‘Three bullet Toggle’ managed to win the RS Vareo Northern Champs at UYC 21/22 September.
Ethan Dawson secured second overall, with Robbie D crewing, in the Mike Saul Dinghy Services 200 event at the same location
Three Bullet Toggle
What did you think of Bass Week 2013?
A month on and Bass Week may seem like a dream, but we would like to know your thoughts so that we can take them into account when planning next year’s regatta.
You can find this year’s questionnaire on the Bass Week website and, for every 25th entry received, we will award a �25 voucher valid against Bass Week 2014.
Thank you for your continued support in helping make Bass Week a great event, and we look forward to your company again, hopefully next year from 2-10 August!
1st voucher goes to Kevin Bilham! Not too many more surveys until the next voucher – Could it be you?!
Latest feedback
Annual Dinner Dance
It may still be almost three months away, but if you’re thinking of staying at The Castle Inn after the dinner it would be worth booking your room sooner rather than later as there are only a few still available at the special rate for attendees
Grant Opportunity. Another Chance to Vote!
We reported recently that our training officer had submitted a grant application for �500 towards training equipment. The allocation is determined by a voting procedure which has been extended to 24 September. Although voting is limited to one vote per IP address, if you haven’t done so already, we would appreciate your support by voting here.
Night Jar B2
Well, Thursday�s Night Jar wasn�t one of Bass� finest evenings to be sure! But it worked out ok in the end. Despite no regular Safety Cover, the OD was able to use a line from the race office on a reaching start with a course 3-5-0.
The SW wind was brisk enough for the lead competitors to complete the first lap in less than 30 minutes so a decision was made to send the whole fleet around for a further lap. However, soon after this had been made, the wind shadow from the western shore rapidly extended to reach beyond 0 and the lay line to 3. The back of the fleet was going nowhere between 1 and 3 while the front runners were beating for the finish in calm waters.
But credit is due to those who persevered. Mike & Joan Cowan in their RS200 who had led from the start crossed the line nearly five minutes ahead of the next finishers who were the Fifteens helmed by Chris Rolle and Rory Yardley.
On Fleet Handicap results showed husband and wife crews in the first four places. The Cowans won from Val & Ken Bell. Joan and Jack Hardie in their newly acquired GP14 were third ahead of Chris & Julie Rolle.
Awards in this series are based on Personal Handicap and, here, the Cowans were declared winners by more than a minute from the Rolles with the Bells in the final podium place.
As communal food was, regrettably, missing some competitors headed for home while others were supported by the bar!
RS Vareo Nationals
I would just like to add again my sincere thanks on behalf of all the competitors & the RS Association for a great event over the Bank Holiday for our Nationals. I thought your club facilities were excellent, the food was fantastic & your race team good humoured & helpful in difficult circumstances. I think the photos on your front page sum it all up brilliantly.
Very many thanks,
Richard Willows, UK Vareo Class Chairman.
RS Vareo National Championships
This weekend the RS Vareo Nationals are being held at Bassenthwaite, the home club of the defending champion, our own Vice-Commodore Mark Somerville.
The wind forecast is light, unfortunately, so will the lightweights have an advantage. Of course, there is the Bass micro-climate factor, so anything could happen!
The first race was delayed while the direction settled and bedded in, but racing got underway, and three races completed successfully. Scumper got two straight wins under his belt then had to fight off Toggle before securing his third! Banter sailed well and stuck on Scumper’s transom for most of the first race
Sunday’s forecast promising better wind strengths turned out to be all but false hopes. Club sailors took to the water and eventually started but the wind direction and strength was variable leading to all points of sailing, on most legs, with greatly varying wind strengths!
As for the Vareos, one race started, but abandoned, due to both legs being a beat, run and reach at the same time so the results remain as Saturday evening.
Meanwhile club sailors endured more of the conditions that blighted them in the morning
Monday’s forecast was good for sunbathing, sailing wise we’d have to wait and see… Perhaps the sailors will have more luck at the bingo this evening – well Peter Ballard certainly did as he won!
The forecast was right – sun, no wind, and consequently no sailing. So the results stand as Saturday evening and Scumper retains the title of RS Vareo National Champion!
Final results:
In club sailing, after a bit of a wait, two races were sailed back to back, and some of those that would not have otherwise sailed due to the Vareo Nationals were able to partake.
In the F15s, Ian/Lezli-Ann took another two wins and won the Flying Free Trophy with 3 points, ahead of Graham/Sally who had won the first race after some consistent sailing.
Joan/Jack won the handicap fleet August Trophy with Steve/Ruth 2nd. Alastair, eager to get on the water after two days waiting for wind, had a great winning performance in the final race.
The GPs only sailed three races, all of which were won by Dave/Lynn/ Val/Ken’s two 2nds from Saturday were sufficient to earn them 2nd overall.
