A fresh southerly greeted 85 young sailors as they prepared for this year’s NW Youth and Junior Traveller’s Trophy. Although the wind eased slightly before racing commenced early afternoon, the general direction remained relativly true (somewhat surprisingly!).

To ease congestion, the excellent turnout of 75 boats was split over two starts, though all results were merged into a single result. Although a few boats were OCS on the first start, all but one returned, and subsequent starts were clear. There were, of course, swinging winds, and some variations in wind strength, to contend with, but the sailors of all standards fared well. There were no capsizes (during racing!).

After two races, the fleet headed ashore for a break. Although the OD was keen to hold another race, the wind eased, and then swung through 180 degrees, a decision was made to abandon any attempt to hold another race on Saturday.

Overnight leader was George Creasy & David Bromilow in a 420 from WKSC, with Zak & Zoe Sanderson-Davies in a Feva from Windermere 2nd, and Oliver Mills in a Laser from Pennine 3rd. There was a very respectably performance by some of the slower boats with Tom Moss & Harry Wood in a Feva from Elton lying 4th, and Ben Welfare in an Optimist from Leigh & Lowton in 5th place.

With light airs forecast for Sunday, a 1030 start proved to be optimistic! A katabatic breeze came in from the south, and when the OD went out to set a course, every beat somehow seemed to be to mark 8! In the end, the same course as Saturday was used, although there were regular significant swings in direction.

The wind eased before race 4, but soon after the race was started, it faded more as competing winds seemed to come from various directions, so the race was abandoned (to a big cheer from competitors) until after a lunch break with the expectation that a sea breeze would settle things down.

Once ashore, a NE breeze bedded. Again, the OD had to contend with major swings in direction when setting the course, but a suitable course area was found and race 4 restarted. The wind continued to swing throughout the race, so there were some good gains to be had if on the right side of the shifts. By the time the race finished it was too late to start the 5th and final race.

Some more consistent sailing on Sunday gave Zak and Zoe the edge to beat George and David on countback, with Oliver Mills 3rd, just one point behind.

Top Bass sailors are Matty Somerville in a Tera Pro in 17th place, Jack Exley in a Laser Radial 25th, and Katia Smith, also in a Tera Pro, in 29th place.

Final results

We are saddened to report the untimely death of Mark Ninnim on Thursday after a short illness.

Mark’s funeral will be held at Tynemouth crematorium on Friday 25th June at 1.30pm. Although the chapel is just for close family due to Covid restrictions there is lots of space outside chapel, with speakers/tv in place. Anyone unable to attend can watch the service online with username jima7158 and password 399191

Everyone is invited to join for a drink to celebrate Mark at Tynemouth sailing club following the service. If possible, bring a glass (wine/champagne) but disposable ones will be available if needed.

Any donations to RNLI please.

There are no dress requirements, but if desired, ladies may wear black head band or fascinator, and gents may wear club ties.

Mark has been associated with the club for the best part of 40 years, and a member for over 10 years. During this time he has been instrumental in gaining significant sponsorship for Bass Week.

Our thoughts are with Mark’s wife Natasha, and the rest of his family at this sad time.

The weather on this first day of a five race weekend series was delightful with virtually unbroken sunshine and a medium strength westerly wind. This was a definite improvement on NJ10 two days previously when a southerly F8 had prevented any racing and ended with a banana shaped mast on John�s Solo when he launched to test the conditions.

Saturday wasn�t a capsize day � except for Dave Pearson who suffered five when getting to grips with his pristine Laser. There were four starters in the FF Class. Their action started with Simon / Jon being OCS but fighting their way back to beat Neil / Rory in a close finish.

In the GPs Val & Ken came ashore after the first race to pack away for a domestic appointment. They had already worked out that, with three races on Sunday, they could still get a result to count for the, now restricted,overall championship! James & Jenny bemoaned that,although they were second they were a significant way behind Dave & Lynn, to which they were told �What�s new?�!

In the Handicap Fleet there was close racing between Robbie & John in their Solos, the latter in a borrowed boat. Poppy was dismayed that she had to start with the main Handicap Fleet. Having coerced someone to take out an Oppy, he didn�t make the line and she was started with the rest of the handicap boats

Sunday�s conditions were similar to Saturday. It was still warm but somewhat more overcast. The westerly wind was generally forgiving although there were some sudden squalls that Challenged helms. The final races in the five race championship series were held with the first pair being back to back.

