Six boats turned up for the first couple of races in the winter series. Sunny spells and a medium and occasionally gusty southwestly greeted the fleet.
The first race had a few issues with the starting watch, which gave the fleet a bit of a curve ball at the start as to when to go! But it all worked out in the end. John and Andrew led the fleet in their RS400 followed by Ant and Alan in the F15, but it was James in the ILCA 4.7 that secured the win with an impressive sail.
In the second race, the race committee had the hang of the starting watch so things went off perfectly. Again John and Andrew lead the fleet home with some good planing conditions at times but Neil in the ILCA 6 that secured the win on handicap on this occasion.
The Bass micro climate moderated a windy forecast, and enabled three boats to sail in the last two races of the autumn Saturday series.
The chilly NW breeze was slightly tempered by clear blue skies and bright sunshine.
There was some great planing conditions, and challenging gybes, one of which caught out Caroline in her Lightning resulting in a brief swim. Towards the end of the main reach Neil/Archie in their RS400 lost ground as they struggled to take down their gennaker, possibly causing them to lose the race to Rory in his K1 by a matter of seconds on handicap.
The wind lost its punchy edge during the final race. Neil/Archie led around the course and won on handicap, but it wasn�t enough to beat Rory overall who beat them by a single point
With the end of British summer time, Sunday seemingly said goodbye to the sunshine with a drizzly wet day. The wind was lighter than Saturday, but just as cold. AJ was the OD and had hoped the conditions would put off all comers, but it was not to be. There were four boats, none of which had spinnakers.
The lighter wind meant reduced the opportunities for planing, though it did freshen towards throughout the second race. Caroline in her Lightning was again caught out by a mini squall at a gybe mark, and had another brief capsize.
Neil was without a crew so raced his ILCA 6, and led both races, with Mike/Jack in their Graduate not too far behind. On handicap, Neil had two wins, with Mike/Jack 2nd in the first race, though the strengthening wind didn�t suit them, and Paul in his ILCA 6 took 2nd, and Caroline 3rd.
Neil/Archie won the series, with Mike/Jack 2nd, and Caroline 3rd
Saturday’s wind proved to be surpisingly spicy. Nine boats took to the water, but unusually Alex/Saskia in their RS200 found it was too much and had a DNF.
Neil/Archie in their RS400 led the fleet around the course, but ended up with a 2nd and 5th on handicap.
Olivia in her ILCA 4 had two strong wins beating her competitors by more than 90 secs on corrected time. Father Artur in his Aero had a 2nd and a 3rd. Rory in his K1 secured a 3rd and presently leads the series.
With Storm Amy out of the way, the high pressure suppressed the wind, and the sun shone for the weekend. There was enough wind to race, but it varied in strength and direction, with a dozen boats taking to the water on Saturday.
Neil/Archie in their RS400 led both races on the water, securing a 1st and 3rd on handicap. Rory in his K1 took 2nd, and Oscar in his new Tera Pro 3rd, though Caroline in her Lightning, and Dave/Lynn in their GP were only 10/11secs behind on corrected time.
The lighter wind of the last race favoured different fleets with Dave/Lynn taking 1st, and Mike/Jack in their Graduate 2nd.
Overall, Rory has a clear lead, with Caroline 2nd.
Sunday started with a lack of wind or sunshine. Low level cloud needed to move to make a difference, but there were a few sailors happy to give it a go so the OD went out, set a small course, and let them ‘race’.
There was some zephyrs, generally from the east, but they seemed to disappear after the start! Mike/Jack in their Graduate had good speed, and had to sail two laps whilst other boats just sailed one, finishing 1st on handicap
Saskia in her Optimist made great progress, finishing 2nd on handicap almost 80secs ahead of Neil in his ILCA6, with Caroline in her Lightning another 70secs behind.
Having at least offered and attempted some racing, the OD cancelled the next race. Mike/Jack presently lead the series.
Despite white horses being visible when looking downwind from the clubhouse, there were five boats keen to race on Sunday. The wind was relatively mild, but still gusty at times.
Four of the five boats were so keen that they were OCS though none were quick to accept they may have been over. A nudge from the sailing secretary had them returning through the start line. The Feva gained significantly by being first to return, and held the lead on the water for a full lap! A subsequent capsize caused minor gear failure and their retirement.
The winds gave rise to some spectacular planing conditions to counteract the gruelling beat.
The start of the next race was much more cautious by them all� Artur in his Aero took the lead initially, rounding the windward mark first, with Neil/Archie in their RS200 giving chase. It was another couple of laps before Neil/Archie took the lead, which was extended after two capsizes by Artur, the second of which was due him falling/being washed out of the boat and having to swim hard to catch it!
On handicap, Neil/Archie had two 1sts and take the lead in the series. Artur and James/Poppy in a Feva each had a 2nd
This weekend the club hosted a training session for a fleet of 25 Teras and Fevas. On Saturday morning the conditions were challenging as the SSW breeze generated a large waves, and gusts caused numerous capsizes. However the wind eased over the lunch break, though it did freshen later in the afternoon. Fortunately the rain held off all day.
Club racing was for the start of the October Saturday series and comprised a fleet of five single handers, though Banter/Artur in RS400 treated it more as a pursuit race as they were caught out by the race starting on time!
The wind enabled good planing conditions, and there some capsizes. In the second race, Banter/Artur built up a lead good enough for them to race one extra lap and chase the tail enders, two of which they managed to pass, though a hiccup taking down their gennaker resulted in a capsize when Artur ducked inboard to sort, forgetting he was in a RS400 rather than VX One�
On handicap, Rory in his K1 leads with a 1st and 2nd, with John in his ILCA 7 2nd, and Banter/Artur 3rd.
