What happens when there’s no wind?
You can wait…
Or you can eat!
RS Vareo National Championships
This weekend the RS Vareo Nationals are being held at Bassenthwaite, the home club of the defending champion, our own Vice-Commodore Mark Somerville.
The wind forecast is light, unfortunately, so will the lightweights have an advantage. Of course, there is the Bass micro-climate factor, so anything could happen!
The first race was delayed while the direction settled and bedded in, but racing got underway, and three races completed successfully. Scumper got two straight wins under his belt then had to fight off Toggle before securing his third! Banter sailed well and stuck on Scumper’s transom for most of the first race
Sunday’s forecast promising better wind strengths turned out to be all but false hopes. Club sailors took to the water and eventually started but the wind direction and strength was variable leading to all points of sailing, on most legs, with greatly varying wind strengths!
As for the Vareos, one race started, but abandoned, due to both legs being a beat, run and reach at the same time so the results remain as Saturday evening.
Meanwhile club sailors endured more of the conditions that blighted them in the morning
Monday’s forecast was good for sunbathing, sailing wise we’d have to wait and see… Perhaps the sailors will have more luck at the bingo this evening – well Peter Ballard certainly did as he won!
The forecast was right – sun, no wind, and consequently no sailing. So the results stand as Saturday evening and Scumper retains the title of RS Vareo National Champion!
Final results:
In club sailing, after a bit of a wait, two races were sailed back to back, and some of those that would not have otherwise sailed due to the Vareo Nationals were able to partake.
In the F15s, Ian/Lezli-Ann took another two wins and won the Flying Free Trophy with 3 points, ahead of Graham/Sally who had won the first race after some consistent sailing.
Joan/Jack won the handicap fleet August Trophy with Steve/Ruth 2nd. Alastair, eager to get on the water after two days waiting for wind, had a great winning performance in the final race.
The GPs only sailed three races, all of which were won by Dave/Lynn/ Val/Ken’s two 2nds from Saturday were sufficient to earn them 2nd overall.
The Mirrors only sailed on Monday, Pam and Mik each shared a win, but as Pam won the final race it split the tie in her favour to win the Mirror Mug. Well done Pam
Final Results
Back to it
An early clear out of the club grounds by visitors, a transfer of some boats from the back field, and, suddenly, normality seemed to return to the club.
Despite a lack of wind in the morning, Kayla was assured that the sea breeze would make Mike’s trip back up to the club worthwhile.
Sure enough, a light sw breeze came in for the afternoon racing. In the first race, Pam led the way in her Mirror while the other fleets followed. It was only on the final beat where she was passed by Steve/Ruth and Mike/Kayla.
In the following race, Steve/Ruth led, beating Neil by almost 3mins. Banter sailed well to finish 3rd, as did Pam who came in 5th in a fleet of nine boats.
Sunday’s racing was held in slightly stronger winds, but Steve whinged that the course was an asymmetric benefit as he finished a couple of mins behind Scumper on handicap. Stacey in her Europe finished a creditable 3rd ahead of Neil in his Laser. Steve leads the series.
Mike/Kayla lead their F15 series after beating Ian/Lezli-Ann in both races.
The GP results were more mixed with wins for Val/Ken and Dave/Lynn, while Alastair/Claire had a good race finishing 2nd as Alan/Sue slipped back to 4th – perhaps the tables are turning?!
Sunday afternoon’s race was a pennant in aid of the Jubilee Sailing Trust. As ever, the course took the fleet around the lake. Despite the good wind, Sale Fell caused some issues in the narrows at Scarness, and again as the boats sailed under the hill at 14. Despite Steve/Ruth pulling out a big lead, Dave/Lynn took advantage of the changeable conditions to nibble away at it and finish just a minute behind on handicap. Scumper was 3rd and Mike/Kayla 4th
The end of the beginning
Perhaps the weather today was a taster of what is in store for the Youth Regatta which starts on Monday (have you heard about it?).
The South Easterly wind held out throughout the day despite the threat of a sea breeze. A dozen boats ventured out.
In the F15 fleet Mike/Kayla played cat and mouse with Tim/Martin which commenced before the start. Being a bit too sure of his position Mike failed cover Tim who broke through on one beat. What’s more he failed to cover on the next and Tim broke through again winning the race!
An early start allowed an early finish and the site to be cleared of boats in preparation for the onslaught of visiting boats (though there were a few early arrivals)
The first BBQ of the week went down well (or should we wait to see who survives till the morning?!)
Glorious Day for Sailing
Despite the lake being flat calm in the morning as the sun shone, a good F3 filled in from the West well before racing started for the latest championship weekend series. A (relatively) prompt start caught out some of the handicap fleet (Will they learn for the morning?). Either it’s a case of great minds think alike, or the stand in OD is so predictable, but Herb correctly guessed the first course.
As the afternoon progressed, the wind increased too, but without incident.
At the end of the first race, in the GPs, Alan/Sue were on the tail of Dave/Sarah and trying their hardest to get past, but at the final mark Dave broke away, and to cap it for Alan, Hugh/Rachael managed to pass him too! Hugh had another trick up his sleeve on Sunday morning when he believed there was a ‘hook finish’ and rounded the finish mark to starboard, and though ahead, Alan rounded it the same way, losing out by one position when Hugh recrossed the line from the correct direction before him. Val/Ken sailed consistently all weekend taking four 1sts and the McMillan Cup, however, they were disappointed not to be back on shore in time to catch the ice cream van before he left – perhaps they should have sailed faster!
In the F15s, Mike/Kayla took three straight wins and and Ullock Mug, leaving Ian/Lezli-Ann and Tim/Ian battling it out with some close racing at times.
