Heavy rainfall, and strong winds, are forecast for Wednesday 22 Nov. The lake has risen 300mm in the last 24 hours, so will no doubt rise to affect the lakeside berths. If your boat is still there consider getting it in to higher ground

Dave and Pauline Nicholson are being honoured with a prestigious award for their outstanding contributions as volunteers with Bassenthwaite Sailing Club and will receive the award from the President of the RYA, HRH The Princess Royal later this month.

Dave says �We were absolutely stunned when we were told of the RYA Volunteer Award, because our work at the club is just a labour of love. There must be many others in the club more deserving�. The citation says they have put in �an unparalleled level of effort into ensuring the success of BSC�.

Two weeks before he became Commodore in 2009, Dave heard that the town of Cockermouth was being devastated by floods so with his daughter (and GP14 crew) Sarah he set off to the sailing club to collect one of the safety boats to help in rescues. He found the main road blocked off by police but managed to work his way by back roads to the club � only to find the lake had risen 4 metres and the sheds containing the safety boats under water themselves. Dave and Sarah donned dry suits and swam from the main entrance across to the clubhouse, which stands on higher ground, to do what they could to lessen the effects.

As chairman of the Grounds and Jetties Committee, much of the clean-up work fell to Dave and his team of volunteers. He had personal experience of recovery from flooding after his own home had suffered previously. He introduced a remediation plan for the club and his hard work and attention to detail led to successful applications for ?ood recovery grants as well as dealing with insurance matters.

In 2015 he was to face a repeat experience when Storm Desmond devastated the area with its floods.

Serving as Vice Commodore, Commodore and Rear Commodore over a period of six years,� Dave has overseen the famous Bass Week Regatta and many other club activities.

Pauline has seerved as the club�s Hon Secretary for 11 years, supporting the work of five Commodores and overseeing Bass Week.

She has managed two National School Sailing Association regattas and numerous major championships held at the club. She has also served as the club�s Safeguarding Officer for the past seven years.

By Richard Hemingway

Yet another day without racing. �Not the weather�s fault this time with less wind strength and gusting than forecast � although the forecast itself may have put some people off.

There was plenty of Safety and the OD was ready but, with only one competitor, there was no chance of racing so it was abandoned. �Shunty and Izzie then launched to get in some practice with their dual kite pole configuration.

Maybe tomorrow?

Saturday series final results

Sunday

They say that �tomorrow never comes�. �But this one did with a clear blue sky and a constant Northerly wind. �Yes, it was chilly � but what do you expect if you sail in late October?

There were eight boats on the water with crews scratching their heads over Banter�s first course 2-4-9-1-S. �With two beats and 2 laps it was a long course. �Mike & Eric finishing first on the water took 53 minutes and half the fleet took 70 minutes plus.

John found the Pico a handful after moving to the Laser and lost a lot of time going head to wind.

The second race had a simpler course of 1-A-0-B. �But, as B had been repositioned into the 9,S,O complex there was again some head scratching. �Bob needed shouts from Mik to stop him heading across the Lake to find it where it usually sits.

James Thomas from Sedbergh School was helming Hazel�s new 200 which they christened with a capsize!

Final results Sunday series

A small but select group took part in our ramble on Sunday afternoon up a very windy Sale Fell. Many thanks to the Flying Fifteen sailors and Club Members who have kindly donated towards this important charity. We have raised �210 to date. There is still time to contribute if you would like to via this web link..

https://countryfile-ramble-for-bbc-children-in-need.everydayhero.com/uk/bassenthwaite-sailing-club

After the torrential rain in the lakes today, the lake has risen 500mm over the course of eight hours, and will, no doubt, rise through the night. Boats on the foreshore were ok this evening, but worth checking and perhaps moving, as some more rain, together with strong winds, is forecast for Friday.

It’s your property.

Thursday Update

With the lake up another 250mm overnight, several members have put the effort in to move many boats to higher ground.

Despite the odd rain shower in the morning the weather stayed dry with good spells of sunshine to take the chill out of the air.

Much to Herb�s dislike, the day�s racing comprised a two pursuit race series. Mik led the fleet for the first half of race one until Dave passed him in a Laser and gained a lead which no-one could touch. Tony King was 2nd.

Meanwhile the GPs were having a vocal afternoon, with lots of shouting for water. In fact, at one mark Jack Hardie jumped out of his boat (well perhaps he fell), and Ken then jumped in to his aid. In the end all was well, apart from Ken losing his hat! Both deserted lady helms were keen to point out that they successfully lowered the spinnakers in preparation for their husbands’ return.

A close finish in the second race went to Mike/Kayla, back on the water after an ankle injury, with Tony taking another 2nd.

With three boats on equal points, the tie was split in Mike�s favour, as he had won the last race.

Final results

Apart from the two sailors getting soaked, tonight is the premiere of Emma Rydal�s Soaked at the Rosehill Theatre

Have you planned your visit?

