With a bitter NE wind, perhaps the heading should have been Winter drawers on! However, the forecast gusty wind did not materialise and there was a gentle force 1-2. There were only four takers for the first race. Bob Gate was keen to get back on the water after several weeks off, but didn’t get off to a good start when he was stuck in the reeds. Although, he was fully expecting to be going for a swim but it was not to be in the lighter winds, however, it didn’t stop Tim Chittenden falling out of the boat which�helped Mike Fairlamb in his Streaker stay close enough to win on fleet and personal handicap, with Tony King in his Solo 2nd.

The sailors were feeling the effects of the cold weather and opted to have a break for lunch. The wind was similar for the 2nd race, but a light shower did nothing to make anyone feel any warmer! Mike took another win in the fleet handicap and Paul Gannon won on personal handicap, with Tony 2nd in both series.

Latest results

Despite�the end of�British Summertime, the weather was still a bit milder than last week! As elsewhere in the country, there was a general lack of wind, although there was a channel of breeze running down the middle of the lake. Nine boats took to the water, and sailed a compact course in the swinging wind. However, after the first beat the wind eased yet again before finally settling in from the south west which meant there were no beat left in the course so the race was shortened.

The light winds, and shorter race, resulted in fleet and personal handicap positions being the same as boat finishing order for the lead boats with Mike/Kayla and John/Tim in F15s beating Jack/Joan in a GP.

The OD and sailors opted to run�both�races back-to-back and have a late lunch while the wind was at its best. A jumble of the finishing positions (compared to the first race) resulted in three boats being on 5�points on�fleet handicap, with the tie being split in Mike Fairlamb’s favour, while Joan and Jack lead the personal handicap series.

The decision to race back to back caught out a couple of boats planning to race in the afternoon, but�proved to be the best option as the wind faded again over lunch.

Latest results

The sun was shining again, and some sailors were surprised that there was a southerly to boot! 16 boats set off in great conditions but halfway through the first lap the wind eased as it swung slowly to the SW. Sailors had to decide which side of the beat would get the wind first.�As the wind from the south came back in, boats took the 90 degree header, and waited for the strength to increase again. Those that were on the right hand side of the course lost out most. Although Neil and Judith led the fleet across the line, it was Dave and Lynn that won on both FH and PH basis, with Neil 2nd on FH and Joan and Jack 2nd on PH.

The wind was more consistent from the south for the 2nd race, and the beat somewhat one sided. Joan and Jack trawled their spinnaker and headed home early. Mike and Kayla fought their way past Neil, but it was to be Dave and Lynn that took another win.

Sunday morning�was�wet and windy, with white horses due to�the wind funnelling through the Scarness narrows. No-one really wanted to put their head above the parapet to say they were definitely going sailing. Eventually the three GP sailors went out to assess the weather and gave it a cautious thumbs up. If they had waited another minute it might have been a definite thumbs down as one of the wicked squalls passed through!

With the Bates out of operation, a shore start meant the race management team were protected from the weather (but not the swarm�of blue bottles) in the race office. The gusty conditions led to�discretion being�the better part of valor especially regarding flying spinnakers! Mike and Kayla won on FH by the briefest of margins ahead of Dave and Lynn, and Val won the PH race.

Over lunch the wind continued to abate and the sun was out yet again for the afternoon race. With Dave taking 1st place on FH, and Mike/Eric 2nd, Mike/Kayla had to make do with 3rd.

Having opted not to sail, Joan and Jack’s lead in each series has diminished, but they do still lead.

Latest results

With clear, sunny skies and a mirror-like lake again in the morning, conditions didn’t look too promising for racing, but a NE breeze filled in and ten boats took to the water. Val/Ken got away with a port on port start, but it was Mike/Kayla that took an early lead which they strengthened as the race went on. Their main competitors were from the GPs with Joan/Jack challenging, and breaking past�Val/Ken a couple of times as the wind strength varied throughout the race. Joan won on both FH and PH.

Val was a little premature for the second start and had to duck the line and gybe round before starting. Mike led the fleet again, but Joan beat him on handicap by 9 secs, and she won on PH as well.

Joan leads both series at present, with Val 2nd and Alan 3rd.

Sunday was sunny as well, but the wind was more fickle. After prevaricating about having an early lunch some wind appeared so a line was set. The closer the fleet got to the line, the more the wind faded! Once there, most seemed prepared to drift around the course (well they all started). The race was shortened at the first mark, and Joe was first to finish, winning on FH and PH basis. Jim crossed the line next in his Supernova, but was beaten by Ian in his Solo.

Unexpectedly the wind filled in over lunch enabling a good race to finish the day in which Joan chalked up another win strengthening her lead in the series.

Final�results

Another month, another series. After a mirror like lake in the morning the wind filled in from the NE to allow racing to get underway for the mixed fleet of 10 boats. The wind did ease for a while but Joan/Jack mastered the conditions leading the fleet across the line and winning on FH and PH basis with Val/Ken 2nd on FH.

In the 2nd race the wind swung more to the East, and the rain moved in. It was Peter Whipp in his Laser that led the fleet to the finish line, but with Val/Ken close on his tail they won on FH and PH basis with�Peter 2nd on FH.

Overnight positions have Val/Ken leading the FH series with Joan/Jack 2nd, and the reverse order for the PH series.

The day ended dry and the lake returned to being mirror like!

