Better than last week…but only marginally. �Eleven boats crossed the line and headed for A. �But it was painfully slow. �Val & Ken turned around and paddled back to the livestock as John�s Solo had taken an initial lead and wasn�t going to be caught.

The wind filled in from the west but it didn�t reach across the Lake and the drift to B was painful. �Stephen, who was race officer, decided to take a trip in the RiB with Chez and finish all at B. �So, following John, it was Richard Hughes in his colourful Laser after a superb light weather sail. Jon Anson�s Laser was next.

Did anyone want a tow back? �No. �The wind filled in enough to allow all to make it home for the meal! �What meal? �The chefs didn�t turn in for the first time this season. �A disappointing end in several ways to a mammoth series.

Final results

Bates ready at jetty and Safety ready to go. �But the wind was disappearing: �Can�t use 0. �Maybe 4-A-B? �But wind faded at A, then B. �Val waited until the last moment but raised N over A so �no racing today�. �And she didn�t even get a 3rd for OD! �So must win next week�s final round to get the Fleet handicap win.

But Katia and crew have now secured the Personal Handicap category so it was time for high fives before packing their boat away.

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As it was the start of the Holiday Weekend 20 boats turned out for this round of the Night Jar. �The course was 0-1-4-B which gave a fair length beat and two kite legs although the wind was doing strange things on the second. �The 400 of Phil & Robin pulled out a good lead leaving Dave & Lynn in the GP and Alex in a 100 to battle for second place.

They left the L2000 of James & Jenny astern, James wondering how a GP could be so speedy! �But, the stars of the evening were Nigel & Glenys who left Val & Ken trailing in their wake. �And Mike Cave in his Solo appeared to be sailing above his handicap.

After 2 laps the race was shortened for the Mirrors of Paul and Jon / Henry plus other slower boats. �The Bates crew had to ask the Tera helm who he was? �It turned out to be Matthew complete with a new bob style haircut!

Andy was on food duty and he got his priorities spot on. �No one got served until he had passed a meal to his lovely wife running the bar!

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Although it was blowy in coastal and North Cumbria area, Bass� micro-climate came up with ideal conditions.

Only 7 boats started, probably due to the forecast and Bassweek exhaustion.

The figure of eight course 0-9-1-A gave three spinnaker legs. �But 9-1 was really too tight for a kite, only Val and Ken persevering with it after the first lap.

However, the three kite boats opened up a gap over the pursuing Radials. Val & Ken and James & Jenny were close throughout the GP just leading the 2000 over the line after 3 laps. Paul & Vicky had dropped back when they nearly missed the line out at the end of the first lap. �Paul reckoned this was due to YZ not being included throughout Bassweek!

Jon was the first Radial by some distance but Bob and Richard Hughes in his elderly but colourful boat had a very close battle. �Then it was back to the Club for Neil�s welcome supper.

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Follow what’s happening at Bass Week 2018 on its dedicated website

It was Ladies, Crews, Juniors and Over 60s Race �this week. �Used to be just the Lady Helms� Race but we ran short of them! �Rhonwen would remember that? – She was back on Bass Lake for her first race in a long while crewing for Val. �Ken had jumped ship and was with Mike.

Conditions aboard the Bates were a bit cramped with Graham & Alan tracing the ongoing vibration � and getting the OD and Bates driver somewhat confused! �But the technicians aboard were successful and a new part will be fitted before Bassweek.

The start was a revelation. �Bob went for the line at speed in the Laser and was first away. Mike & Ken took water at the windward mark but Bob was still second up the fetch. �Then came Val & Rhonny trying to close in on their male GP rivals. �Olivia, with husband crewing, was also moving up the order in the 200.

Other good performances were Simon helming the L2000 this week and Rob Hedges who was getting the Ent moving. �Young Dave Reekie with father as crew in the Mirror also impressed, and Mathew was in contention in the Tera until he got into a hole which kept him stationary for a long while.

On shore Val & Ken returned to the Galley to make sure the many were fed.

Final results (when available)

Another great sailing evening with a constant westerly breeze and yet more warm conditions. Katia / Andy returned with a repaired and now grey painted Mirror following the contretemps a fortnight ago. �18 boats crossed the line for a 0-1-B-A course with the GP of Mike & Eric right on the bubble. �They built up a large lead and led throughout on the water with only Joe�s Laser for company.

Then came a group containing Val / Ken & AJ / Sue in the GP�s, Tony & Rory in Solos and Neil in his Laser. �When to shorten was a real dilemma as this group were finishing their third lap as Mathew�s Tera was coming up to the line on two. �They got through by the belated raising of S but it meant that Jon�s Laser and Nigel / Glenys�s GP which were next were finished on three.

It was all so rapid that the latter crew were unsure if they had finished and did a further lap! �Not sure if they were in time for the meal prepared on this occasion by John Reekie?

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Only twelve starters tonight despite the ongoing great weather. �With marks out of place the OD chose a long course 0-1-5 with 1 being a gybe mark. �The Bates was stationed half way up the long beat near A.

Rory was over at the start and John in the other Solo also returned. �Val & Ken in the GP saw the port bias and had a flyer leading by over ten lengths at the windward mark and holding prime place throughout the race despite James & Jenny�s 2000 and John attempting to close up.

The Safety crew spotted swimmers at various points around the course and, with thoughts of Val�s previous encounter with one a while back, went to warn them of approaching boats. James and Bob got a load of choice language and spluttering for their efforts!

With all crews on their second lap and the wind dropping, there was no choice but to shorten for all. So it was back to the Club for the meal being prepared by Barbara.

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Seventeen boats took the start on a superb evening with a constant wind blowing off the Club grounds. �And an eventful start it was too! �In a rush to start on time � well nearly – the Bates crew had omitted to put out the inner mark and a competitor (who shall be nameless!) instructed one of the safety boats to move the distance mark up wind within the start sequence and without consulting the OD.

Hence the ultimate level of starboard bias. The inevitable happened and three boats were squeezed into the Bates and each other fortunately with no damage to boats or crews.

John & Tim in their FF led the fleet around an X course of 0-9-1-A which gave three kite legs. They were followed by the 2000 of James & Jenny and the GPs of Mike / Eric and Val/ Ken who were in close company throughout the race.

It was good to see the Somerville family out in force with Gail & Cameron in a Mirror and Matthew in a Tera.

The well attended evening meal was prepared by Richard who missed out from involvement in the close Solo contest between Tony, John and Rory.

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