The turnout for a round in the Club Championship was somewhat mediocre with a total of sixteen starters which reduced to twelve by the final round. The regulars, including championship contenders were mostly on the water but the usual throng were missing. Maybe the Euros on TV? But it not being a camping weekend didn�t help.

In the FFs it was good to see Keith out and especially with Eric crewing. They were up against Ian & Lezli Ann but managed a couple of seconds in the four boat fleet. In the GPs Dave & Lynn took the wins from Val & Ken. In Race 4 the latter pair had gained the lead on the run but were unable to hold it on the subsequent legs. AJ & Sue were in contention until their kicker broke during the final race and they had no option but to retire.

The main Handicap Fleet seemed to have consistent results with Robbie ahead of Alex in their Solos. Mike�s Streaker was holding third on the water until a capsize restricted his progress and brought Paul in his Laser with multi-coloured sail into contention. In the Slow Handicap Fleet Mik�s Mirror got the better of Poppy�s Topper although they were only some six seconds apart at the finish of the day�s second race.

There was some drama after the final race when Matthew took the helm of his father�s 100. After several impressive legs he capsized and took a while to right it. Mark was in the Feva at that point and did a simultaneous inversion! Whether it was on purpose or not we shall never know?

Final results

Congratulations go to Matthew who won the RS Tera Open at Coniston on Saturday, and to Cameron for coming 5th in a very competitive fleet of 15 boats.

Light airs early morning caused a slight delay to the start of racing for the 37 sailors across three fleets.

Half the Solo fleet were OCS on their first start, but as none returned they headed in for an early lunch. The wind held for the first half hour of the race, but then eased for a while, before picking up at the end.

After the lunch break, the wind freshened throughout the afternoon with the help of the sea breeze, and created some good planing conditions, challenging gybe marks, and caused� numerous capsizes.

In the Lasers, Tim Keighley from West Riding won the first two races to secure the series trophy, with Greg Liggins from Derwent Reservoir 2nd, and our own Commodore Jon Denwood 3rd.

The Solo and Tera fleets each were dependant on the final race to determine overall winners. After some close racing in the Solos, Robbie D won the final race and the Open trophy, with John Reekie 2nd, and Tony King from Derwent Reservoir 3rd.

In the Teras, Katia Smith sailed well to win the 2nd and 3rd races, and the Open trophy, with Matthew Somerville 2nd and Henry Bullen 3rd.

Final Results

We have just learned that on 24 May 2021 TREVOR BUTCHER died suddenly and without any suffering when he fell over in the garden. Having moved back to Cumbria recently with Diana he was enjoying time with his children and grandchildren and will be missed by all of his family.

Trevor has been a long standing member of the club. Having been very active on the council, and in the Flying Fifteen fleet, until he moved out of the area, he was made an honorary member.

Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

The sunny weather continues, with light winds for another busy juniors and cadet training session. The light winds were forecast to continue but, unexpectedly, the wind freshened from the NE and held throughout the afternoon racing.

As ever, the wind swung back and forth, but overall the strength held giving rise to various capsizes, and some great planing conditions at times. Although Scumper in his RS100 led both races, he could not break away sufficiently to win either of them, taking a 5th and a 6th on handicap. It was John/Jack in a GP, and Dave in a Laser Radial, that battled it out each securing a 1st and a 2nd place, with Dave taking his win by just 1 sec on handicap. Bean, sailing with Lucy in their Mirror, took 3rd in the first race before calling it a day.

The Juniors were led by Matty who, unfortunately, sailed them around the wrong course in the first race! Perhaps, there’s a lesson to be learnt there?

Dave presently leads the series ahead of John/Jack.

Latest MJM results

Sunday morning had AJ on his prayer mat hoping that the early morning breeze spotted on the webcam would hold. Of course, that must have been the kiss of death as the wind fizzled out, only returning in patches every now and then.

Racing did get underway by 1230hrs but it remained light, and boats had some motion even in the mirror like conditions. One lap, and 30 minutes, was considered enough for the lead boat, especially as the tail enders would take twice as long. Despite their lead, Chris/Evie in their RS200 finished 4th on handicap behind Joan/Jack, and Paul B in a Solo.

