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

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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.

Latest results FH PH

First to the Birkett on Ullswater. Out of 235 entrants Simon & Jon finished 6th Overall having been 3rd after the horrendous Saturday race. Mark & Zepher finished 13th by manually holding a broken boom together and Mike & Kayla 21st despite running aground and damaging their keel. The carnage on Saturday reduced those going into the second day to 80. We lost Dave & Lynn with a bent mast while Alex & Olivia retired with undisclosed problems. Back at Bass Saturday was abandoned after a storm brought tumultuous rain and whitecaps to the Lake.

Sunday brought sailable conditions and new winners. In the morning John Riley /Nigel Lewis topped the GP�s and Peter Whipp the Handicap Fleet. Lunch was enlivened by Poppy chasing up her Kayak Challenge RNLI sponsorship money and liaising with OD Tim Chittenden to obtain publicity for presenting it.

Ten boats started the afternoon Pennant after Tim promised not to send the fleet beyond 7. Instead it would be two laps of an elongated Bay which was quite sufficient after everyone was becalmed in the 8-7 narrows. Rory and crew were first to escape in their Fifteen with Jim�s Nova and Peter Whipp�s Dzero (you may well ask!) in pursuit.

But the Main Event came on the run to the finish on the final lap. Mike & Eric were a length ahead of Ken & Val rounding 2 to starboard. The dice up the fetch to the final mark before the line was riveting with both helms continually trying to get to windward. Val went into 3 still behind but tight and with more speed. Mike�s repost was to luff her head to wind on exit! And with that He and Eric claimed the Pennant. 

It was again fine and reasonably warm with the wind blowing in from the South prior to the start. OD Izzie reckoned a trip to 12 was in order! But, as the wind shifted SW she set a diamond course 0-9-1-B. This, again, had three kite legs which suited the GP�s.

From the start Val & Ken took the lead from Mike & Eric and Joan & Jack with Tony�s Solo and Neil�s Radial close astern. Despite the best efforts of the other GP crews Val & Ken were not to be denied. They held off the competition to become the first three lap finisher.

As the leaders completed their second lap the wind started to drop a little. The decision was made to shorten just after AJ had gone through which didn�t best please his crew Hazel! Jon Anson�s Radial was the first to finish on two laps followed by Richard Broughton�s Solo and the Radial of Simon Smith who had taken time off from crewing the L2000. 

Then it was in for the meal � NOT SO! No-one had put their name down to prepare it so we had a bunch of starving sailors! This is the first time in many a moon that this had happened and it ruined the chance of the usual after-race social craic. Let�s hope we are back to normal for the remaining rounds.  

I was politely reminded that the Night Jar is primarily a PH series so here are the key results. An excellent win for Simon from John Robert�s Pico with Richard third. But this is not to decry Val & Ken from their FH win. Some people tend to forget that they are past Club Champions!

Latest results NJ NJF

Good luck to Izzie Hunter, Hazel Newport, Ethan Dawson and Jenny Dunn who are entering the Southport 12 hr race next Saturday…thanks to Alex Leonard lending his enterprise (or an enterbucket as Robbie D would call it!). Izzie will be crewing for the whole 12 hours to raise money for the Asha school the Hunter family are volunteering at in August.

If anyone would like to sponsor her (and thank you again all those who have and who supported the curry night) please visit her JustGiving sponsor page

This weekend, in addition to club racing, we are holding three open meetings, so it’ll be busy, busy, busy! Fortunately the Bass micro climate beat the local forecast which was based on wall to wall rain but very little wind. A drizzly morning dried up and a light breeze filled the bay tempting the OD to get the fleets on to the water. The wind continued to seem promising until the line was set, at which stage the wind eased and swung through 45 degrees…

Race 1 got underway in very light airs and was shortened at the end of the first lap with sailing sec Joe Roberts leading, and winning, the Lasers with Toby Hubbard from Killington 2nd.

By the time the rest of the fleet had finished, the wind had filled in again but swung another 20 degrees, so the line and course was reset, and race 2 started. Hazel demonstrated one of her party tricks of getting caught on the inner distance mark anchor warp – not recommended! There was various changes of position throughout the race, including the leaders, but Joe took the honours again, securing the series. Andrew Hewell from St Mary’s Loch finished 2nd, but Toby’s 4th place resulted in him being 2nd overall.

In the Toppers, Leigh and Lowton are leading overnight with the top three places, Lorcan Knowles in the lead with a 1st and 2nd, and Brandon Banner next with a 2nd and 3rd.

With the wind fading again, racing was abandoned for the rest of the day. Time for a prize giving then rounders, but the rain put paid to that!..

Sunday was brighter, warmer, and started with an early morning southern breeze which faded to nothing. As the Solo fleet had not got to race�at Windermere on Saturday, they were keen to get on the water at any cost (almost!), so when there was a hint of a breeze from the NE, the OD took to the water, laid a line and the hint of wind promptly veered to the SE, backing to the E. The race sequence started, the wind shifted, and racing was underway, albeit starting on a fetch! With the light airs picking up to occasional planing conditions, and continuing to shift, sailors did not get the best that Bass had to offer, but it was a race, and places were there for the taking, with our Tog pulling through from last to 5th in the Solo fleet, with the race being won by Innes Armstrong from Burwain.

The course was reset for the 2nd race, and conditions were somewhat better, and slightly more consistent, with Innes taking another win and securing the series trophy.

While there was some wind, it was decided to hold the final race of the day, but the wind was in a devilish mood. swinging though 360 degrees! Commitment to progress the racing resulted in a reaching start, but it did mean there was a beat instead of a run on the third leg of the course! The wind continued to swing, and vary in strength, but sailors were generally satisfied to have been on the water, however frustrating that may have been.

In the Toppers, Lorcan mastered the conditions taking another three wins and the NW Championship. Some bunching at marks led to Toppers and Solos vying for position, and it was good to note the Toppers standing their ground and threatening to protest Solos for barging into spaces which there were not entitled to be.