The stand in Bates helm realised tonight that the Bates drifts if you don’t let out a lot of rope for the anchor….

With the winds heavier than forecast it looked to be an exciting race. The OD had opted for a course of 0-A-4-1 to give some reaches and try out the new buoy for A. Paul Gannon was planning his topper up and down the start line and looked set to start on time. Unfortunately he had a capsize but undeterred started 5 and a half minutes late.

Alex and Olivia were first to the windward mark in their RS200�closely followed by Joe Roberts in his full rig Laser. It was difficult to get a clear view from the Bates to 0 because Andy Smith and Katya had capsized their mirror and broke the centreboard trying to right it.

After 3 laps, several capsizes and�a few retirements�the OD shortened the course. Paul Gannon headed back in after rounding 4 on the last lap and Joe Roberts was cursing himself for not using his radial.

Latest results

It was cold out there. Very cold! Especially for Joe who capsized early in the first beat. �Thought of retiring?But No � I�m the Sailing Secretary and must show them who�s who!

It was John Reekie who led the fifteen starters at the windward mark. But his Solo was not a match for the Ethan�s 100 or Alex & Olivia�s 200 and he dropped back into mid field. �Ethan pulled away at the front but Ian /Mike Hunter in the FF had an ongoing battle with the Leonards for next up on the water.

After two laps Bob said I�ve had enough � think that�s what he said! �So the OD shortened. �Then came Katia Smith in her Mirror with father as novice crew � an impressive result with various boats behind in what was, probably, her first full race as a helm.

Of the three lap finishers the revelations were newcomers James & Jenny Macgregor in an L2000 who were fifth on the water. �And Hazel & James in the 200 who were next up deserve a mention!

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Entries are now open for The ONE Bassenthwaite Lake Sailing Week 2018.

The Bass Week team have been hard at work for many months to ensure that this years regatta will provide both members and visitors with yet another excellent event.

The racing programme will follow the usual format of 17 races – these being a mixture between small series, one off races and all fleet pursuits for dinghies with a PY in the range 847-1432.

This year also sees the introduction of “The Dragon Force Derby” for those of you with DF65 model yachts. This event should hopefully prove to be a popular addition for both the participants and spectators!

We have a full social programme planned with a very varied selection of evening events. So there should be something to suit everyone. More information will be given on arrival at Bass Week 2018 regarding the additional daytime and evening activities on offer.

We are very pleased to have Alfies Outside Caterers as part of the Bass Week team this year. They will be providing hot/cold meals, drinks and snacks throughout the racing days. The menus they have produced sound fantastic so they should keep us all very well fed and watered throughout the regatta. As usual there will be a welcome evening meal on Friday 3rd August which is a pre-bookable meal via your online entry.

If you have any food allergies or intolerances please could you let us know via [email protected] or comment via your online entry form, as the caterers are very keen to ensure that they can provide a service for everyone.

The Bass SC bar will be well stocked, and staffed throughout the week, and the introduction of a card payment system should make life easier when you run out of cash!

Our grounds team have worked hard throughout the winter and will continue to do so throughout the summer in the run up to Bass Week 2018. This will ensure that the club site is at its best for your arrival. We have already made several improvements to the site based on feedback from last year.

We hope to see many old friends returning for Bass Week 2018 and also many new faces. If you have any questions regarding the event or entry please contact us via [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you all in August. Happy Sailing.

Naomi Smith (Vice Commodore) and the Bass Week team.

The forecast southerly struggled to come to fruition. Sale Fell seemed to dominate whatever breeze might be available as there were many shadows and the wind came and went from numerous directions.

A fleet of 18 boats made the most of the occasional flurries of wind in the first race, but the outlook was bleak and the race shortened after the second beat.

15 boats were prepared to have another race, and, fortunately, the southerly bedded in. The course was kept small just in case the wind faded again.

Bean/Oliver won the first race, and Zefer the second, while Mik sailed consistently to take two 2nds on handicap and currently leads the series

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A few Bass sailors went to Ullswater YC for the 200 Northern tour. Usual fluky conditions on Saturday, very frustrating with the Commodore deciding to chuck his toys out of the pram and go home and watch the Grand national instead of doing race 3!

Sunday nice F3-4 and 4 races scheduled were sailed, even by the Commodore who finished as best Bass boat in 5th overall.

Overall results

Meanwhile congratulations go to the new Mr and Mrs Hunt on their wedding. They popped to the club for some scenic photos for their memorable day

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the sudden passing of long term member Jim Christie who sailed regularly with grand daughter Poppy.

Jim’s funeral service was held at Carlisle Crematorium on Monday 9th April 2018

Our thoughts are with his wife Ann, grand daughter Poppy, and the rest of Jim’s family at this sad time.