On Sunday morning the lake was covered in mist/fog which soon burnt off to leave mirror like conditions. Some light airs came in by noon, but the OD opted to let the wind settle for another hour before starting racing.
The air remained light for the first lap then, but settled in for the rest of the afternoon.
On handicap, Mike/Jack in their Graduate, and Caroline in her Lightning, each shared a 1st and a 2nd, so Caroline leads the series, with Richard in his Solo taking two 3rds.
Saturday started overcast and dry with a lack of wind for the 58 competitors from north of England and south of Scotland. An hour before the scheduled start the wind filled in across the bay, and the OD set off to set a line, though with some drizzle moving in, the wind eased, and direction started to swing.
The course was reset for an easterly breeze, and racing was underway after a short delay, and apart from three boats being caught OCS under the U flag, the starts were clear. The wind did swing slightly, but there was some good racing in the F1-2 breeze. Alistair/Helen Norris in RS200 from Leigh & Lowton took the honours, with Tom/Poppy Moss in RS Vision from Bass 2nd, and Sam Watson/Phil Hodgkins in VX One from Bass 3rd.
The course had to be reset again for the next race, but within 10 minutes of the start the wind had swung so much that the windward/leeward course had become reach/reach, so the race was abandoned, and restarted after resetting the course again for a NNW direction. Through the race, the wind eased and veered round to NNE. It was the RS200s that mastered the conditions with Chris/Evie Pickles from Bass winning, Brendan Lynch/Ellie Clark from East Lothian 2nd, and Ewan Wilson/Anna Sturrock 3rd.
There was a delay before race 3 while waiting for the wind to settle from the SE, and resetting the course again. Four boats were caught OCS and later advised there would be no further racing as the wind had eased yet again. Frustratingly, soon after the race was shortened, the wind started to bed in (roughly from the SE), but a long afternoon in cold and wet conditions meant no-one contested the decision to stop racing for the day. Graham Pristley/Artur Dembinski in VX One from Bass/Ullswater won, with Alistair/Helen Norris 2nd , and Brendan Lynch/Ellie Clark 3rd.
Overnight lead is held by Alistair/Helen Norris, with Brendan Lynch/Ellie Clark 2nd.
The forecast for Sunday was brighter, dryer, with lighter winds, and it started without any wind whatsoever, so racing was postponed for over an hour. When setting the course it was apparent that there were two winds; one was from the forecast NNW, and the other from the W. By moving the course further towards Scarness, generally, there was a merger of the winds with numerous shifts for the sailors to contend with as differing gusts came through.
The first two races of the day went smoothly, and were both won by Ollie Groves/Esther Parkhurst in a RS400 from Beaver. A shift during the start sequence of the next race resulted in a general recall, and the wind then eased, before veering the best part of 60 degrees, so the race was curtailed early, enabling one further race to be held. The first being won by Ewan Wilson/Anna Sturrock in a RS200 from East Lothian, and the next by Ollie Groves/Esther Parkhurst. Wind conditions throughout the day were mixed but offered good challenges/opportunities, with occasional planing conditions.
Overall, Alistair/Helen Norris were clear winners with a net 10 points, Ollie Groves/Esther Parkhurst 2nd, and Chris/Evie Pickles 3rd.
Overall winners Alistair and Helen Norris from Leigh & Lowton
Saturday was blustery and wet for the start of the Tinkers open meeting. The conditions resulted in several capsizes, with one Tinker getting their mast stuck in the mud; when it was brought up the mast was bent, and the rudder broken, so it needed a tow back to shore. Unfortunately a rope then wrapped around the prop of the rescue boat, so the Bates towed both ashore, not before the vice Commodore pushed out one of its windows!
Another Tinker capsized and broke its dagger board while trying to right itself.
In terms of club racing, there were no takers for the final weekend series in the club championship.
Sunday�s conditions were much more appealing, and there was a selection of club boats ready to race.
The forecast was for rain to come in, and the wind to pick up as the day went on, so two races were held before the lunch break, and a final race afterwards which had the asymmetric fleet heading to 7 in the freshening SW wind.
There were many great gusts for planing, and numerous shifts, together with the occasional lull to contend with. Not many capsizes, but a couple of gear failures that affected positions.
Neil/Archie took the honours in the Asymmetric fleet, with Scumper/Toggle 2nd, and Banter/Emma/Oscar 3rd.
In the handicap fleet, Ant in his F15 mistook marks A and 1, giving Paul in his Laser the opportunity to gain ground and win on handicap. Though the results show Neil winning the next race, he retired after being informed he may well have missed a mark out, making Paul the overall winner, with Ant 2nd.
Saturday was mild with a good F2-3 SSE breeze and a fleet of 9 boats, including 3 trainees trying their hand again.
Neil/Archie led the way in their RS400, winning both races in the water and on handicap with Artur in an Aero securing two 2nds and daughter Olivia in an ILCA 6 two 3rds. Toggle in his Solo was the only one to capsize though he quickly recovered from it.
Sunday started mild with a stronger F4, again from the SSE but only Neil/Archie turned up to race and defend their lead in the series, so racing was cancelled and Neil/Archie won the series
Disappointingly the conditions weren�t appropriate to take any visitors to the Baton of Hope event being hosted at the club out for a sail, but they enjoyed the music in the clubhouse, and welcomed the baton which was being taken around the county by Blood Bikes Cumbria