Knowing that we are short of something to report, Neil has advised that he is 500 miles from home on a Padi diving course at Falmouth, he walks past the sailing club and sees signs saying it’s the FF Nationals crosses the road next to guy carrying a sailing bag who glances back and recognises a friendly face out of place. It was Steve Goacher and his wife wasn’t it.

On a diving note his diving instructors finished their tuition early yesterday so they could go diving and came back with tales of huge (as big as the diver) tuna fish never previously reported on Cornish waters, but that has not stopped the fishing boats trying to catch them. It’s the old story of describing rare animals by what they taste like, being their downfall.

As if we didn’t realise it, we can never rely on the forecast at Bass. Though there was a good breeze at the start, it was shifting and not consistent in strength, but blowing from the north gave the OD the opportunity start at 0, and then head ashore before the non forecast shower moved in! However the use of mark N, which had been tucked away in Dubwath bay, to avoid a hook finish caused a barrage of questions for OD AJ so a lead boat guided the fleet around the course (not that they were sure where N was!)

Neil/Judith in their F15 quickly took a clear lead, which was to be eroded away in the changing wind conditions resulting in Paul/Vicki in a GP being on their tail at the finish, and taking the win on handicap, with Joan/Jack 2nd. The next race started in a light breeze that soon faded. This time Joan/Jack mastered their favourite conditions and took the lead from Paul/Vicki followed by Neil/Judith. On handicap, Joan was 1st and Paul 2nd, so they were both on equal points and with the tie being split on the best position in the last race, the trophy goes to Joan/Jack.

Final results

With the water level already at the top of the slipways, and 25mm of rain, topped up with high winds, forecast through to midnight Wednesday, it’s worth considering about the safety of your boat if it’s berthed on the foreshore. The lake is certain to rise over the next couple of days but it’s impossible to say by how much.

If you get a chance, check and consider moving your boat this evening.

?Rosehill Theatre and La�al Marra Productions presents the premier of Soaked on Saturday 30 September at 7.30pm followed by a post show discussion. Soaked is the new play by acclaimed local writer and actress Emma Rydal and the first play co-produced by Rosehill Theatre after the �2.7m redevelopment of the venue. Soaked will then tour Cumbria and Manchester in the Autumn.

It�s Wine O Clock! When do you stop? Imogen and Rich don�t care if the glass is half full or half empty, as long there is wine in it that�s what�s important. That�s how they unwind, how they party, how they deal with the stresses of life; young children, high powered jobs. But after twenty years of drinking to excess, Imogen is having second thoughts. She�s tired of waking up with an unexplained bruise, tired of beating herself up when she�s drunk too much, tired of being tired, but is it enough? When life has become so intertwined with the powerful nectar is it easy to break away, or do relationships start to unravel? Perhaps a wake-up call is all she needs?

Filled with humour and drama Soaked seeks to unnerve.

Emma Rydal who lives locally is a writer and actress who has had a successful career in theatre, television and radio. She burst onto the British film scene in 1999 with the BAFTA winning Brit flick East is East and has had a sustained a successful career ever since. Most recently Emma has been seen as regular �Celia� in Sky One�s Stella.

Emma Rydal�s skill of finding comedy in the banal and everyday has been described as rather like a young Victoria Wood. Her first play True chronicled the relationship of a volatile mother/daughter relationship through the decades. It was nominated for a Manchester Theatre Award and won The Audience Award for Best Production and an Equity Award at Manchester�s 24.7 Theatre Festival in 2011.

Soaked – the showcase already had favourable reviews and has received funding from the Arts Council England and Cumbria County Council. The play is directed by Peter McQueen, stalwart of the Theatre by the Lake. He has also toured with his one-man shows �Old Herbaceous� and �The Professor of Adventure�. The cast for Soaked comprises Emma Rydal, Toby Gaffney and Madeleine Joseph. Original score by local composer Nick Smith from Issi Noho and set and costume design by Emma Bayliss from Whitehaven.

Tickets are priced at �15 ? �8 U26 and are available at rosehilltheatre.co.uk or on 01946 692422

It was a really great show, can’t wait to find out what happens next. I found it increasingly uncomfortable to watch as it felt disturbingly familiar.
Elaine Wise – showcase audience

Soaked full tour:
Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven ? Saturday 30 September ? 7.30pm
(with post performance discussion ? rosehilltheatre.co.uk ? 01946 692422

Kings Arms Theatre, Manchester ? Friday 6-7 October ? 7.30pm kingsarmssalford.com

Gregson Centre, Lancaster ? Wednesday 11 October ? 7.30pm 01524 849959

Coronation Hall, Ulverston ? Friday 13 October ? 7.30pm corohall.co.uk ? 01229 587140

Village Hall, Torpenhow ? Saturday 14 October ? 7.30pm 016973 71514

The Beggars Theatre, Millom ? Thursday 19 October ? 7.30pm beggarstheatre.co.uk

John Peel Theatre, Wigton ? Friday 20 October ? 7.30pm wigtontheatre.org

Threlkeld Village Hall ? Friday 27 October ? 7.30pm threlkeldvillagehall.org

Soaked has received recognition from alcohol support group Soberistas on the issues that are raised in the production.