With the arrival of British Summer Time the sun was shining again, but there was no wind on the lake! However, the wind soon filled in from the west for some great sailing conditions to start the 2018 season.

Despite having had four months to prepare it seems that some people weren’t quite ready. John Reekie got his boat ready only to realise his rudder was still at home, so he didn’t make the first start. Mike and Kayla weren’t quite ready either, so they had the morning off finalising the boat.

14 boats did make it to the start line for some challenging racing in a two race series competing for the Starter’s Prize. While Steve and Ruth found the beats shifty and unpredictable, Scumper was disappointed to find that the wind died on him every time he rounded the windward mark! Steve and Ruth took a big enough lead to win the morning race with second going to Bean and Naomi who sailed most consistently, taking winning position in the afternoon, and the series trophy. With a 4th and a 2nd, Zefer finished 2nd overall, with Steve 3rd.

Neil Garrison took the honours in terms of being the first to capsize this season, but he wasn’t to be the only one. Bob Gate took a long dip before the start of the second race, and despite the benefit of a wet suit a long hot shower was on the cards. Finally Jim and granddaughter Poppy had to demonstrate their swimming skills!

New members James and Jennie Macgregor had gear failure that resulted in their main slipping down during the first race, so they had to make an early exit.

Despite the frustrations for some, a good start to the season. Here’s to a good one!

Final results

Well it’s hard to believe after recent weather that British Summer Time starts next Sunday 25 March, which happens to be the same day that the 2018 sailing season starts!

So hopefully the Winter maintenance is complete, your sailing gear has been washed from the last time you used it, and your wetsuit hasn’t shrunk…

So don’t forget, put your clocks one hour forward on Sunday or you’ll be late for the first race which starts at 11.30(ish)!

In order to get the Club ship shape for the start of the season we have arranged a working party on 17 – 18 March.

Starting 10am till 4pm each day. If you are available for a few hours on either or both days please pop down and help out. It�s imperative that we get the grounds cleaned up before we start bringing boats on to site. There will also be plenty to do on the house, bar and boats and buoys.

It is with great sadness that the club has to announce the passing of one of it’s longest serving members. Caroline Lawson had been a member of the club from the early 60’s and the family have sailed at the club ever since. Carol passed away after recently being diagnosed with cancer.

The funeral took place on Monday 12th March at 1130am at St Mary’s Church, Maryport, followed by burial at Maryport cemetery. Family flowers only, donations to Maryport Inshore Rescue.

In my role of Press & PR officer at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club I have been collecting the Newsletters from years gone by.�� We started out producing an annual publication in 1995 and gave it the title of Foxy Tales. This came from the Club�s fox emblem which, in turn, stemmed from the Club being in the close vicinity of the birthplace of the legendary fox hunter John Peel .�� You will have heard of the ditty; Do you ken John Peel with his coat so grey….. I feel sure.

Anyway, the aim is to get all the annual editions online on the Website. There will then be a permanent ongoing record of who did what at the Club both on, and off the water.

Virtually every edition contains an article on each of the Club�s dedicated fleets which, for many years have included the Mirrors. So, using these articles, and the data in the Club Handbook, it was possible to trace the fortunes of the Fleet.

In the mid to late nineties the Mirror Fleet consisted of around twenty seven boats. One even won the Nationals, Phil & Tim Smith taking the title at Hartlepool in 1999. We never reached such dizzying heights again although we had an active fourteen boat fleet for the ten years from 2000 to 2009. By the later date there had been a progressive switch from family manned, and crewed boats to single handers.

The Club then invested in three good Trident GRP boats for training and to encourage families to race in the Mirror Fleet. But interest was declining in favour of the myriad RS variants. By 2013 we only had seven boats in the fleet in addition to the ones owned by the Club and, as few were racing at the same time, it was decided to merge the Mirror and Topper Fleets the following year.�� This left a variety of slower boats such as the Picos plus a Hartley and a Splash following far behind the other handicap Fleet boats. So a new Slow Handicap Fleet immerged in 2016 consisting of all boats with a PY of 1250 or greater.

This new Fleet is still with us but, by the end of last season it included just three random boats and fifteen Mirrors! And five more Mirrors have already been bought for the 2018 season. The turnaround is due to more, and more, parents deciding to use the Mirror to teach their youngsters to sail and race.�� And these aren�t any old Mirrors! Many are Winder GRPs with sail numbers well above 70000.

And we, again, have national champions in the fleet with Sandy & Douglas Simpson having joined Bass last year. Even they are finding the Club competition extremely challenging!

Mik Chappell�� (Eclipse 69960)