The early start to the Holiday Weekend allowed a number of crews who don�t usually sail in Thursday Racing to take to the water. We had Mike & Kayla in the Fifteen and Banter Phil in the 100 to bolster numbers. And Dave Lawson was out in the Club Laser.
There was a light wind, mainly westerly, and the course was a diamond 0-9-B-A. The first beat was difficult to read and changed the normal running order a bit. After the windward mark it was Phil leading from Joan & Jack in the GP and then Dave in the Laser FR and Neil in the Radial in fairly close company. The Fifteen was moving up after a mediocre first beat.

AJ & Sue had dropped back in the second GP when they went fishing for Jack�s hat. After that AJ reckoned that the soggy garment in his kite bag was slowing them down! Phil continued to extend his lead on the water on the second lap and Joan & Jack were continuing to hold off the Fifteen.

It was decided to stop Bob Gate in his Laser and Paul Gannon in the Radial at the end of lap 2. And also John Roberts in his new colourful Radial � although why he wasn�t out in the Pico after his double victory last week only he knows? It was decided to let Tony�s Solo continue but, by his own admission, the light wind expert was having a dismal race.

In fading wind Phil took line honours from Joan & Jack. The GP crew were first on PH and have, at last, knocked Tony off top spot in the PH Series. On FH they have narrowed the gap to the series leader despite Phil winning this round. However, with better discards, Tony will still win that series on count back even if Joan & Jack take wins in the final two rounds.  

Then it was meal time, it being prepared this week by John Reekie and family. Oh, and apologies to Sarah for not mentioning that she was last week�s chef!

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Due to holidays we are short on rescue cover next weekend 27/28/29 August. If you can help out please email us.

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The wind was SE although there wasn�t too much of it. During rigging AJ was telling everyone that the OD should send them down the Lake. After a barrage of this I told him that I would set two courses with the lower one, just for him, being AJ12 (No return mark!). He concentrated on the GP after that!

We had 17 boats out but only 12 came to the line. These included Martin & Alison Overend who were late and at the wrong end so decided that some cruising was better than being last The beat was 1-A with B as the wing mark. The line had heavy port bias which Joan & Jack in the GP and Neil in his Laser picked up and these two battled to be leading boat throughout the first lap with the Laser of Terry Hall third.

Although the wind was dying, only 20 minutes had passed so most were sent for a second lap. The exceptions were the last two on the water who were asked if they wanted to finish the first time around. Bob Gate in his Radial gamely refused saying he wanted to catch the Pico, but Steve and Simon in the 2000 were shortened.

Going into B the wind disappeared and virtually all the fleet were in drift mode. Was there a flag N on the Bates the OD wondered? But then it kicked in again. Jack hoisted the kite which didn�t seem to work as Neil went zooming by � well, comparatively speaking! And Tony was working his light weather magic in the Solo with shoulders over the lee gunwale and boots out to port. He rounded the final mark a length behind and closing. But Neil held on to be first on the water by 3 seconds. 

Results showed the effect of the fleet being so bunched up. John in the Pico had taken PH from Richard�s Solo by over 3 minutes on corrected time with Hazel�s Radial third. Not only that, but the Pico�s boat handicap advantage had allowed it to finish first on FH well ahead of Tony and Joan.

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For lasting memories of the week, Ben Unwin’s photos can be found and purchased at http://www.benunwinphotography.co.uk/Bass-Week-2016

Similarly John Spittle has created a gallery site where you can purchase his photos of Bass Week and some pre Bass Week visits to the club: http://johnspittle.smugmug.com/

Not the best GoPro footage ever filmed (Ben’s words!), but you may wish to watch it. The music was unknowingly chosen by the rowdy lot who were trying to remember the lyrics at 2:00am one morning

After the frenetic activity of Bass Week, normal racing resumed on Thursday evening and Sunday. On Saturday the club hosted the Lakeland Triathlon.

On Thursday evening it was race 13 of 17 in the Nightjar series. Despite the unseasonal weather a small competitive fleet enjoyed a good race in a testing variable wind. On fleet handicap the honours went to the GP14s of Val and Ken Bell, followed by Joan and Jack Hardie, and Neil Garrison in a Laser. However on personal handicap Harry Binns in his RS Aero 5 was first, ahead of the Bells and Hardies. Overall, Tony King still leads both series.

Sunday morning brought a good light breeze for fleet racing. In the handicap fleet the RS400 of Robin Dawson, crewed by daughter Erin, led on the water but on corrected time the winner was Joe Roberts in a Laser, with Neil Garrison third, also in a Laser. The GP14 race became a tussle between the Bells and the Hardies, this time Joan and Jack Hardie finished first.

The afternoon race for the Jimmy Lancaster Memorial Trophy took the fleet half way down the lake and back. At the half way point the leading Lasers and GP14s were close together until the leading Laser rounded the mark the wrong way and had to re-round correctly, letting the GP14s of the Bells and Hardies through.

If you missed the Bass Week TV article view it here

As many will know the trailer for the new Film based on Arthur Ransome�s book, was shown to a selected audience at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick some two weeks ago. We look forward to the national release of the film to the public on 19th August.

But one of our members had been instrumental in refurbishing the boats used in the film and was charged with their safe keeping prior to pre-release publicity at the Cowes Regatta. There would be one day before the boats departed from Cumbria for the South Coast so he arranged to display them at Bass Week. But the logistics were challenging: to bring two boats from South Cumbria, rig them, display them and return them would be difficult. Nevertheless, that is what occurred.

Swallow & Amazon were rigged for viewing by early afternoon on Thursday.

Then it occurred to the facilitators that it would be even more spectacular if they were launched for a brief sail on the Lake. And, it would be even more appropriate if the two young Bassenthwaite sailors who �doubled� for members of the cast in the film were aboard!

Hence Swallow was launched with Katia Smith �(aka Tatty Walker) aboard and likewise Amazon with Hazel Newport �(aka Peggy Blackett) as crew. The helms were Peter and David Lawson.

Inevitably a short race was arranged between the two Boats. Swallow won which, as readers of Ransome�s series of books will know, was an appropriate ending.

Don’t forget to follow all the Bass Week goings on at Bassweek.org.uk

[lg_slideshow folder=”album/16sundry/swallow” display=”slide”]

A fleeting visit by Swallow from the forthcoming Swallows and Amazons film which was recorded locally last Summer.

Word has she may return during The ONE Bassenthwaite Sailing Week – you have entered haven’t you?!

Merchandise is available to preorder online at discounted rates until 23 July

Surprising few boats turned out for this Thursday night sailing. The wind was steady and the clouds were broken. A few last minute changes to the race organisation left with Alan Jones being in charge and generously lending his boat to Dave & Lynn Lawson (their boat being out of action).

A trapezoid course was set which would hopefully cater for the various types of boat taking place. The wind was gusty before the start which unfortunately caught out Peter Winfindale who was sailing with Lottie in the Laser 2. Peter went for a swim whilst Lottie looked on! The start was clean and the FF of John Riley & Tim Knowles were just beaten to the first mark by John�s Skiff. The three GPs of Dave & Lynn, Joan & Jack, Val & Ken followed in close pursuit.The wind remained for most of the race but eventually began to fade. A shorten course was called and the slower boats finished in good time, unfortunately the boats became quite strung out due to there position on the course and large gaps developed. The final results were delayed until later so they could be processed.

A fine meal of substantial Steak pie and peas was provided by John Roberts and enjoyed by all.

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