When the turbines at Bothel aren’t turning, it is not surprising that there is no wind on the lake. However, just before the scheduled start time a breeze s filled in from the south enabling the fleets to enjoy good sailing conditions throughout the afternoon, and the rain stayed away too!

A select fleet of two GPs, Dave/Lynn and Joan/Jack, battled it out each securing a win each. Joan currently leads the series. In the fast handicap fleet, it was Scumper and Banter in RS100s that mastered the conditions, each taking a 1st place. Steve/Ruth in their Merlin played second fiddle taking a 2nd and a 3rd, but Banter leads the series. With Tog’s Solo still being repaired after the Nationals, Joanie was back on the water again after her ducking on Thursday, and was pleased when the shorten course signal sounded  saving one further lap.

Despite Mik being keen to get a good start by mingling with the fast handicap fleet (he didn’t think he’d get away with that did he?!) in the first race, it was Jim in the Hartley 12 that won both races, and took the series lead from Hazel who was racing in the fast handicap fleet (correctly, of course, as she was in a Laser Radial).

DW etc Latest results 

Will the Bass micro climate save the day on Sunday, or will the forecast high winds prevent all racing for the day? Well, when everyone arrived the wind was moderate, the sun was shining, and the air temperature somewhat tropical, all so much better than forecast.

Although 8/9 boats prepared to go out, by the time they were ready to launch the wind had started to freshen, and white horses appeared. Only five boats took to the water, but Alex/Olivia, the love birds, retired after their main came down before the start, leaving just four starters. Ethan, being the smallest and lightest, was first to capsize in his Radial. Several capsizes later, he was first to finish too (having completed just one lap). It didn’t stop him going for a bit of a blast after finishing. The next casualty was Shunty/Ruth causing them to be 3rd on Handicap behind Dave/Lynn who had no competition in the GPs. We reckon Lynn had her foot well and truly down in relation to flying the kite as it never appeared once ( but they stayed upright)! That leaves winners Robbie D/Banter who took best advantage of the gusts by flying their kite. Although even Banter must have been getting nervous with the ‘guidance’ he was giving Robin. A blast for them after finishing resulted in a quick capsize…

BL etc latest results 

After a five week break the Night Jar restarted with Round 13. It was overcast with a constant force 4 southerly wind and some chop. The course was 7-3-1 giving a long beat, a good beam reach and a gybe mark leading to a close reach to the final mark.

There were 18 starters on a fairly short line and the GP of Val & Ken, going for the port end, was driven over and forced to return. Going from a fast leg into a tight gybe caused a few capsizes including the 200 of Toggle and Joan. At the end of lap 1 the two Joes – Watkins and Roberts – had pulled out a lead in their 300 and 100 respectively followed by the GPs. Joan & Jack had AJ & Sue close astern.

With lap times of 11 minutes and with rain threatening it was decided to finish the fleet after 3 circuits, the exceptions being Josh’s Tera and David’s Topper as they had been lapped.

On return to the Clubhouse and the meal prepared by Debbie and helpers, results were calculated. Joan & Jack took the win on FH from AJ & Sue with Joe Watkins third. Val & Ken had gradually worked themselves up the fleet to finish fourth ahead of Neil’s Radial.

On PH Hazel in a Radial took the win with Aj & Sue second closely followed by Izzie also in a Radial, it was great to see both girls sailing brilliantly in their Radials.

Over 50 helms have now contested one, or more, rounds in the Series and there are still three rounds to run.

Latest results FH PH

With Bass Week becoming but a memory, and after a busy triathlon yesterday, numbers at the club were lower than usual. Those that did race enjoyed some good sailing conditions, with a southerly breeze that was better than forecast, and increased as the day went on.

Newcomer John Roberts got to grips with our way of racing and won the Slow Handicap fleet race in his Pico, while Scumper/Joe took the honours in the Fast Handicap fleet, and Val/Ken in the GPs.

The afternoon race was a pennant race around the lake, and sailors seemed to appreciate the simplest of courses – 12, 0 for which they didn’t seem to need a pencil to write it down!

Scumper had a good lead at the windward mark, but the wind on the way back favoured the later boats resulting in close finish and just 2 secs separating the lead boats with Joan/Jack in a GP beating Banter in his RS100 (who was pleased to ‘reel Scumper in’ on the run back.

BL latest results
Pennant race
Sandra’s Salver

Thursday evening Night Jar starts again this week, but don’t forget that there is an earlier start time of 7pm to suit the nights closing in.

Saturday sunshine and a good wind were the order of the day for a fleet of 21 boats in Fleet Challenge B. Originally programmed as a pursuit series of 5 races, there was a last minute change to a four race series on fleet handicap. There was a wide range of skills and handicaps within the fleet ranging from RS 400 though to Mirror.

The wind strength caused a few capsizes, and several retirements before the second race which only had 12 competitors. Tony was a premature starter, then had a collision returning, and had to do a 720 before getting back into the race.

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Robbie D/Banter have a clear overnight lead with two 1sts, Joan/Jack are 2nd, but the next three boats (Tony, Joe W & AJ) are all on equal points.

Sunday started bright with a good southerly, nothing like the forecast! Perhaps the wet and windy forecast was too off-putting for some as the turnout was half that of Saturday. By the start of the race, there seemed to be two winds, but keeping the course out of the shadow of Sale Fell kept the boats in wind, if somewhat variable at times. Over lunchtime the clouds were more threatening, and the rain finally appeared just before racing started in a slightly lighter breeze.

Robbie D/Banter won the series with three 1sts, while Joan/Jack took second overall, neither boat opting to venture out in the rain soaked final race!

Final results

Bass Week starts next week, so your help at Tuesday’s working party would be appreciated – be at the club from 6.30pm

It was a superb evening for racing. The wind was a southerly force 4 but it was constant. The course was A-B-1-0 with the finish line close upwind of the mark leading to some spectacular tacking close to the Bates.

Eighteen boats took the start but we were only two minutes in before Kath & Caroline turtled their Geep. They accepted a lift back to the Club and let the wind free the mast from the mud and drive the boat ashore with no obvious damage. 

They weren’t the only ones to go swimming. Jon Anson inverted the Radial at A and Joe Watkins lost the 300 on the screaming reach from 1 to 0. Harry did likewise in the Aero a lap later describing it as an interesting death roll! Mike Fairlamb decided on a cautious approach and tacked his Streaker around the gybe mark.

The lead crew was Alex and Olivia relishing the planning conditions in the 200. Tony King with Radial Rig was 2nd with the Ent of seldom seen Mark Ninnim & Emma Smith, battling with Dave & Lynn’s Geep, close astern.

The other Geeps of Joan & Jack and AJ & Sue were next up in close company. David Haselden’s was the only Solo on the water this time and he was in close company with the impressively sailed Radial of Mike Hunter.

The Toppers of David and Izzie were finished on 2 laps but not before the 200 had gone through for its fourth. Tony was the leading boat on 3 laps to cross the line.

After recovering Kath’s boat all prepared for the meal prepared by Neil who was chef for the evening. Results showed Alex & Olivia, Tony, and Dave & Lynn in the podium positions on FH. But there were three Radials in the lead positions on PH with an excellent win by Mike Hunter from Tony and Paul Clark.

This was the last round of the Night Jar for a month. Next week it will be thrills all around with the Ladies, Crews, juniors and 60+ race. If you don’t fall into any of those categories come and race for the fun of it. It will be a mass start.