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!

Despite early rain, the morning started with glorious sunshine and a light breeze. Alan was out early to tune his GP to ensure he maintained his lead in the private competition with Alistair – a ‘gottle of geer’ riding on the day’s racing, and a bottle of champagne on the series! Perhaps it was this competition that led to small mistakes by both parties – Alistair briefly capsizing, and Alan hitting a mark and doing a penalty turn.

Thirteen boats took to the water and enjoyed some good racing in varying wind conditions. Joe sailed well in his RS300, staying ahead of Scumper for most of the race, though on handicap he slipped back to 4th. Less than a minute separated the first three places, with Scumper winning ahead of Steve/Ruth and Joan/Jack. Paul/Emily took the honours on personal handicap in their Graduate.

The sun was well gone by the time afternoon racing started, but the wind held long enough to get the race in. Mik had arrived ready for action in the afternoon race, and was pleased that racing hadn’t started without him for a change! Steve/Ruth won finishing marginally ahead of Joan/Jack on handicap. Steve currently leads the series albeit on equal points with Joan.

Steve won the race on a personal handicap basis as well, with just over a minute separating the next five places! Paul/Emily lead the personal handicap series, three points ahead of Alan.

With October almost over this weekend concluded the remaining series for this year’s prize giving. Don’t forget to book your tickets with Andrea!

Saturday was basked in sunshine but the wind was somewhat lighter than forecast, and was variable in strength and direction . Saturday racing comprised the final two races in the October series. Mike/Kayla took an early lead in both races, and then seemed to benefit from being in the right place at the right time to substantially extend his lead, winning both races on fleet handicap and securing a 1st and 2nd on personal handicap.

Steve was back on the water in his Solo for his 1st race after a couple of months rest following surgery and was holding a strong position until it was pointed out that he had missed A out, so had to return, losing significant ground in the process. Tim/Martin in their F15 had some close racing with Ian/Lezli-Ann whom they beat in the first race but not the second.

Mik also returned to the water after several months recuperation and took a 2nd on fleet handicap and 3rd on a personal handicap.

Jim C was, unusually, crewing for Kath in a GP. His lack of practice at flying a spinnaker showed at times, but it didn’t affect Kath’s overall position.

Mike/Kayla’s strong results won them both the personal and fleet handicap series. Interestingly 2nd (Alan/Sue) and 3rd (Kath/Glynis/Jim) positions were the same in both series.

In the Bass micro climate a forecast of 5-6mph breeze was somewhat ominous, but there was a light easterly across part of the lake to get the fleets started in the final rounds of the MJM/Asymmetric Cup. However, soon after the start the wind faded and it was to be a long haul around the relatively short course. The Hardies optimistically tried to fly their gennaker, but it was soon lowered again. Shortening the race after two legs, OD AJ was getting a little nervy as slight gusts bunched the fleet as they approached the finish line for an early lunch. Though the Hallidays crossed the line first, the Hardies were close enough to beat them on handicap securing another 1st in the series. Despite capsizing(!), Banter was next to finish with Peter Ballard close on his tail, taking 3rd and 4th respectively.

Joe led the MJM fleet to the finish but Jim C beat him on handicap. Brent/Neil must have taken the scenic route as they finished 25 mins after the others!

Over lunch the sun shone on a mirrored lake and the likelihood of a race was minimal. Indeed Mike/Kayla took their boat off the water and the Bates was put on its mooring. However, within minutes a steady breeze filled in from the NE and it was action stations to get a race underway. Apart from most asymmetric boats missing out YZ, the wind dying on the final leg, and a hook finish that none of the competitors noticed, everything went swimmingly!

The Hardies took another 1st and the series overall, with the Hallidays 2nd, and Banter’s 3rd securing his 2nd overall position.

In the MJM, Joe won with Jim 2nd, but the trophy was won by Mike/Kayla

Next weekend the F15 team racing takes place alongside the final championship weekend series of the season.

October Series

What would the weather hold in store for the start of the October series this weekend? Well, it turned out to be quite a mixed bag! Although sunny and calm in the morning, the westerly breeze filled in before racing started, and held for most of the first race, by the end of which it had swung to the north, and there was a small rain shower too!

Neil/Rory were getting some practice in for next week’s F15 team racing at Bass, but were slow to realise that there was only a single start, which meant they started at least 30 secs behind the leaders (You’d think they had sailed for long enough to undertand the flag signals!). Despite their ‘casual’ start, they soon took the lead from Mike/Kayla and won the race on a fleet handicap basis. Joe sailed well in his RS300 finishing 3rd behind Mike.

Perhaps Scumper’s excuse was that he didn’t expect the race to start on time, as not many do, but he too gave the fleet a head start, not that he was able to recover his position as well as Neil had, finishing 6th.

The wind faded and there was slightly better than drifting conditions for the start of the 2nd race, but it soon swung through 180 deg to the south, and freshened a little. Jim Christie made the most of the conditions winning on the water and fleet handicap with AJ 2nd.

On a personal handicap basis, Kath/Glynis took 1st and 2nd and presently lead the series, while AJ has a 1st and a 3rd, lying 2nd overall.

Those that entered the Fleet Challenge C series enjoyed sunshine and a light breeze on Saturday to drive them around the courses for the three scheduled races. There were a few capsizes, several people sailing wrong courses, missing marks out, or rounding them the wrong way, and Roy the Sailing Secretary was a premature starter. Most of these mishaps were rectified, but not all!

Sunday started with a mist/fog across the lake that burnt off well before the scheduled start time, but the wind was not forthcoming. As there were very few takers it didn’t seem as if there would be any racing even if the wind did appear!

With no wind, and no takers, racing was abandoned for the day, albeit a glorious one! So the final results were as Saturday, with Val/Ken taking the honours on a personal handicap basis, with Kath/Alan 2nd (If only they hadn’t talked so much…)

Sunshine, a relatively warm wind, and white horses greeted sailors for another weekend series. Though the conditions were hard work, there was some exciting reaches, and several challenging gybes (which caught out numerous boats), all adding to some close racing.

Scumper led the handicap fleet, and though Toggle did break through to lead the 2nd race for a while, Scumper took the honours in both races. Peter Ballard was squeezed out of the start line by Banter, and lost almost 50 secs in the process. He made up a lot of ground, but with only 13 secs between 2nd and 4th places he was left wondering what might have been as he finished 4th behind Jim and Toggle. In the 2nd race, the wind had eased significantly and the Vareos took the first three places – Toggle coming 2nd and Banter 3rd.

Mike/Kayla led the F15s with Ian/Lezli-Ann chasing in each race.

In the GPs Dave/Ken led but gave Mike/AJ a chance when they hit the windward mark and had to do a turn. Mike subsequently retired as strands of a shroud started to ping apart!

Wind and rain forecast. Wind and rain delivered! Too blustery for sailing so it was an early finish. If only those F15 sailors had believed the forecast they wouldn’t have left their boats on moorings overnight, and then had to get togged up to bring them ashore without even racing!

Despite best efforts no-one was able to persuade Jim to go and demonstrate whether the conditions would have been suitable for racing, but he did get a compliment from Herb when he was told that he had improved a little. Not bad for 25 years Jim thought…

Saturday’s overnight leaders, each with two firsts, instantly became series champions.