It looked like we could have been waiting for the wind for a while this morning. At least we had a glorious view while we’re waiting though 🙂

Unexpectedly the wind did fill in enough to get racing underway by 12 Noon, but it was never forecast to be exciting! Robbie D had extra lightweight crew Ethan and he stormed away from the rest of the handicap fleet, while Phil and Naomi kept the rest of the fleet at bay – including the RS400s! Dave and Lynn were left on their own when Mike and Sue retired in the GP fleet, and Toddy secured another win in the Mirrors.

The afternoon race was a pennant in aid of the Calvert Trust, although the wind had eased over the lunch break it came back in time for a race down to 10 and back. Steve and Ruth broke away, but William and Elaine were not so lucky and stayed entangled with the GP, F15, and Vareos, and were beaten on the water by Mike Moore with Lewis Tyson crewing. On a personal handicap basis, Jonathan Coulthard in a Topaz won the race from Mik Chappell and John Prestidge in a F15

This week the Thursday evening sailing starts – with weather like this what better way is there to wind down after a hard day at work?

Sunny Saturday

Another glorious day, but the wind was a little reluctant to settle down. As ever, it did swing to various legs more challenging. The first race was a pursuit, Neil and Judith had been vying for the lead with Steve, but the winds worked against them and William sneaked through too. David Calvert held the lead until the last beat, when Steve Hunt broke through to the lead.

The following race formed part of a long series – Steve was in a spin after rounding a mark the wrong way – he unwound (well partly!) and came back through to win from Neil. Tim Chittenden and Ian Macpherson beat Mik Chappell and John Prestidge in the F15s, Toddy beat Alan Waugh in the Mirrors – Mik may be back in contention soon as he is due to pick up his replacement Mirror

Another glorious day to brag about – especially as other parts of the country will be publicising a ‘typical wet bank holday’

The day started with a good south easterly, but it faded as on Sunday. Fortunately it sprang back and racing got underway almost on time (OD Ian Campbell had threatened to start on time all weekend). Both races had a beat to mark 7 just off Scarness Bay, and the fleets all had to endure varying wind strengths throughout. Being at the right place at the right time helped of course – but then that’s how top sailors keep winning!

Neil and Judith Currie led the first race, but lost out on some offwind legs to Robbie D who took the lead again, and won it on handicap. The Smith brothers in their RS200s again sailed well, and it was Phil and Naomi that won the final race, and snatched the series from Steve and Ruth. Toggle had further repairs to undertake after he broke each shroud fixing on two consecutive gybes!

Scott Beattie won the F15 series with three straight wins, and John took the helm for the final race, but was beaten by Mike Moore and Sally Roberts who had sailed consistently all weekend with three seconds.

The GPs was won by Mike Fairlamb after Dave Lawson opted to move to the front of Dave Nicholson’s to give some tuition. Lynn wasn’t left ashore though – she opted to crew in an Enterprise with Mark Ninnim.

Toddy secured another couple of wins to add to yesterday’s and won the series with Alan Waugh second.

All in all an excellent weekend, with some challenging sailing

Easter Sunday Update

Another glorious day started off with a gentle southerly breeze that faded away in time for the scheduled 11.30 start! Sailors had an early lunch and racing got underway at 1.30. It’s a pity several sailors weren’t quite ready!

Mik Chappell with John Prestidge in a F15 were on the line in time and took a good lead, but Scott and John made up ground and won the race. It was good to see several former F15 sailors turn out to race – could it be true that there was about 600 years of experience amongst the helms and crews of the five boats?!!

In the handicap fleet William and Elaine were on the line just in time to cross the fleet on port. They continued up the left hand side of the beat to maintain the lead until the start of the second beat 🙁 It was to be Steve and Ruth that then took the lead and the honours. In the second race, Steve again took the lead, but the wind dropped mid way through and the gaps between leading boats narrowed. Andy and Tim Smith won on handicap with Mark Ninnim and Rob Smith second. Scumper didn’t have a good day – late for the first race but didn’t manage to get back in the running, and disqualified from the second race following a protest by Andy Smith

Dave and Lynn led the GP fleet in both races from Mike Fairlamb

Alan Waugh stayed upright(!) and won both races from Toddy – well that’s what the results stated at the time! Actually they each won one.

Off the water, the kids had fun with an Easter Egg hunt, the adults got excited about the egg dump only to be beaten by Ethan for the second year running. There was then a spice evening followed by a lesson in salsa dancing. There were a few people with a couple of left feet, but they all stood the pace and enjoyed it.

Sunshine, Shorties and Smiths

What a wonderful for sailing. There was a decent breeze with sun out and, although the air temperature still nippy, more sailors opted to bear their legs in shorties. The Smith family were out on the water in force. Dad Alan was OD, Andy sailed with Tim, Rob sailed with Mark Ninnim, and recently married Bean and Naomi tried out their new RS200. Also, Alan’s brother Eric sailed with Mike Fairlamb.