Steve/Ruth sailed well to secure three 1sts and the Grisedale Cup, though a guest appearance by Bean in his RS100 on Sunday morning meant he had to wait until the last race for his third 1st. Scumper tried his hand in Peter’s Supernova, while Alastair explained what would have been had he not capsized and got ‘every rope’ caught around his centreboard delaying its retrieval, and preventing him beating Peter… Meanwhile, Banter Phil had a great sailing weekend taking two 2nds ad a 3rd, finishing 2nd overall.
Don’t forget to move your boat this week to clear the foreshore in preparation for the NSSA Youth Regatta. Also, Saturday’s racing has been brought forward to 11.30 on Saturday, and Sunday’s racing has been cancelled.
Topper NW Areas 2013
NWJTT and Laser Lakeland Grand Prix 2013
NWJTT, NW Areas and Lakeland Laser Open
Campers woke to glorious sunshine and a mirror like lake. Flurries of wind passed through but didn’t bed in until mid morning, which is just as well because there were over 60 boats in five fleets getting ready for five scheduled races – all in all a very busy day!
By the time racing was underway thee was a good force 3-4 which strengthened over the course of the day.
With so much activity it is difficult to pick out specific tales, but over the 25 starts there was only one boat over the line! A few people capsized, some were stuck in irons for a while, and some missed out marks, but they all had some great racing.
Final results Laser Lakeland Travellers Trophy and NWJTT
As forecast, Sunday’s winds were light and challenging. The first race was postponed until mid-day when light airs came in, and faded, from the North West, a cycle of change which was to continue throughout the day. Hopes of a sea breeze were dashed by early cloud cover, but at least the wind direction was relatively consistent throughout. Fortunately, conditions were good enough for both races to be sailed. Some close racing resulted in Nick Devereaux from Budworth winning the championship just one point below Haydn Griffiths and James Grummett. Ethan Dawson finished a creditable 10th overall out of a fleet of 33 boats.
Prizes were awarded by Commodore Andy Smith’s wife, Emma.
Final results Topper North West Area Championship
Night Jar A10 � 27 June 13
The mist at Bothel was so thick that even the base of the turbines was obscured. Conditions on the Lake were a little clearer but it was still a murky and damp evening with a light SW wind.
A course of 9-3-1-0-A was set with the start line just upwind of A. John Reekie/Joe Watkins in the Merlin took an early lead on the water followed by the Fifteens of Graham Kirkpatrick/Kayla Sheard, Eric Guillois/Chris Brookes and Joan & Jack Hardie�s 200.
The Race Officer had a difficult decision to make at the end of the first lap. It had taken between 30 and 40 minutes to complete due to the wind moving West and its shadow slowing the fleet down at 1. But, as it was filling in, he sent all except Jonathon Anson in his Solo round for a further lap.
Positions remained largely the same except that Eric & Chris though they had finished when passing through the line in the reverse direction. They needed encouragement to round A and return but lost time in the process.
Then it was back to the Clubhouse for another superb meal prepared, this week, by Tanya Briggs. Results showed that John & Joe had won both categories with Ken & Val Bell beating Joan & Jack for second place on FH. The Bells dropped to third place on PH behind Alan Jones/Sue Watson who have now moved into second place in that Series.
Riding the White Horses
The weekend arrived with a forecast of showers, and strong, gusting winds. AJ needed to double check the wind conditions before choosing which boat in his fleet to sail. It didn’t take much persuasion to opt for his F15. Others in the F15 fleet saw the white horses on the far side of the lake and nervously opted to race. Although there were strong gusts passing through that covered most of the lake in white horses, the conditions remained challenging but sailable. AJ/Sue had to retire when a should plate pulled away from the hull, but without particularly damaging anything else. The remaining two boats, Ian/Lezli-Ann and Graham/Kayla, enjoyed some close racing with Graham winning the first race.
The only other fleet that ventured out was the handicap fleet, mainly comprising Vareos, and topped up with Steve in his Solo, and John in his RS400 (though he didn’t make the start) – the remaining five boats had all capsized before the start but persevered, enduring several more capsizes, and many great planes. Hugh needed to borrow some rope for a running repair to tie down his tack, and still finished. Tog had enough and retired in the second race.
Latest Results
Sunday’s forecast was for increasing winds as the day went on, but it wasn’t to be. There was a good breeze, that freshened as the day went on, but it never reached the gusting levels endured on Saturday.
With Mike away for the weekend, and having burnt out Graham on Saturday, Kayla was keen to find a man for the day, well a helm to be precise! She managed to tempt Steve to have another go in a F15, and they showed Ian/Lezli-Ann a clean pair of heels in both races.
Toggle had the best start in the handicap fleet, and led through to the end, winning on handicap. With the race finishing at the race office, Ethan had to sail the full course, but it didn’t stop him finishing 2nd on handicap, despite a capsize, several seconds ahead of Banter.
Toggle quit while he was ahead, and opted not to sail in the pennant race. Banter was destined to finish just behind Ethan again as they sailed together in an RS200. Bridget, with her mind on organising the NSSA regatta, was keen to get the racing over as soon as possible so only sent the fleet as far as 10. As it turned out, Sale Fell took its toll on the conditions, and there were various holes in the wind to frustrate the sailors. Steve/Kayla made the best of the challenge and won, with Ian/Lezli-Ann 2nd.
This race counted towards Sandra’s Salver, and with another 1st under her belt, Kayla’s efforts in finding a helm was made all the more worthwhile as she continues to lead the series.
MG Latest
RNLI Pennant
Sandra’s Salver Latest