Saturday brought some blue skies and warmer sailing weather at last. With it there was a strong breeze, and heavy swell, coming down the lake. From time to time some heavy squalls challenged sailors and led to numerous capsizes.

The Fleet Challenge is a weekend series of six races calculated on a personal handicap basis.

Alan/Sue soon decided that the GP was the wrong boat for the conditions and soon retired. Steve/Ruth led the fleet in the first two races, but suffered a capsize from one of the sharp squalls, and opted to tack round at in the gusts at some of the gybe marks.

Scumper was frustrated at the lack of spinnaker legs in the first race, but suffered various capsizes flying his gennaker in the next race.

Zefer was trying his hand in the RS100 again, but capsizes got the better of him and he retired. Instructors Nigel/Mike suffered a similar fate – perhaps they were practising their capsize technique (not that Herb would have done it that way!).

Ian/Lezli-Ann were lead F15 for a while in the first race, but Mike/Kayla were able to handle the gusts better and break back through offwind. Mike ducked out of the 2nd race, as he had to repair a universal joint on his tiller.

Numbers sailing reduced as the races went on, such that the single handers opted not to race the 3rd race after the tea break leaving the F15s to master the conditions, not that they tried to fly spinnakers as the offwind legs were spectacular enough without them.

Ian/Lezli-Ann finished the day with three well earned 1sts, putting them in a very strong position for the trophy. Mike/Kayla are 2nd, and Steve/Ruth 3rd.

Sunday’s forecast proved to be accurate. With stronger winds and rain, the OD was quick to abandon racing for the day.

Final results

Despite a forecast of light winds, the sun shone, and there was a steadyish breeze to get the fleet of 15 boats around the course.

There was a good mix of boats in the handicap fleet. Unusually Scumper was first to the start with a couple of minutes to spare. Steve-Ruth misinterpreted the signals, and were testing the start when they realised what they thought was the 3 min signal was their start! Peter B got there some minutes after the GP start…

Despite his poor start, Steve was soon in the lead, and with the wind easing on the final lap (after he had finished), his lead was strengthened further, winning him the race ahead of Scumper. Steve won the 2nd race also, this time from Tog who had had another good race staying ahead of Scumper.

In the F15s, Ian/Lezli-Ann realised they hadn’t rigged the spinnaker properly, and were late for the start after mooring to a mark to resolve the problem. They did manage to pass Graham/Glynis who were nattering so much at one stage they missed passing through YZ! However, it was Mike/Kayla that won the first race.

In the 2nd race, Simon/Jon were back on form and pulled out a good lead from Ian, with Mike coming 3rd.

David/Lynn beat Mike/Nigel in both races.

Latest results

A freezing night left ice on the lake on Saturday morning, but the sun shone, so there was no need for any ice breakers before the influx of visitors attending our open day! Many visitors had the opportunity to go for a sail and experience a taste of our sport.

Commodore Andy Smith wanted racing to get underway on time. Although Herb was ready, the Bates wasn’t. No start marks, so had to pick them up only to find they had no flags! With everything ready for the on time start, there were still a few stragglers on the shore…

Steve/Ruth were ready though and they got off to a flying start – had they written the course down correctly though? Well they did go on to win the race, and the Starter’s Prize.

There were several light spots in the wind strength, but it was an easy start for the first race.

With a break for a warming cup of tea, sailors ventured out just before the sun dipped below the skyline, and they were appreciative of their extra layers and warming head gear. The wind eased as the race continued. Steve/Ruth again won the handicap race, with Mike/Kayla winning in the F15s.

Another cold night is in store for the campers, but they won’t have to endure the cold for quite so long as the clocks go forward by one hour tonight – don’t forget otherwise you’ll be an hour late for tomorrow morning’s race!

After some very wet weather over the past few days, Sunday started off with some drizzle which faded before racing was underway. The light breeze held throughout the race and was sufficient to power the fleet of 11 boats around the course, though none of the forecast gusts came to fruition.
Mik took no chances and turned up in time for the first, and only, race of the day. Indeed he was first boat to finish, albeit it having sailed one lap less than the faster fleets!

Joan/Jack took an early lead, though Joe, who was always nearby, did cross the finish ahead of them, not that it prevented them winning the race on fleet handicap over two mins ahead of AJ/Sue, with Joe a couple of secs later 3rd. Joan’s win put them a point ahead of Steve/Ruth to win the series.

On a personal handicap basis, AJ/Sue secured a strong win ahead of the next four boats, led by Joe, that all finished within 20 secs of each other. AJ’s win earned him the series, with Joan 2nd.

As for the last boats to finish, it was to be a battle between Alastair and Peter. Trailing at the last mark, Alastair tacked early but seemed to stall. Meanwhile Peter put in a last minute tack and lost to Alastair on the line. As there was ‘a crate of beer’ on the outcome, Peter did try to bribe the OD to have the positions reversed!

The other side bet for the champagne between AJ and Alastair was a bit of a wipeout, and so AJ opted to buy his own prize (as Alastair had bought so many of the interim prizes)!

As there was only one race, sailors had a chance to pack their boats away for the winter close season. Mik didn’t realise that he’d left his rudder on his roof, and didn’t notice the hand waving and horn blowing of people trying to tell him! Fortunately he had to stop at the gate where someone caught up to tell him.

So that brings the 61st season to an end. The prize giving and AGM are being held next weekend, and it won’t be too long before we start over once again!