Laser, Streaker, Tera Open
There was a great turnout of 39 boats for this one day event, and, whilst waiting for the forecast wind to bed in, sailors were able to enjoy some blue skies.
Racing got underway a couple of hours late. Although the general direction was similar to the forecast, there were some massive swings to contend with, especially when the wind eased and freshened again. Fortunately, generally, a beat was maintained throughout the afternoon as it was in the centre of the shifts, but the way the gusts came in could be cruel with nearby boats not all necessarily benefitting to the same extent.
It was skills, rather than local knowledge that enabled Bass sailors Robin Dawson in the Laser fleet, and Matthew Somerville in the Tera fleet, to win the first two races, and their respective trophies. In the Streakers, Mike Fairlamb won the first race, but couldn’t hold off Guy Wheeler from Annandale who won the next two races and the trophy.
Scarness Cup
After some localised morning showers, there was another sunny Saturday for sailors, with F4/5 south westerly, for the start of the weekend series. Throughout the afternoon the wind freshened and eased, veered and backed, making for some testing conditions resulting in various capsizes, broaches, and changes of position.
In the F15s, Simon/Jon led the first race throughout, with Neil/Rory 2nd, though this was reversed in the next race, giving Ndeil the advantage overnight.
Mark led the handicap fleet in both races but not being able to make best use of his gennaker finished 5th and 4th on handicap. It was Joe in his Laser, John and Robbie D in their Solos, that were competing for the lead, all finishing within half a minute on handicap. John was consistent with two 2nds, while the other two each had a 1st and a 3rd. Joe is overnight leader.
Tog’s sail ripped in the 1st race, so he retired to tape it up, only for the rip to get worse when he fell through it during a capsize in the next race!
In the GPs, Val/Ken had 1st and 2nd, AJ/Sue had 1st and DNF, with James/Jenny 2nd and 3rd, putting Val as overnight leader.
Emma in a Mirror has a 1st and a 2nd to lead the slow handicap, with Alex/Saskia in a Mirror 2nd and James in a Tera 3rd.
Sunday brought in more wind, and lots of drizzly wet rain! Val and Ken turned up to defend their overnight lead, but there was no competition, and the rain didn’t tempt them to race in the handicap fleet, so an early exit back home as winners of the Graham Cup.
With a forecast for increasing winds, Neil was keen to get two races in before lunch with an aim to win the series and get home for the football! His plans were initially scuppered in the first race when Birthday boy Angus and Mike took a strong lead which neither Simon nor Neil could overcome. Angus took the lead in the next race as well, but Simon gybed into the lake to take advantage of the stronger gusts, and broke through to the lead. Neil did close the gap but missed a tack by Simon, and was caught out on port, and unable to clear Simon’s transom. Not his day, and Simon/Jon won the Scarness Cup.
Scumper led the handicap fleet, but capsizes, and heading for the wrong mark, didn’t help his cause, though he did take a 1st and a 2nd finishing 3rd overall. It was Joe and Robbie D that would be battling it out for the trophy, each netting 7 points. If the results had been available over lunch Robbie D have opted to race rather than watch the footie? As he didn’t, the tie on points was split in Joe’s favour to win him the Wythop Trophy.
With no racing in the slow handicap fleet, Emma wins the Reflection Trophy
Night Jar 3
Beautiful blue skies and a blustery/shifty Westerly greeted the 11 boats who ventured onto the water.
Once again there was a healthy turnout of Teras who all coped well with the tricky conditions. The fleet got away on a port-biased line although Rory was OCS and failed to return. First to the windward mark was John in his Solo but he touched the mark and lost ground doing penalty turns.
Racing was very close over 4 laps with plenty of place changing as the wind shifted and gusted. At the finish, Alex led John by 5 seconds with Val & Ken and James & Jenny close behind. James Reekie in his Tera Sport chased the Tera Pros home and all adjourned for a pie supper supplied by Val and the bar was open too!
Night Jar 2
Competitors were greeted by a strong and gusty wind with rain squalls and there was little enthusiasm for launching.
The Race Officer (AJ) made the popular decision to abandon racing and everyone adjourned for a delicious pie supper courtesy of Val.
7/8 May
Unusually, Saturday’s forecast for light winds proved to be accurate, resulting in a small turnout of eight boats for the next races in the MJM series.
Shortly after the start, the wind eased, so the race was shortened at the end of the first lap, but the lead boats were happy to wait while Oliver persevered to complete the lap in his Tera. On handicap Mike/Jack in a Graduate won, followed by Phil/Oscar in RS200
Although the northerly wind was still very light, as numerous boats had waited for another race, it seemed it would be a shame if it didn’t happen, so as soon as Oliver finished the new start sequence commenced.
Alan/Sue in a GP, and Eric in a Mirror, started but, with little prospect of the wind returning, they soon opted to retire to shore. Though the first beat was half that of the previous race, it still took Mike/Jack 14 mins to reach the windward mark! Very soon afterwards a light breeze came in from the east creating the second beat on a three leg course! With the boats still being grouped close together, they were sent round for another lap. Fortunately the wind held, but it continued to swing finally resulting in a southerly. Mike/Jack took their second win of the day, with Ian Hall 2nd
Sunday started with a SE breeze and an OD keen to set a course to 12! Though it did not happen, the sailors still enjoyed some good sailing in an unusally steady wind. Angus/Mike in a F15 led the fleet around the course, but were beaten on handicap by Joe in his Laser.
