After almost two years of preparation we have been awarded Volvo RYA Champion Club status. The award will provide a basis upon which our Junior and Youth sections can develop and the young sailors involved will benefit from the programmes available from the Volvo Champion scheme. I�d like to thank all those Club members who�ve helped us to secure this prestigious status, especially Mike Fairlamb who has worked particularly hard.

In addition to the Youth development advantages the VCC status will provide us with free RYA coaching, annual volunteer grants, and many other benefits. This, together with the existing training and Youth Squad initiatives, will help to secure the future of our Club for generations to come.

Best wishes

Dave Nicholson

It is with sadness that we have learned that former member Max DeRedder has passed away. Max was a long standing member of the sailing club and held the office of sailing secretary for a short while. Our condolences go to his wife Pat.

His funeral was held at 1pm on Monday 28 June in Gilcrux church, followed by committal at Distington crematorium about 2pm.

Here’s a pic of the Lawson family from Bass Week over 40 years ago!

Some things never change – Jack, Carol and David look just the same, while Pete is half naked – as usual!

The wheels of bureaucracy may turn slowly, but we get there in the end! Our RIB (newest rescue boat) has been adorned with a formal name plate ‘Gerald’ in memory of former Commodore Gerald Powell, father of Emma Smith , who passed away a couple of years ago.

The day started off bright but with a light north westerly, and numerous calm patches of water. Racing did get underway on time, and the wind filled in a bit more for a while, but faded before the end as it started to swing to a westerly. It was Mr and Mrs Bean in their RS200 that broke well away to win the morning race from Jim Christie in a Supernova and Joe Watkins sailing well in a laser. Mike Moore and Kayla continue to dominate the Blencathra Trophy for FFs, as do Mike Fairlamb and Eric in the GPs, each securing another win. Andy Smith, crewed by Katia, took the honours from Alan Waugh in the Mirrors.

The afternoon race was a pennant in aid of the Calvert Trust, and as ever took the fleet down the lake. With winds being lighter, the OD took pity and only sent them as far as mark 11 at Bassenthwaite church. The wind having swung back towards the north again resulted in the wind being steadier than expected, but also meant that the fleets were relatively close together at the leeward mark. Neil Garrison in his Dart led to the leeward mark, closely followed by Roy Blackburn in his Vareo then Mike Moore. The beat back slowed down the Dart leaving Mike first and Roy second, even after the personal handicaps were calculated.

The Youth Squad have been out again this weekend. Luke Howarth won Saturday’s racing, while Cristina Tully and Ethan shared the honours with a race each in the Sunday series

Sunny Saturday

Sun though with a cool westerly breeze was the order of the day. Racing started with a Celebrity Glass pursuit, and although leading, Mike Fairlamb with Eric Smith, misread the course and the lead passed over to Tim Chittenden with Ian Macpherson crewing.

The second race was some of the championship long series. Toggle again suffered some rig failure and had to retire. Sam Hall in a laser won from Tim Chittenden and William Carruthers with Elaine Hunt in the RS400

The webcam has been struggling in any half decent weather so we’ve treated it to some sun shades! 🙂 Just need to position them properly if they work ok

As ever, the high pressure has brought the sun but meant that the wind has been light.

However, the weather has tempted out Andy and Emma Smith – is he going back to his roots in a Mirror?!!

Sam Hall competed in the� first North West�traveller event of the season at Hollingworth Lake near Rochdale last week. He was first in all three races in the youth section (under 19) and was presented with a dry bag

Clerk of works in yellow coat and an applicant for the post of commodore in 2045 checks out the job with�their legal advisor.

Widening �the slip�to get the Dart �catamaran down to the water�

The “Navvies “take a break to help Mike Turner get his boat ready for the first race

Toggle bows to his leader (his other leader, as Joanie wasn’t at Bass)�

Andy T� boring the holes for the new tie downs whilst Stephen the vice commodore mixes the concrete to pour in the holes.

Hi all � When I collected my boat on 1 March for much needed painting etc, I had set off back home only to find between Junction 40 & 39 on the M6 that I had left my boat cover behind. So � back I went. The attached pic was taken when I arrived at the club earlier in the day for the first time.

When I returned, I thought I�d just stretch my legs a bit and walked round the corner of the club house to see an otter gambolling in the water just beyond the grassy point in the attached pic. Needless to say I did not have camera or phone this time � So � it�s like the proverbial story about �The One that got way?? !!! �.� Honest � I really did see an otter, and it made me feel quite privileged. There had been some guys working on the Race Hut in the morning, but they�d gone by the time I returned about 2pm-ish

I gather no sightings of the otters have been reported since the floods.

All the best

Simon Thelwall� Member No 145 � Wayfarer �Misful