There was a good turnout of members on Saturday to finalise preparations for the new season that coincided with the start of British Summer Time. The day finished with tea and cake to chat with and greet new members.

Sunday welcomed a fleet of 21 boats for the Starter’s Prize with some sunshine, and a light southerly.

With the sun over the yardarm, and having successfully got racing underway, the starting crew raised a glass of rum and coke in honour of Herb.

Alex/Jo in a RS400 broke away to lead the fleet through to the finish, but with the wind backing to the east, the course fell into Skiddaw’s shadow for a while, until the forecast easterly settled in just as Alex was finishing! On handicap Bean/Naomi and Robin/Erin in RS200s took 1st and 2nd places with Alex 3rd.

The wind was somewhat fickle and unsettled after lunch. Into the 2nd lap the wind disappeared for a while, but did return with some gusto for the finish. On handicap, the GPs of Andy/Phil and AJ/Sue were 1st and 2nd ahead of Bean/Naomi who won the series.

Final results

The final racing day of the season started with a light south-easterly in glorious sunshine. The sunshine stayed all day, but the breeze didn’t!

With seven boats racing, the Bates took to the water, for a change, and set a course to mark 8, but soon after the start the wind eased, and then started to fill in lightly from the East. The main two boats in contention were AJ/Sue in their GP, and Peter in a Laser. AJ led from the windward mark, with Peter some way down the fleet, not that it eased AJ’s nerves as the 3rd leg from 4 to 0 had the boats running in the Easterly, rather than the expected reach, and, of course, the wind fills in from the back!

Despite the wind filling in a little, the OD opted to shorten the course at 0, much to AJ’s relief as he managed to hold on to his lead in the race (and the series), with Nigel/Glenys 2nd.

Shortly after the last boat finished, the wind dropped again, with the lake like a mill pond, and it seemed unlikely there would be a further race. However, the wind came back in with gusto minutes before the final decision was about to be made, so the final race was on, though AJ’s lead in the series was unassailable.

The wind behaved itself reasonably well for the sailors to enjoy the final race of the season, which was won by Peter, with Scumper 2nd, and AJ 3rd.

Final results

The AGM is being held in the clubhouse next Sunday 25 November, so come along and have your say!

After a lot of recent rain the lake has risen 250mm over the last couple of days. Fortunately the rain held off for Sunday’s racing, though the showers could be seen to the East of the lake.

The OD agreed to another shore based start (phew!) for the fleet of eight boats. The initial southerly swung as the morning race went on causing some biased beats, and the wind easing slightly under Sale Fell. Despite AJ’s concerns that the swinging wind limited his opportunities to fly the spinnaker, he finished 2nd to Steve/Ruth in their Merlin Rocket, with Peter 3rd.

After lunch, the wind had swung to the SW, and freshened during the race causing a couple of capsizes. Steve led the fleet again but Peter, in his Laser, managed to tail him close enough to beat him and win by almost a minute on handicap. AJ was 3rd and leads overall

Latest results

The final racing of the season will take place next Sunday. Why not take part before taking your boat home, or securing it from Winter floods and storms that are bound to affect the boat park during the close season.

Following the rain and gales on Saturday, the weather on Sunday was mild with a gentle southwesterly breeze. However, only 7 hardy competitors arrived to contest the first race of the November Winter Series.

Racing was complicated somewhat by the absence of the committee boat driver, so the competitors themselves started racing on the water by using a gate start or as one competitor said, a rabbit start. Fittingly the rabbit for the first race was called Peter!

Both races were easily won by AJ/Sue in their GP14 followed in each case by the Rabbit � Peter Whipp in his Laser.

Series results.

On this occasion, it was wall to wall blue skies that we had the pleasure of enduring, albeit that they were accompanied by a chilly northern breeze.

Eight boats took to the water in the freshening breeze. Dave/Lynn led the fleet again taking another two wins and the overall series on both personal and fleet handicap basis! Tony King secured two 2nds in his Solo, Neil and AJ/Sue each had a 3rd place.

AJ was trying out his new boom mounted camera, though no-one’s certain whether the footage is likely to become a best seller. However, in an incident in which AJ was crossing on port in front of Dave who was on starboard, the footage might have proved useful in determining whether or not he was at fault.

Autumn�Saturday series final results

Sunday was glorious as well but with only two takers there was a lack of interest in racing, so it was cancelled. The honours for both the fleet and personal series again go to Dave and Lynn, with Mike and Kayla 2nd.

Autumn�Sunday series final results