During the lunch break, the wind strengthened, and white horses appeared, only to disppear to leave fickle airs for a while. When setting out to start the next race, the OD noted the wind was steadier down the lake, so set 10 as a windward mark, seemingly to the dismay of Andy in a Solo! However, despite a 25 min beat, the fleet enjoyed more great sailing conditions to blow away the odd cobweb.
Angus/Mike led the handicap fleet again, and won on handicap 21 secs ahead of Andy, with Mike/Jack in their Graducate 3rd.
In the GPs, Val/Ken had two wins, with AJ/Sue 2nd in both races which was sufficient to maintain their lead in the series.
May Bank Holiday Weekend
Our second bank holiday weekend of the season welcomed the friendly inflatable Catapult fleet
Saturday racing was for Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy in which there were 28 boats, and it was won by Matt/Oliver in a 2000 in a tie break from Dave/Lynn in their GP
Sunday and Monday were planned as a five race series. We were fortunate on the former day as the wind had swung SE giving a long beat to 6 and some excitement offwind blasting. After a break two races were sailed back to back with a shorter beat being used.
On Monday there was a general lack of wind and at 1330 racing was abandoned.
Weekend Sailing
Another sunny Saturday, but with no takers due to the high winds, racing was cancelled.
Same outcome on Sunday!
Easter 2022
Saturday started with sunshine and an unexpected SE breeze for the two race Celebrity Glass Pursuit series. Over 30 boats started the first race over a 46 minute start sequence, with the Reekie’s sandwiching the fleet (James in an Optimist being in the first start and John in a 49er in the last start), during which the wind eased, then picked up at John’s start.
The conditions helped James in his Optimist maintain the lead to the start of what turned out to be the final beat when he was caught by Naomi in a Mirror. However, the wind faded and it ended up that the whole fleet, bar two, were on the same leg when the shorten course signal was sounded (perfect handicapping?). Matty in his Tera mastered the light winds only to be pipped to the finishing line by a matter of seconds by Rob in a Phantom, with Naomi 3rd.
The challenging final beat put many off sailing another race, but seven showed interest, so the OD set another start line only for the wind to fill in from the NE, so the line was moved, course set, and racing got underway before the wind swung again! Fortunately, the wind held for the full race which Chris/Evie led throughout, though on handicap it was won by Dave/Lynn in their GP, followed by Mike/Jack in a Graduate.
Overall, Dave/Lynn beat Chris/Evie by one point, with Mike/Jack 3rd
Final results Celebrity Glass Pursuit
Clear skies and a mild southerly greeted sailors on Sunday morning for the start of the first championship weekend series of the season.
Some sailors were just starting their racing season and found the position of some hard to grasp!…
Throughout the course of the day there were numerous hard beats to mark 7 where the wind strength, and swell, increased as it funnelled through the narrows, several capsizes, a couple of boats OCS, some great reaches, and some close racing to boot. After three hard races many sailors knew they would be sleeping well that night!
Over the 40 boats racing the overnight leaders were Neil/Rory in the F15s, Rob in a Phantom in the Handicap fleet, Dave/Lynn in the GPS, and Phil/Oliver in a Mirror in the Slow Handicap fleet
By Monday morning, the clouds had moved in, the winds eased, and swung to the west.
As the morning race progressed the wind came back in, but without the swell of Sunday afternoon. There were some good spinnaker reaches, a few capsizes (and that was just Shunty!), and some shifty conditions on the beats to contend with, as well as a lap more than many appreciated, or were used to!
One final race after lunch was held in slightly lighter, but sunnier conditions, and topped off a great weekend.
Overall the winners were Neil/Rory with the Easterly Trophy in the F15s, Joe with the Easter Trophy in the Handicap fleet, Dave /Lynn with the Bass Tankard in the GPs, and Phil/Oliver MT Image Trophy in the slow handicap fleet.
MJM
A good NW breeze greeted sailors for the start of the MJM series, with a few white horses to boot.
Although there were no capsizes, of the 14 starters in the MJM series, the wind proved too much for a couple of the younger helms who retired after the first beat. The wind eased throughout the afternoon, and as it swung it helped some boats gain positions. A failed kicking strap led to AJ/Sue retiring in the last race.
The first race was won by John/Jack in their GP, followed by Phil/Lucy in a Mirror. Joe won the next race in his Laser, with John in a Solo 2nd. Joe leads overall, with Mike/Jack in a Graduate 2nd.
Clear blue skies and a SE breeze on Sunday morning seemed to echo the results of a katabatic wind but, fortunately, the wind neither faded, nor swung significantly, throughout the day for the select group of seven boats that raced.
John/Jack mistimed their start, and tacked round, allowing the other two GPs to get away. It was the second lap before John passed AJ/Sue who failed to cover John’s route up the right hand side of the beat!
In the Handicap fleet, Mike/Jack sailed well in their Graduate to get two 1sts, and take the lead in the series, while Neil C, and AJ each secured a 2nd. Neil G had to retire after his clew outhaul unhooked itself!