The last bank holiday camping weekend of the year started off with a mild sunny afternoon combined with a good breeze, somewhat lighter than forecast, that tempted out a fair fleet of boats.

In the F15s, Ian/Izzie got the best start but it was Mark/Ian that took an early lead and promptly headed for the wrong mark, with the next couple of boats following like sheep. Bean/Alan were the first to head for the correct mark and take the lead. Mark did get back in to the lead, but Bean finished a close 2nd.

Dave/Lynn took two 1sts in the GPs leaving Val/Ken and AJ/Sue to battle it out for the next couple of places, each sharing a 2nd and a 3rd. 

Having burnt out Alan in the F15 in the first race, Bean moved into the GP with Tog to practice for the forthcoming 24hr race. Finishing 4th might suggest they need some more practice!

Scumper/Zefer won both handicap races in their 400 with James in a Laser taking one 2nd, and Banter in a 100 taking the other.

Lighter winds are forecast for the next two days over which the five race championship series will be held.

DW etc latest results

Sunday started with camp patches and a slight shower but broke out into another bright day, and the wind filled in, albeit shifty, for the first three races of the weekend series. Visitors from Southport SC joined in with the racing, though not included in results, topping up boats to a busy 35.

Keith/John had a good first race pulling out a good lead which they held to win the F15s, while Ian/Izzy wind the second race and Mark/Ian finally got their act together to win the third.

Joan/Jack shone early in the GPs, but Dave/Lynn eventually got back into the groove winning all three races. It was good to have Jess/Sally sailing their GP together for the first time.

Bean/Naomi were back in the RS200 taking three bullets in the fast handicap fleet. Newcomer John Roberts in Pico won two slow handicap races while Jim won the other in his Hartley.

What would Bank Holiday Monday bring? While the south of the country battled through flooding and heavy rain showers, after a misty start, we were blessed with clear skies but a general lack of wind. Racing got underway after a short postponement with a light breeze from the North East but the wind would fade to drifting conditions after little more than 10 mins then return for another brief spurt. The OD was keen for the race to be a reasonable length, though he didn’t expect the tailenders viz Josh and Martin to be on the water for 90 mins!

Although the wind faded again over the lunch break, it returned from the NE to get racing back underway on a short course to manage any further wind drops. What it didn’t allow for was the wind backing to the north, making the beat a fetch! Later the wind backed further to the west (was that the sea breeze effect?) creating a beat on the final leg of the course.

Dave/Lynn again mastered the conditions winning the GP trophy with five wins. In the handicap fleet, the light airs suited Steve/Ruth in their Merlin and they were able to secure a 1st and 2nd behind Ian Hall in a Solo. However, Bean managed to get a 3rd which was enough to win the trophy.

Jim’s collision with a F15 on Sunday perhaps spurred him on to take two 1sts in the conditions and win the slow handicap trophy.

In the F15s, Ian/Lezliann only sailed two races on Sunday, but took two commanding leads on Monday to win the trophy, and denying Mark/Ian of one their few opportunities to win a series while the newer boats were elsewhere.

With racing over, the rain held off for another hour. All in all a good bank holiday!

Final results 

It was a dull evening but without the threat of rain. With a constant force 4 wind from the SW the beat was 3-B in a box shaped course B-A-4-3. There were fourteen starters with two newcomers to the Series, Mike Cave in his Solo and Poppy Gannon in an Enterprise.

Following a good start, Joe Watkins in his 300 streaked around the course to complete the first lap in five minutes. The 200 of Alex and Olivia followed some lengths back and then there was another gap to the GPs of Val & Ken, Joan & Jack and AJ with Janie.

But it was not a good course for the Geeps with two tight reaches interspersed with a dead run. David’s Solo moved ahead of them and Ethan’s Radial and Pete’s Laser were also in the mix.

Joe was now lapping in six minutes and those on the Bates were asking how many laps he could complete before the light started to fade and the race was shortened. The wind was shifting ahead of beam on the final reach and all the kite boats were having difficulty getting them to fly and, particularly, dropping at 3. A tight rounding was needed to make the line but all were losing seconds while stowing and before they could harden up.

Val & Ken seemed to fare best of the bunch at 3 while Joan & Jack were not having one of their better Thursdays. But Alex & Olivia, a lap ahead, had the poorest rounding on the final lap eventually tacking off up the line. Surely that would ruin any chance of a win on FH? But no! FH results showed that they had beaten Joe by a mere second. David was third and Ethan fourth.

