Another bustling Saturday morning for the cadets and juniors, with sufficient breeze to get them all on the water.

The northerly breeze was cold, but the sunshine helped temper the conditions (when it wasn’t hiding behind the odd cloud!). The fleet of 26 boats had to contend with a light breeze which swung, and eased from time to time, causing the fleet to spread out, and prolong the first race. The wind was a couple of minutes late settling in for the second race (way too cold to hang about waiting for it!) but it held, and the shorter course kept the fleet together.

The mixed conditions resulted in mixed fortunes, however, John Reekie in his Solo was more consistent than others with a 1st and 2nd to lead the series overall, with Dave/Lynn in their GP on 4 points and 2nd overall.

MJM latest results

After a freezing night, Sunday started with clear blue skies and no wind. However it did fill in from the north in time for racing. It must have been colder than Saturday as AJ wore his drysuit, rather than just his shorts! Shifty as ever, ground could be readily gained, or lost, depending on whether you were in the right part of the beat at the right time.

Dave/Lynn beat John/Jack to regain the lead in the series, while Robbie D beat Joan/Jack trialling a Graduate to maintain his lead in the series.

BL etc latest results

The second race was the first pennant of the season, though the OD opted to keep the fleet in the northern bay, wary that the forecast was for the wind to pick up and back to the west. Soon after the start, worryingly, the wind dropped but filled in again after five minutes, before swinging and picking up as forecast. John/Jack in their GP lead the fleet, and won the race ahead of Robbie D in his Solo. As racing finished, a snow flurry could be seen over the Caldbeck hills…

Eric Twiname Trust pennant results

Perhaps jumping the gun with that headline, but that announcement may come later…

With the high winds, no competitors, OD, or rescue, the Starter had an early finish, and it brings the Autumn Saturday series, and Saturday sailing in general, to an end. Dave/Lynn pick up the trophies for both the fleet, and personal, handicap series, with Scumper 2nd.

Autumn Saturday final results

Sunday turned out to be just as blustery, so with no takers, it was a non-racing weekend. A few sailors appeared to relocate their boats to higher ground/remove them from site. Will your boat be safe, especially with the imminent lockdown restricting travel?

Persistent rain, very light wind, and a limited number of unenthusiastic sailors, waited until the scheduled start time for any latecomers. With no further takers, racing was cancelled.

By Sunday morning the rain had passed through, the was shining and a katabatic wind (I think) was creating a south easterly.

Of course, as soon as the course was set the wind started to swing to the forecast NE! Throughout the first race the wind gradually oscillated, giving more bias on one tack than the other. Neil Currie took advantage to lead at the windward mark, but AJ/Sue were on form (for a change!) and took the lead until the final beat when Val/Ken passed them. Despite not flying their gennaker at full height, Ant sailed well to lead the race through to the end.

Mike Cave had an early capsize before retiring, and Dave/Lynn retired as well with rigging failure.

The course was changed for the next race, and despite moving B to provide a second beat, the course displayed A!! However, by the final lap A was an ideal mark for the beat…

Val/Ken led throughout the race, with AJ/Sue occasionally snapping at their heels.

Results to follow

Blue skies with a cool gusting NE wind seemed to be a bit challenging at first but 16 boats raced in the weekend’s Celebrity Glass Trophy series. Not surprisingly, the wind was swinging throughout the afternoon, and it did ease at times throughout the first race, but bedded in for the second race.

There was some good reaching conditions at times, and the occasional capsize, including Tog/Joanie in a RS200, Barbara in a Laser Radial, and Dave/Lynn in their GP after they finished! However, generally there was some close, and consistent, racing. Steve/Ruth led both races, but they could not break away from Dave/Lynn sufficiently in either race to beat them on handicap.

Poppy persevered in her Topper, avoided capsizing, and completed both races!

The final results had the GPs taking the first three positions – Dave/Lynn, John/Jack then Val/Ken.

Sunday’s start may have been put back to 1130 but the Lake was just as flat then as at 1100. It remained that way until Andy abandoned at c1230.

Final results

Saturday started bright and windy, but as the fleet headed to the start the heavens opened, and hardly eased for the rest of the afternoon. The gusty winds caused a few capsizes even before racing started but everyone made the race. During the second lap the wind started to swing, and ease to almost drifting conditions by the time all boats had finished.

With the wind having swung through 180 degrees, it wasn’t looking promising for a second race, but the original westerly quickly returned, though slightly lighter, so the line was quickly reset, and another short race got underway (there’s only so much rain the committee boat team can cope with!)

Ethan led both races in his RS100, and by taking advantage of the better winds he secured two wins. John/Jack in their GP took 2nd in the first race, but fearing the wind had gone headed straight ashore. Dave in a Laser Radial had a 3rd and a 2nd, so is 2nd overall overnight.

Those that returned on Sunday found it was raining as much as Saturday (perhaps its had rained all night?), and the wind had disappeared. However, this did not totally dampen everyone’s enthusiasm as there was an interest in racing if possible. By 11.30 there was a hint that the rain was passing through, with some wind appearing from the SE, so the OD opted to test the sailor’s mettle, and arranged for the rescue boats to be launched before heading out to set a start. With the wind failing to settle from a given direction, it was after 1pm before racing got underway for five contenders, despite it being in the lightest of conditions, and a reaching start.

The wind filled in from the forecast NW direction, AJ/Sue reached the windward mark first ahead of Ethan in his RS100, and things looked promising. In fact they were sailing so well the race continued into the 2nd lap, only for the wind to ease yet again, so the race was shortened at the next mark. There would be no more racing, but at least it was a sunny afternoon, such a change from the morning.

Although AJ beat Ethan on handicap by a matter of seconds, Ethan won the Tinker Trophy series overall, with AJ 2nd, and Nigel/Glenys 3rd

Tinker Trophy final results