Perhaps AJ’s efforts on the prayer mat had an effect as AJ/Sue won the GP race ahead of John/Jack and Val/Ken. AJ promised to have a drink on everyone’s behalf!

In the Slow handicap fleet all the competitors were Smiths! So no surprises that a Smith won, namely Phil/Lucy, ahead of Katia who kept herself company on the slow drift to the finish by singing Take a chance on me.

Though there was a couple of boats interested in having another race, most voted with their paddles. So the remaining race was cancelled.

Latest BL etc results

After a wonderfully sunny day there seemed little chance of a decent wind for the 3rd race in the Night Jar series. Surprisingly competitors were greeted by a light but relatively steady Westerly.

In anticipation of the wind dying, which it did, the Race Officers set a short triangular course of 0, 9, B. Joan and Jack in their newly acquired Graduate led from start to finish from Neil in his Solo. Paul Bowmer, in his new Solo, forced Alan and Sue out on the finish line to pip them.

Result remained the same on handicap.

Latest results

A sunny windless morning didn’t impede the enthusiasm of the cadets and juniors for another training session. Some light airs did fill in to let them have some fun on the water.

By the time club racing began, the wind had filled in fully from the west. Having checked wind conditions on various potential legs, a course was set only for the wind to back more to the SW shortly after the first start. The wind continued to swing, and faded somewhat, throughout the race.

The start line was moved to suit the strengthening SW wind for the next race. Of course, it didn’t remain steady, and eased yet again after the first lap, but soon after the shorten course signal was raised, the wind bedded back in, from the SW!

The afternoon’s racing had two wins for John/Jack in the GPs from Val/Ken to take the lead in the Spring Cup, and the same for Bean/Oliver from Andy/Lily sailing Mirrors in the slow handicap MT Red Sails Trophy. In the main handicap fleet, in the first race John beat Robbie D in Solos from Joan/Jack in their newly acquired Graduate, while in the second race, Solos of Robbie D and Rory took 1st and 2nd, with Joan/Jack taking another 3rd. Robbie D leads the Barf Trophy

Latest results MG/BT/SC etc

 On Sunday the wind failed to materialise so without much ado, racing was cancelled for the day

Easter Saturday, sunshine, and the first day of club racing provided a perfect combination to get more than 20 boats racing.

The morning started with 21 boats out for a junior cadet training session in some light winds.

The wind remained light for the afternoon racing, and it was variable in strength, and shifty to boot, so racing was confined to the NW corner of the lake to try and stay in the wind.

The first start was busy and had two boats OCS. The shifty winds proved to be challenging, and towards the end of the second race, the wind faded to mirror like conditions bringing back memories of years gone by. Although the easing wind benefitted the juniors as they were first to be finished when the course was shortened, Scumper had a large enough lead in his RS100 to take his second win of the day, and win the series overall.

The main thing is that we�re back on the water. Good times!

Overall results for Starter�s Prize

Sunday was somewhat different – overcast, colder, plenty of wind which was forecast to increase, and a smaller selection of more hardy sailors!

With conditions liable to be less inviting, two races were sailed back to back, with the third race to be sailed after a lunch break for those that were up for it. Racing was close, and somewhat dependent on mistakes/capsizes, of which there were several, in the gusty and shifting conditions. In the GPs, Dave/Lynn and John/Jack each had a win, as did Scumper and Robbie D in the Handicap fleet.

When the lunch break started, sailors opted to pack up their boats rather than snack in the warmth of their cars before having to venture back out again.

Latest results Blencathra Trophy etc

Monday’s forecast was less favourable but the Bassenthwaite micro-climate offered clear blue skies, with a bitterly cold wind, but sailable conditions. However, with only one GP and and RS400 prepared to sail, racing was cancelled for the day.

If the Government’s roadmap continues as planned, you could be back on the water by the end of the month, although racing is not scheduled to start until Easter Saturday 3 April. The sailing programme is available on this website, and everyone allocated with OD, or rescue, duties should have received notifications within the last few days. If your allocated duty needs to be changed due to other commitments, please use the links on DutyMan to arrange a swap.

After so many weeks of lockdown, it’s time to stop procrastinating and get your boat prepared for the season.

Don’t forget to log each and every visit using the menu link above.

Happy sailing!