In the conclusion of the Lakeland and Border Laser Grand Prix series at Derwent Reservoir(?), Neil�Garrison finished 3rd overall and Hazel Newport was�First Lady overall.

Sunday was a beautiful day, with lots of sunshine, but not the best racing day. The wind filled in patchily from the South but kept coming and going. If the fleet had been ready to start on time their sailing ‘window’ might have been better. As it was the wind eased after the start, then freshened towards the end of the first lap so the OD let them carry on, and the wind eased again… It did fill in from various directions, but it wasn’t the best racing conditions. Ethan Dawson sailed with Ellie in a RS200, taking the lead on the 2nd lap to win on FH and PH basis with Joan and Jack 2nd, who presently lead both series.

The afternoon race was cancelled due to no wind, but a few of the DragonForce fleet were being test driven in the light airs. It seems that pumping the sails works on them too, so beware!!

Latest results

Meanwhile the non-sailors were running – Stephen Kirkpatrick in the Keilder Marathon, and Alastair Duncan in the Cumbrian run.

Congratulations go to Andy Smith and Phil Hodgkins who sailed their new GP�in�the Midland Championships at Chelmarsh SC, winning overall with three bullets and a 4th. It looks like their other races were cancelled due to no wind too.

It might be cooler but there’s still plenty of sun, and a lack of wind…

While team Bass are competing at Southport in the 50th 24 hour race, 11 Tinkers are visiting the club this weekend and held three races in light conditions, while three club boats competed for the Tinker Trophy in variable winds which kept them moving at worst. Joan and Jack in a GP got away well in the first race, taking first place with Jim in his Supernova 2nd, but the order was reversed in the next race.

Fortunately the wind returned on Sunday, and although the cloud was blown in too, the rain held off until after racing. A fleet of ten boats made for better racing, but it was Joan/Jack and Jim that mastered the conditions. Jim was all prepared for Poppy crewing and sailed the Hartley in the morning but, as she had slept in, he didn’t sail to full speed taking 3rd to Joan’s 1st. So it was all down to the last race in which Jim returned to his Supernova taking another win and the Tinker Trophy, with Joan 2nd.

Despite capsizing in the morning, Paul Gannon finished a creditable 3rd overall in the series. Banter sailed with Oscar in their recent�addition to the Mirror fleet, and were first to finish (albeit having sailed one lap less than the rest of the fleet).

Final�results

The Tinkers had another enjoyable rally, with a meal in the clubhouse on Saturday, and a cake sale in aid of MacMillan Nurses raised �116. The winner after six races was Malcolm Ellwood pictured receiving his trophy from Commodore Mark Somerville.

As for the 24 hour race, our team came a creditable 25th overall after suffering an early penalty which pushed them down into the 50s from 6th position. Well done to everyone involved.

Saturday started with an open day, promoted by the RYA, to introduce people to sailing with taster sessions for which there was a a lot of interest and some good sailing conditions being bright and sunny with light winds.

Saturday’s racing comprised the final two races in the Scarness Cup and Autumn Cup series. The winds were generally light, but the fleets kept moving. After some coaxing by the committee boat at the start of the second race, AJ seemed to have pulled out a good lead on Dave Lawson, however, it turned out that Dave was giving AJ some private tuition. Of course, Dave moved into top gear on the final two legs of the race, took the lead again, and a second win.

Interestingly, none of the series winners were out racing – they must have all been very confident of their positions!

Final results

Well done to Neil Garrison who had a successful Saturday winning the Kielder Laser open.

Sunday’s wind backed to the SW and strengthened as the day went on. Mike/Kayla took an early lead which they held to the finish, winning the morning race. While Jeff’s crew was on rescue duty, the boat most in need of rescue attention was Jeff, having capsized numerous times. Perhaps the gybes in the course were not to Jeff’s liking?

Over the lunch break the wind backed more to the south, and there we ere a multitude of sailors asking whether the 2nd race would be around the lake. Much to their relief, that hadn’t been planned. Whilst setting the course the wind continued to swing around Sale Fell, so there was a cautious assumption that a SW wind would prevail, not that it seemed to too definite as some boats struggled to round the windward mark in a major shadow of the fell. Ian/Lezli-Ann took advantage of some of the lulls to pass Mike/Kayla, but AJ, with Dave crewing, won on handicap with Hugh 2nd. Mike was 4th which, when combined with his 1st from the morning, was sufficient to win the Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy.

Final results

It wasn�t as rough as last week but it was still windy for this, the final round of the Night Jar. As last week, the wind was WSW and the course 0-2-B which used the same marks as, but the opposite way round to last week.

There were just four starters, AJ and Sue taking out the Fifteen and Val insisting that the GP�s kite remained down. These two boats had a good battle over 3 rapid laps. Neil�s Radial was with them until he hit a mark on lap 2 and lost so much time that he retired. Paul Gannon capsized his Radial on four occasions but did well to finish, albeit on 2 laps.

In both FH and PH categories Val & Ken were race winners from AJ & Sue with Paul third. Tony King had already won the FH Series and, by virtue of his third place points as OD in this final round, he took the PH Series as well. Joan & Jack were runners up and Val & Ken third in both. 

Thanks to AJ for this final meal and for organising the Food Rota. Also to Safety Crews, OD�s and to all others who have made this season�s 17 race / 45 boat series such a success.

Final results PH FH