On PH it was Joe from David from Pete. Where were the Geeps? Don’t ask!

Latest results FH PH

Memories of the week can be found on the photographer’s website www.benunwinphotography.co.uk/Bass-Week-2015

Here’s an example of the fun Ben can do with the shots

Did you spend your holiday with us at Bassenthwaite for our annual regatta?

The Bass team are always striving for continuous improvement and in this respect we would like your feedback on this years regatta.

If you have 5 minutes to spare please click on Questionnaire 2015 and let us know what was good about this year and where we can improve. For every 25th completed survey, the lucky individual will receive a £25 discount voucher off next years entry.

Thank you and congratulations to Zena Martin for her survey and winning the first voucher!

We have a second winner already – it’s Emma Smith. Not the Rear Commodore’s wife, but his brother’s!

Four members of Bassenthwaite Youth Squad travelled to Rutland Water to be part of the Cumbria Youth Sailing Team taking part in the National Schools Sailing Association Regatta.

Hazel Newport, Ethan Dawson, Charlotte Winfindale, all from Cockermouth School and Harry Binns from Keswick School were part of the Cumbria team with over 30 members.

Some 282 boats from 21 Teams took part with most of the competitors and Team Managers camping at the Rutland Agricultural Showground.

The teams enjoyed some amazing racing in some very challenging winds, from very light to gusts of over 25kts at times. There was also some great competition between the different fleets members to create a fantastic event for all.  

The whole weeks experience was a great opportunity for the young sailors to travel further afield and be part of a great team event. They all described it as “a fantastic experience with some amazing fun throughout the evenings”

They are all looking forward to the NSSA at Great Yarmouth in 2016.

Well done all.

Hoping that you’ve all enjoyed Bass Week, and that it’s not quite a distant memory, you will get a rest from sailing this Saturday.

What will you do with that spare day? You could come down to the club and watch 200 people taking part in the Triathlon.

There will be a road closure between the club and Ouse bridge so you should come down early.

Having got you down early, we would appreciate your help (yet again)!

We need a welcome crew on the gate, parking attendants, someone to run the bar, and help in the galley. Some helpers would be required from 9am as the triathlon reception opens at 10am

Please let us know if you’re available

Just in case you haven’t realised, you can catch up with The One Bassenthwaite Sailing Week at bassweek.org.uk

Paul and Emily’s excuse for not doing Bass Week – William Alexander Clark, a brother for Evie, was born by elective caesarian this morning around 9:50 weighing 7lb 9oz. Both mother and baby are doing well.

Congratulations to them all!

If it’s light wind for the Grad northern then Paul has the perfect crew.

James Moore represented Bassenthwaite SC in the North West Regional final of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship at Lancashire Power Boat Racing Club today.

He was successful and goes on to compete in the final at Southampton boat show on Sunday 13th September.

Well done, best of luck in the final James!

Getting competitors to sign on for this race was difficult. Many were waiting to see which category others were going in before deciding which Fleet was likely to bring them an award! When all had put their names on the sheet the OD took it on the water to establish who was sailing what. He chose a longer course consisting of 0-A-B-4 and 21 boats started. In the Handicap Fleet John Reekie sailing his Skiff misjudged it and got badly boxed in behind the Wayfarer of Chris Lloyd / David Furguson. Terry Hall had rig failure and spent some time on the lee shore before starting late along with three of Neil’s trainees.

 The Skiff inevitably moved into the lead on the water with Olivia & Alex’s 200 and Joan & Jack’s GP in the following positions. The GP pair took the Seniors Award plus first overall in the race on boat handicap while Olivia took the Crews Prize.

 Slightly further down the order were the battling GPs of Sue & AJ and Kath & Glenys. Sue just squeezed home first but had opted for the Crew Fleet allowing Kath to take the cherished Ladies Prize

 Initially it was thought that Lottie, helming Jim’s Hartley, had won the Junior Prize but, after Hazel firmly pointed out she was not in a Handicap boat, she was correctly allocated the top spot.  

 When Josh’s brand new Tera had been retrieved from an inversion near 0 all hurried ashore and into the Clubhouse to avoid being drenched from the horrific looking storm clouds which were building overhead. Lynn & David had put on a great meal and it was good to see most relaxing and chatting afterwards. Not quite the “end of term” but, with a four week gap to the next Thursday race, it certainly looked like it!