What a restart to Open Meeting sailing after eighteen months of twiddling our thumbs! �A weekend of racing for the two classes with on site camping and caravanning thrown in. It certainly attracted the northern competitors with twelve and seventeen entries respectively in the two classes. �The Lake looked positively crowded!

Although the weather had been wet and wild prior to the weekend, the first of the race days was reasonably sunny and warm. �The only trouble was the wind � or lack of it! Very light airs on Saturday morning eventually gave way to a light westerly to get the two fleets totalling 29 boats on the water after a short postponement. There were some major shifts before the first start, and they continued throughout the afternoon, however the general westerly direction was maintained, and generally most boats had to tack on the designated beats!

A shift at the first start was perhaps the cause of two general recalls for the GPs, but they got cleanly away on the third attempt without the need of a black flag. The wind shifts proved to be advantageous, or challenging, depending on whether or not they worked in your favour. Planing conditions were rare, and there was only one unfortunate capsize by Grace and James in a Mirror, seconds after they finished the second race.

Phil and Naomi Smith, sailing separately with children Oliver and Lucy respectively, had there fair share of good fortune throughout the afternoon. In the first race, Graham and Sebastian Vials were leading but failed to head for mark A on the run down to the leeward mark. Phil was lying about 4th, noticed the error, took the lead, and won, with Rob and Elizabeth Cook 2nd. By the time Graham had noticed his mistake, he had to beat back to A, dropping back to finish 8th overall.

In the second race, Naomi and Lucy opted for the left hand side of the first beat, taking advantage of a major port lift, to be clear ahead at the windward mark, a lead which they held to the end, holding off Rob who had another 2nd to be overnight leader in the Mirrors. With so many youngsters in the Mirror fleet, it is not surprising that one fell asleep (well Saskia isn’t two yet!)

In the GPs, Bass’ Dave Lawson and Joe Roberts had good leads in both races, winning the first, but were passed on the final run as the wind filled in on starboard gybe. To top it off, at the leeward mark the two leading GPs went wide round a Mirror, but Adam McGovern took advantage of the situation, rounding inside the Mirror, and gaining the lead to win the race, and lead the series having secured a 2nd in the first race.

Sunday started with a stronger southerly, so a course was set to send the GPs to mark 7 at Scarness, but by the time the fleets were all on the way to the start area, the wind veered to the SW. The start line was relocated, a new course set, and the wind rapidly strengthened as it backed to the south. So a third� course was set, and racing was soon underway. The increase in wind put off several competitors who headed back to shore.

In the GPs, John and Jack Telford were leading, and in close competition with Dave and Joe, until an unfortunate capsize at a gybe mark. Dave went on to win, with Adam 2nd. In the next race those positions were reversed, so it meant the championship would be determined on the final race. More close racing between the four boats that sailed, had Adam take the lead which he and Eleanor held through to the finish, winning the GP Northern Championship, with David and Joe 2nd, and Patrick Hamilton and James Dewhurst 3rd overall.

The Mirrors had close competition between Andy/Lily Smith and Rob/Elizabeth Cook, each sharing the lead positions in races 3 and 5. In race 4, Rob was OCS and subsequently retired, but this time Andy was runner up to Graham/Sebastian Vials. It was Andy’s win in the final race that won him and Lily the open meeting trophy, with Rob/Elizabeth 2nd, and Jonathan Bullen/Gracie 3rd overall.

Final results

Due to various other commitments, numerous regulars are not available for the planned team racing on 26/27 October, so, due to low anticipated attendance, it has been decided to cancel this year’s event.

Club racing will continue as planned.

With the Indian summer continuing, there was clear blue skies, and a warm south easterly wind to greet sailors, the only problem being that instead of a gentle force 2, the Bass micro climate offered a force 6 with even bigger gusts, and plenty of white horses to prove it!

Our own John Reekie ventured out in his Solo, getting very wet in the process (spray, not capsizing), but after a three hour postponement, the wind had not eased sufficiently to tempt enough people out, so the OD postponed until the morning when conditions should be better.

By Sunday morning the wind had eased, but was still blowing from the south east, the blue skies had disappeared, and the rain moved in!

The wind strength eased throughout the morning, but not before Keith and Gayle broached at one of the gybe marks! There was only one premature starter in the Youth fleet during the two morning races, and there’s rumblings of a protest in the F15 fleet.

At lunchtime the sun started to shine, and continued throughout race 3, as did the light breeze. There were mixed fortunes in the race, including Simon/Jon hitting the committee boat at the start! However it meant that the overall positions were all to race for in the final race.

Simon and Jon’s win in the final race snatched victory from Mike Preston and Chris Robinson from Blackpool and Fleetwood.

In the GP masters, it was to be the final reach that determined their winner which changed twice in a matter of minutes from Andy and Phil, to Graham and Frank, then Mark and Sam Platt from Bolton.

Robert and James from Royal Windermere won the final race to keep their lead, and secure the Youth Championship from Alastair and Joel from Southport.

Another sunny Saturday with a light SE breeze greeted a fleet of 50 boats with helm and crew under 19.

As racing was about to get underway at 1200 hrs the light breeze faded and started to swing through 180 degrees… With hopes of a sea breeze moving in to settle things down, it was noticed that wind was filling in from the SE again, so the course was reset and racing got underway.

Half an hour into the race the wind swung to the SW, and a shadow was cast over mark 1, so the race was shortened, and Tom Brindley from Redesmere took his first of four wins of the day in the NWJTT, with Emily Page from Budworth 1st Topper.

The course was reset again, and the wind freshened for a short while, but then swung more to the NW, and back to the SW again. A sign of things to come? Will Burbridge from Chester was 1st Topper.