The Mirrors only sailed on Monday, Pam and Mik each shared a win, but as Pam won the final race it split the tie in her favour to win the Mirror Mug. Well done Pam
Final Results
Bass Tri
Just a quick note to say thank for allowing myself and my fellow competitors to use the facilities at your sailing club. The weather showed its true colours perhaps more suited to sailing than swimming, cycling and running, but the respite provide by the clubhouse was very much appreciated. I had really enjoyable and memorable day, no win but just completed. Hope to visit again next year.
Kind regards,
Howard Peach
Some NSSA thank you notes…
A very big thank you for a superb regatta, which was definitely down to your meticulous organisation…..
…. The team of volunteers at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club worked extremely hard to keep the sailing going, the site clean and the cups of tea and coffee supplied (despite the large numbers of adults) – I am sure that the SC members are now enjoying the peace and quiet. At the school, the quality and quantity of the food was the best I have seen in the 22 years I have attended NSSA regattas, and Ruth worked extremely hard to try to do everything she could to help all of the adults and youngsters, as did the catering staff and caretakers – please pass on my thanks to everybody involved at the sailing club and school, on behalf of both the NSSA and the Worcestershire team.
I am sure that you must all be exhausted, but hope that you also feel justifiably proud of all that you achieved and can now relax and enjoy the rest of the summer holidays, with continued warm sunshine. I never realise how tired I am during the regatta week until I arrive home…
…. As we are all agreed – NSSA teams and Bassenthwaite SC members – that the sun only shines on the year we come to you, I hope that we are able to return to Bassenthwaite in the not too distant future.!
Warm regards
Vivien Brookes
WSSCA Chairman
Just a quick note to say thanks for everything you did for the NSSA event. It was fab – nothing but positive feedback from my sailors and a great relief to have decent food! I hope we can come back soon..
Jon
Herts/Northants
I must apologise for the time it has taken me to get on to the email to say thank you�.. I can�t thank you and the team enough for making NSSA 2013 and enjoyable experience, the team really enjoyed it and are still talking about it. As a novice team manager, year 1 under my belt, you helped me tremendously and kept me on the straight and narrow and I have taken the mantle on again for NSSA 2014 and our accommodation is already booked and deposits paid.
They can�t wait!
Again many thanks for your hard work, dedication and for being there to help
Garry
Yorkshire and Humberside
The kids at my club are still absolutely full of the nationals, they had a fantastic week and it has really fired them up for future events.
So thank you for all your help.
Julie
Cumbria Team
A BIG thank you from Lancashire!
Please excuse this being a little late but we would like to say a huge thank you for a fantastic event. We had a brilliant time and I realise exactly how much time and effort you must have given to organise such a well run and successful regatta. Please pass on our thanks and gratitude to your small army of helpers and all the members of Bassenthwaite Sailing Club who made us so welcome.
Kindest regards
Linda and the Lancashire School Sailing Association Race Team
Alone again..
After the NSSA, and Bass Week, and the Triathlon we were able to celebrate having the club to ourselves again (well for one day, as we have the RS Vareo Nationals over the bank holiday weekend).
With heavy overnight rain, gusting winds, and a lot of apathy at the sight of the tops of the breaking waves, the prospect of getting anybody to take to the water seemed low despite AJ merrily rigging his newly acquired GP.
By the time the Bates was brought ashore, made easier when it was released from the mooring, there were several boats ready to take to the water.
A last minute rush by Scumper (nothing new there!), meant he was rigging his gennaker afloat, and only reached the start line with 10 secs to go, uncertain whether the gennaker would fly when needed. To his surprise, it did, but it took him a while to make up some lost ground and pass Tog and Banter, and eventually win. The various gusts/squalls that passed through led to numerous capsizes across the whole of the asymmetric fleet.
In the non-asymmetric fleet, Steve/Ruth led but retired on the final lap, and Mike/Kayla went on to win ahead of Val/Ken who had found they were sailing ‘on the edge’ in some of the gusts after rounding the windward mark. After some indecisive rocking, not certain whether to put the spinnaker up or climb on to the centreboard, they did escape a capsize put flew the kite without a pole until the conditions eased.
The wind picked up
as the race ended, and seemed to drop a little as the 2nd race started! Banter sailed a blinder of a race, keeping Scumper at bay until the last lap, and only dropping back at the last minute when a gust had him wondering how to avoid kebabing Herb!
Steve/Ruth won the MJM fleet race from Mike/Kayla, though Mike won the series overall.
The tail enders of each fleet seemed to be having a competition on the number of capsizes they could survive, but both Ethan and Alastair persevered to finish.
AJ is still being cautious to avoid running aground with his fixed rudder, but it seemed to involve a lot of swimming and numerous helpers to get his boat ashore. Practice makes perfect…