The GP fleet was led by Dave and Lynn Lawson with Mike Fairlamb giving chase, however, that was not helped when he forgot to go through YZ and lost a lot of ground returning to correct his error.

Alan Waugh was showing Toddy the way for a while, but his chances were scuppered following a capsize and he subsequently retired.

Robbie D and Big E led the handicap fleet racing, though Scumper and Zephyr kept coming back to challenge. Toggle lost a shroud in the second race and had to retire

Nine members of the Youth Squad braved the very cold weather and difficult sailing conditions when Dave Woodhead from the RYA came to do a session on boat handling.

For many it turned into a day of survival and numerous capsize drills! However, there were many smiles and the more confident sailors went out again in the afternoon with much more success! They all did very well and should be proud of them selves! Dave finished off the session with a great theory session and video footage of the day. Dave will be running the Onboard Sailing Regattas which are later on in the year (May and October) and are in the Sailing Programme.

A lovely warm lunch was provided by our Social Organisers Becky and Robin Dawson which really made the day! Thank you to everyone who helped out and thank you all for coming!

Snap, Crackle and Plop

What threatened to be an extremely hectic day with the second open meeting of the season was diluted by the fact that insufficient Lasers turned up for the grand prix. There was also a youth squad session which proved extremely popular -� more to come from Emma!

Saturdays racing took place in typically variable and gusty winds. Several of the fleet tested the temperature of the water at some point – yes it was cold! Robbie D managed to capsize on the way to the start, Mik broached in his 15 at one point, and Hugh after several near misses managed to capsize his Vareo. In the GP fleet in the first race Dave and Sarah had to retire due to broken kicker which allowed Nigel and Cloe to sail gently around and take the race and as a result lead the GP14 championship ‘early doors’ -� don’t forget its a ‘marathon and not a sprint’!. Toddy invented his own course in the Mirrors but some how managed to correct it and finish in front of Alan.� In the Handicap fleet Scumper was probably the only one not to capsize during the race. Jim Christie took a leaf out of Toddy’s book and sailed the wrong course and then retired. Jo Watkins also finished in his Byte.

As the wind had remained fairly strong for the second race most of the fleet elected to go ashore. Hugh decided to stay for the second race but was forced to be towed in when his gooseneck pulled out of the mast. This left Robbie D and Scumper to battle it out. Scumper won more easily this time as Robbie and Big E had to retire -� apparently as Big E had sunstroke????

The club sailing season got underway on an unexpectedly glorious morning – clear blue skies, cold after a hard frost, and a gentle southerly breeze. Substantially better than the gales which had been forecast earlier in the week. Mike Turner arrived expecting to be sitting on shore watching the racing, but the conditions were so pleasant he went out for his first sail of the season with Sue Watson crewing. Also, just the conditions for William to be wearing shorts!

Everyone was so eager to race that the first race haled the first general recall of the season – even if no flags were at hand to fly! The breeze swung around Sale Fell (as it does) to give some shifty conditions and winds from both the south and south-west. Robbie D and Big E mastered the conditions in their RS400 which they have just bought together, but they were only 6 secs/lap ahead of Alan Nicholson in his Solo. The first race claimed the first casualties of the season – Ginge capsized his laser, and Claudie Black’s Comet came to grief when the mast step broke away inside the hull!

In the afternoon, the wind strengthened from the south-west and there were several capsizes on the first beat which immediately thinned out the fleet to just four boats. The first offwind leg was good for spinnakers initially, but the wind headed as the fleet approached the next mark. Reaching down the back straight to mark 2 seemed like a good idea but proved to be too tight and the spinnakers were dropped – disappointing in such a good wind. It was Robbie D that again too took the honours and the series, with Toggle 2nd in his Vareo. William and Elaine took third overall

The forecast for the day implied that sailing might have been over for the season before any happy sailors turned up, but surprisingly the conditions were quite enticing – sunshine and a decent WNW breeze.

Seven boats made it to the start line for the final race of the season which turned out to have a good mix of reaches to blow the cobwebs away. The sun was swept away later by some black clouds that brought in more wind and dumped a little rain on the sailors.