After a break, the wind clearly hadn’t settled as the OD set a windward mark, moved to position the leeward mark only to find the wind was blowing from the opposite direction! Fortunately, the SW wind took control again and race 3 was started. As with the previous race, the wind swung between the NW and SW. This time Tom Bates from Ripon was 1st Topper.

After a slight adjustment of the beat, race 4 was underway, but the wind soon eased for the back half of the fleet. With various zephyrs passing through the fleet continued on for another lap after which the race was shortened, before the wind faded altogether. George Colquitt from WKSC was 1st Topper.

Tom Brindley was overnight leader for NWJTT and Emily Page led the Toppers.

Strong winds were forecast for Sunday, but the Bass micro-climate resulted in windy, but sailable, conditions which put off some less experienced sailors.

Unlike Saturday, the stronger winds were more settled in direction so the course just had to be set once! There were numerous capsizes, some notable (an Oppie nosediving), but there were some very determined sailors that tried their best and carried on racing even after various capsizes.

Tom Brindley continued his mastery of the NWJTT fleet winning both races and the winner’s trophy. In the Topper fleet, the conditions suited Tom Bates who took two wins and overall lead in NW Areas.

The longer term forecast for this one day open was wet and windy which put off several competitors. However, our Bass micro climate defied the forecast in terms of wind strength at least which, generally, was a pleasant force 2-3. The light rain was persistent through the morning race though eased as the afternoon went on.

Racing was delayed when the first signal was as relentless as the rain! Disconnecting the switch from the horn didn’t help.. Some air horns were brought to the rescue along with the bar bell, and a whistle just in case.

When racing started, the winds seemed to be freshening, but it was not to be. They did fluctuate, and swing back and forth, from time to time, but it led to some exciting, close racing that continued throughout the day. There were a small number of capsizes, not that anyone ended up any wetter than they were already!

A three race series, with two results to count, meant that the competition carried through to the final race that would determine overall winners. Indeed, the final result was determined following two protests.

With Easter being late this year, GNAC is being held early, for which there was a fleet of 27 boats. Although the sun was shining, the cooler than usual, and stronger than forecast SE breeze put a few competitors off sailing. Those that sailed enjoyed some spectacular reaches, and several suffered capsizes to boot!

Four races were sailed back to back, which took its toll energy wise, and the numbers in each race decreased. Only one general recall, so no need for any black flags. The conditions suited the faster RS400s, led by Richard Catchpole and Gary Coop from Leigh and Lowton, which take up the first two places overnight, but Alastair and Evie Coates, also from Leigh and Lowton, had a brilliant afternoon in their RS Feva and are holding 3rd place overnight.

Sunday was neither as sunny, nor as windy generally, but there were again strong gusts of wind to add to the excitement to the offwind legs, and they seemed especially vicious on the beat at times. There were more capsizes, and numerous changes of position, and race winners, throughout the remaining four races, but overnight leaders Richard Catchpole and Gary Coop, through their consistent sailing, continued to top the leaderboard and win the series overall.

Alastair and Evie Coates led the slower handicap boats finishing a creditable 4th overall.

Final results

Although our season has not yet started, preparations for our first open meeting are all in hand.

This year’s GNAC is being held on 13/14 April, eight windward leeward races scheduled, and entries are now open at via WebCollect

Early entries benefit from a �10 discount so don’t delay too long!

A sun soaked Saturday, together with force 2-3 SW breeze, gave champagne sailing conditions for two fleets of boats.

The 18 strong fleet of F15s were a bit too eager to start and caused a general recall in their first race. Neil/Rory secured a strong lead winning race 1 with Simon/Jon 2nd.

It was Simon’s turn to build the lead in race 2 ahead of Andy/Tom Goddard (from Dovestone).

Simon was a bit too eager in the third race start forcing Keith/Alan upwind but resulted in both boats being OCS at the start. Keith returned but Simon didn’t and subsequently retired. There was some close racing between Neil and Andy, who secured the lead on the final beat, and is overnight leader.

In the GPs there was little sign of Dave/Joe in the first race who left Mike/Eric to battle with Val/Ken who were delighted to secure 1st place. Dave had to work his way through to the lead in the next race beating Julie/Chris Waddington (from Bolton). They took the same positions in race 3, so Dave is overnight leader.

The day wasn’t without incident. There was one capsize, a couple of protests, and some raised voices on the water. Perhaps the sun had taken its toll on some sailors?

Sunday greeted sailors with a stronger breeze more from the south so the opportunity was taken to use the buoys in the southern end of the lake. Just one beat, but it was a couple of miles long!

In the F15s Simon pushed the line again with a port on port start, but got it spot on this time! He went on to win the race just ahead of Mike/Kayla. In the GPs Dave continued his winning ways with Julie/Chris 2nd, and with the same results in the final race Dave/Joe won the event with Julie/Chris 2nd.

With the wind swinging more to the SW, and strengthening, the final race was held in the northern bay. Graham/Sally had a cracking first beat but slipped back to 3rd (on handicap). Neil won by a good margin with Simon 2nd, which was enough to secure 1st overall.

John Reekie seemed to successfully hitch a lift up the A66 to take the honours in the first race from Richard Critchley. In the next race Joe Quick from Coniston mastered the shifts to take 1st place with John 2nd, so that there was all to race for in the final race.

After lunch there was an expectation that the sea breeze would bed in, but the northwest gusts continued to kick in on the northern side of the course and they were Rory Yardley’s downfall as, having led throughout the race he was caught between the two winds with just two legs to go. John used a gust to take the lead and blanket Rory who subsequently lost one more place. John’s win earned him 1st overall, with Richard 2nd and Joe 3rd