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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Council�s nomination of Rear Commodore Mark Somerville for the RYA Community Award – Lifetime commitment has been successful.

Mark will hopefully be attending the award service in London later in the year.

Well deserved recognition of his long service to the club!

A bunch of keys has been found in the gents’ changing room on Sunday evening

Congratulations to Andy and Phil on winning the GP14 Northern Championship at Bolton this weekend

Meanwhile in sunny Bassenthwaite, crews filled their water bottles and donned sunglasses, eye shades and sun screen to compete in three of our long series fleet races. Peter Whipp had a good weekend sailing his Laser in the Handicap Fleet and winning all three races. Mike/Kayla did likewise in the F15 fleet, with Ian/Lezli-Ann coming second each time.

Things were not so settled in the GP14 fleet. On Saturday, AJ/Sue were ahead for most of the first race, only to be overtaken by three boats on the last leg. Mike/ Eric took the win. Alan and Sue also did well in the second race, coming second to Dave/Lyn who also won Sunday morning race with Mike/Eric second.

In Sunday�s second race all boats started together for the Jubilee Sailing Trust Pennant. Results also count towards the female crew�s competition for Sandra�s Salver. As it turned out, the race lasted over two hours, with the usual challenges of variable winds down the lake. Three F15s, three GP14s and one single hander finished the course.

On the water the first F15 to finish was Neil/Rory with the Dave/Lynn eight minutes behind in the first GP14 who won by 4 mins on handicap. Phil Davenport also deserves a prize for completing the race in his Musto Skiff, which is not a restful boat under any conditions. Kayla is building a strong lead in the competition for Sandra�s Salver.

There was a better wind than forecast to greet the fleet of 26 boats in today’s Laser open, and with the sun breaking through the clouds from time to time it was a pleasant day.

For a change the general wind direction was fairly steady, though there were some shifts on the water for sailors to contend with. Use of the I flag helped keep the starts clear with just two boats being called back in the first race.

Locals Robin Dawson and Dave Lawson took an early lead and battled it out, but once Dave was through to the lead there was no catching him, and he reinforced this by winning all three races and the overall trophy.

A limited number of crews turned up to view the light conditions but, as the wind was fading, no one was keen to rig. �So the OD hoisted Flag N and competitors prepared for the early meal being prepared by Val.

Latest results

It was yet another superb Thursday evening. �But a fairly strong easterly wind was blowing before the start and the Safety Officer felt there should be two safety boats out for which he and Martin provided crew prevented both of them from racing. �With sufficient wind the OD selected a long course; 5-3-1-0 for the 15 boats competing.

The leading group of Joe, Mike & Eric and Val & Ken were closely bunched and switching positions. �Then came John�s Solo, James & Jenny�s 2000 and Mathias� Laser.

By the end of the second beat the wind had dropped considerably. �The front runners finished in around 40 minutes but those further back were marooned in holes. �Bob accepted a tow from the safety cover, but others persevered with John�s Pico and Katia�s Mirror taking over 70 minutes to finish.

This week a professional chef was manning the galley

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This Saturday 12th May 2018�we are encouraging newcomers to get on the water. Visitors can try�out single handed sailing dinghies, double handed boats,�kayak, rowing boat, keel boat � all free.

They will be able to park in our ample grounds, have a picnic, go for a stroll, buy snacks and drinks, and admire the glorious views over Bassenthwaite Lake and surrounding mountains.

Encourage your friends and colleagues to come down and join in where they will be able to talk to club officials to find out what we offer, and what it will cost. Also, they will find out that we offer tuition to adults and youths over 8�years on learning to sail, as well as powerboat courses to adults and teenagers, and first aid courses.

All in all we need members’ help, to encourage new interest by inviting friends/colleagues, and by being around to act as ambassadors for the club.

We are looking for as much new interest and help as possible.

We hope you’ll be a part of it.