William and Elaine broke away and made good use of various gusts to get sufficient lead to win on handicap. Jim Christie sailed well again, but as the wind picked up for the final 10 mins of the race there were several calamities of which Jim had one – unable to to run to the final leeward mark he reached and gybed several times but was caught out on the final gybe and capsized, but was soon upright and finished 2nd on handicap. Alan Nicholson had been the first to capsize at a gybe mark and was helped up only to turn turtle later in the squall that was passing through. Neil Garrison sailing his wayfarer single handed was caught out just after finishing, and capsized. He was helped ashore with a tow from the rescue crews. There was some uncertainty as to the adequacy of his boat’s buoyancy – at least he has all the close season to get it sorted! Jo Watkins was another to capsize in the squall but finished safely. Mike Turner and Sue Watson finished but then took their sails down to avoid ending their season with a capsize

Alan Waugh sailed well to finish third on handicap.

Apart from the final 10 mins or so, there had been some good sailing for the final race, and all were pleased to have made the effort. There was a close finish to the series, with William and Jim on equal points, but William’s couple of firsts split the tie in his favour, and he won the Winter Trophy presented by his parents many years ago.

The morning started off wonderfully clear, with no wind. Not very good for sailing! However, some clouds moved in together with a light north westerly breeze. Perhaps it would settle down for a good days sailing?

The wind did fill in, albeit in fits and starts, but it let to both bunching, and separation, of the fleet …. Neil Garrison sailing a wayfarer single handed (hence disqualified) sailed a good first beat and was second to William and Elaine at the windward mark, with Nigel and John in a GP, and Alan Nicholson in his solo closely on their tail. The wind allowed the fleet to bunch, but it was not until the end of the second beat that William broke away as the land shadow swallowed 0. A case of too little too late as William was to finish 8th on personal handicap, with pole position going to Alan with Nigel 2nd. As ever, the wind picked up at the end of the race, and eased by the start of the afternoon race.

Nigel again sailed well and was first to the windward mark with William just behind. The next leg was challenging as the fleet had to sail directly into the low afternoon sun and it was almost impossible to see the mark! William did succeed in breaking away this time when the wind faded for the rest of the fleet, but having to sail one lap extra, in still airs materially affected his position by adding an extra 25% to his average lap time (and I want redress!).� Nigel continued to sail well and beat Jim Christie in his laser by 10 secs, and Tim Chittenden with Ian Macpherson in a F15 by 1� mins

Have the storms passed through – uncertain. The forecast is not quite as breezy as was being forecast yesterday, but the conditions still seem challenging!

Perhaps the rescue crews had a whiff of the forecast, as they’d either slept in or been partying well last night! However, several boats were prepared and the helms and crews got ready whilst waiting for the rescue team to arrive, and racing got under way by Noon. Jim Christie was the first to capsize in his laser, or was he just having a rest? Then Alan Nicholson went swimming, but that was enough for him to call it a day and retire gracefully (before the race got under way).

Conditions were frustrating, there were blustery gusts and downdraughts as the wind wrapped itself around Sale Fell. Although William and Elaine got away in the early gusts, the holes seemed to follow them around and Ian Macpherson with Mike Fairlamb, in Tim’s F15 proved difficult to shake off. Jim Christie was doing well after the start, and held off Ian Macpherson for a while. Lewis Tyson and Jo Watkins sailed around together, but Jo had a capsize which focussed the OD’s mind on shortening the race. On the final fetch to the finish, William was headed off from the lay line and only just finished ahead of Ian who had been able to lay the mark directly.

Over the lunch break the wind picked up and the white horses were very visible even when looking down the wind, so the OD cancelled racing for the rest of the day

As a prelude to the bonfire night celebrations, the first prize giving for the youth squad was held this evening

Vice Commodore Dave Nicholson gave a short speech outlining the (short) history of the squad, and prizes were given out by his wife Pauline. There was one consistent and outstanding winner for the season, Jo Watkins who won the Kirkpatrick Prize (Youth Championship winner), Watson Shield (Saturday Series), Rhonwen Bryce Youth Cup (Sunday Series), Night Jar A Youth Tankard, and Night Jar B Youth Tankard (Thursday evening series)

The Lucca Trophy an endeavour trophy for the young person that was always down here practising and racing went to Ethan Dawson

Unfortunately the rain came in after the prize giving so lighting the bonfire, and the fireworks, proved challenging

What a glorious day for a sail. The wind didn’t always rise to the occasion but when it did some boats were able to plane for a short while. Mike Moore suggested there were elements of skill and elements of luck – of course, his position only benefited through skill!

It was Lewis Tyson that took the honours on a personal handicap basis in the first race, from Jim Christie making a return to the lake but in a laser this time! In the afternoon, William and Elaine broke away (eventually – perhaps that was just the luck element kicking in for a change?!) and won from Mike Turner and Sue Watson.

With some consistent results by Mike Turner and Jim Christie, perhaps they are the ones to watch in this final series of the year

With the northerly airs, most people wrapped up and donned hats to keep warm (though William and Robbie D were still bearing a bit of leg despite the snow on Skiddaw!), though Elaine and Kayla were complaining of cold posteriors at the end of racing!