national release of the film to the public on 19th August.

But one of our members had been instrumental in refurbishing the boats used in the film and was charged with their safe keeping prior to pre-release publicity at the Cowes Regatta. There would be one day before the boats departed from Cumbria for the South Coast so he arranged to display them at Bass Week. But the logistics were challenging: to bring two boats from South Cumbria, rig them, display them and return them would be difficult. Nevertheless, that is what occurred.

Swallow & Amazon were rigged for viewing by early afternoon on Thursday.

Then it occurred to the facilitators that it would be even more spectacular if they were launched for a brief sail on the Lake. And, it would be even more appropriate if the two young Bassenthwaite sailors who �doubled� for members of the cast in the film were aboard!

Hence Swallow was launched with Katia Smith �(aka Tatty Walker) aboard and likewise Amazon with Hazel Newport �(aka Peggy Blackett) as crew. The helms were Peter and David Lawson.

Inevitably a short race was arranged between the two Boats. Swallow won which, as readers of Ransome�s series of books will know, was an appropriate ending.

Don’t forget to follow all the Bass Week goings on at Bassweek.org.uk