With many members racing away at open meetings including The Lord Birkett at Ullswater, the fleet was reduced on Saturday. Although the wind was from the north east, unusually this season it was mild and not too strong!

Neil/Judith, in their RS400, built up a strong lead in the first race, winning by more than 5 mins on handicap. However, there was only a matter of 30 secs separating the next three boats. The main battle seemed to be between Mike/Alan and Hugh/Rachel in the GPs whose positions swapped on a regular basis. Mike didn’t help his cause when he belatedly noticed that he was going to miss out YZ, and had to back track enough that Hugh passed him again. Similarly, rounding 4 the wrong way lost him many secs as he unwound his error. The final outturn was Hugh finished 2nd, Mike 3rd and Alan 3rd in his Mirror.

In the 2nd race, Neil again pulled clear from the fleet, but the variable wind strength, partly brought on by a passing rain shower, lost him vital minutes such that, on handicap, he was 6 mins behind the leader, finishing 5th. Despite racing for more than 70 mins four boats finished in close succession – Mike/Alan sandwiched between F15s of Ian/Elaine and Tim/Martin (newly bought), and then Jim in his Supanova. On handicap, Mike was 1st, Jim 2nd, and Hugh 3rd, winning Mike the series with 5 points, with Hugh 2nd.

Sunday’s forecast had been for less wind than Saturday, but we are talking about Bass! The wind strength made sailors build up a good appetite before lunch, especially as the race was slightly longer than usual. There were capsizes again, and though Joe was mastering his boat better than on Saturday, his strength had been zapped by the end of the race and suffered a couple of capsizes as the wind increased before lunch. Tim and Big E, both in Lasers, also had their fair share of capsizes – one of Big E’s took him the wrong side of the mark, but he dutifully unwound his error before continuing.

Banter Phil’s only competition in the Asymmetric Cup was from Joan/Jack in their RS200. After the first lap, he got to grips with the gusts and opened up a strong lead only to capsize and risk it all. Fortunately he recovered in time and stayed far enough ahead to win on handicap. In the afternoon he took an early lead, again capsized, but so did the Hardies. Unfortunately for them, they got the mast stuck in the mud, and they decided to call it a day, but the OD opted to let (make?) Banter continue to the end of the race! Two wins in one day was sufficient to catapult Banter to be series leader (for the rime being) – Well done!

In the MJM Trophy, Mike/Kayla led the fleet but it was the GPs that performed well on handicap with Dave/Lynn taking two 1sts, maintaining their lead in the series, while Mike/Alan shared a 2nd and 3rd with Mike/Kayla. Ethan persevered and completed both races, taking advantage of Joe and Tim’s capsizes to beat them in the morning race. In the afternoon, Joe bowed out and went in a rescue boat while Tim found a crew and raced his F15 – obviously too many capsizes for one day.

Tales for the day include the warning that the habit of using your teeth to hold a sheet can be risky in windy weather, especially when the sheet snatches and breaks your tooth as Mike Moore can vouch for!

Toggle loves to get a mention, so he was keen to point out hat there was an erroneous tweet (never!) on Saturday claiming that Banter had pipped him at the post when in fact it was Hugh.. Ah such is life.

If any of Saturdays sailors discover that they have an extra race timer, it is probably the club’s as one mysteriously disappeared…

Apologies to Mik that the webcam problems have forced him to use the Armathwaite Hall webcam to keep an eye on sailing over the weekend. Normal service has been resumed (for the time being), and Mik will keep be able to keep his eagle eye on events

Next weekend may be somewhat quieter with several boats away at open meetings, including the Lord Birkett at Ullswater. The present forecast is for little to no wind – just what you need when in a fleet of 200 boats!

After a day which had almost all weather conditions on offer at some point, the Gods eventually decided to supply lots of wind for Thursday evening’s racing. There were plenty of capsizes, even before the start, but the conditions were sailable. The small fleet of 7 boats sailed three testing laps, with only one retirement. Alan proved that, even following a 5% adjustment to his PH, you can’t keep a good man down. Dave Lawson, sailing a Solo won on FH and Val & Ken were second in both.

Despite high winds on the coast, and a similar forecast for the lake which would probably have prevented sailing, Bass again enjoyed its own weather conditions. Although windy, with some strong gusts, sailing got underway with the first race being a pursuit as part of the Celebrity Glass series. Joe Watkins continued to practice his capsize skills in an RS300, as did others on some of the tighter, and gustier reaches. Scumper gave the rest of the fleet an extra minute due to being late for the start yet again! Mike/Alan in a GP led the fleet for a good while until passed by Mike/Kayla and Scumper, who had a close race, regularly swapping positions even up the last beat, on which Mike regained the advantage and won the race. After a long hard sailed race, the F15 sailors voted with their rudders and sailed ashore for a well earned break rather than sail the 2nd race back to back.

Although the wind eased slightly as the 2nd race went on, there were still good planing conditions, which the Vareos took advantage of, taking the first three positions, with Toggle being pipped at the post by Hugh. Scumper’s win gave him a clean sweep in the Dodd Cup.

In the absence of his regular crew, Ian teamed up with Tony again (in their matching sailing suits!) and took advantage of the additional weight to challenge Mike/Kayla from time to time. Though Mike won the race, Ian won the F15 Blencathra Trophy series.

Although there was no racing in the GP’s Mustard Pot, the series was won by Hugh/Rachel. Alan Waugh won the Mirror AB, and Ethan the Tppper Long B series.

There may not have been any boats on the foreshore after they had all been moved to safety in the morning, but it didn’t stop 10 boats venturing out to race in the squally conditions. Two F15s, a GP and 7 single handers took part in the first race in the last long series of the season.

Alan and Sue opted to split up and crew for Mike Fairlamb and Graham Kirkpatrick respectively. Alan would have an early exit after Mike capsized a couple of times. Not sure whether anyone survived without a capsize (though Jim Christie might have!), and even Scumper found the gybes challenging. Hard work but some exhilarating sailing to reward their efforts. Scumper won the first race with 3 mins to spare, followed by Toggle and Joe Watkins.

Numbers were slightly depleted for the 2nd race, the capsizes continued and all but Hugh finished. Scumper again won with a 3 min lead from Jim Christie and Toggle.

In the F15s, Mike/Kayla retired after breaking their gooseneck – unlike Mike to stick it in the wrong hole! That left Graham/Sue to complete the course and come ashore as overnight leaders. How many years is it since Graham has been able to celebrate that?!

You’d never have guessed it from the weather. Torrential rain showers, a little bit of sun, but a good breeze to power the boats round.

Joe Watkins was out in his new RS 300, honing his capsize skills on a frequent basis. He would have been pleased that the lake is so high because he turned fully turtle at one stage without getting his mast in the mud!

Scumper took advantage of the reaches to strengthen his lead and win 2 mins ahead of Toggle. Ethan, sailing with his dad in the RS 200 was just a further 8 secs behind that – if only he hadn’t had the near capsize….

A pennant race in the afternoon in aid of the RNLI (have you paid your donation?) took a slightly reduced fleet around the lake. With the wind coming from the west, Sale Fell would have its inevitable effect on the winds in the southern end of the lake. Graham/Nick got a fantastic first beat in but ended up in the middle of the lake (not the route to take on a round the laker!) and lost his lead big style as most of the fleet took the gusts on the shore line and passed him. On the way back up he did get back in the mix, and even back into the lead at one stage, tussling with Scumper and Mike/Kayla as the wind toyed with one and all, through occasional gusts, holes and major shifts!

On handicap, Scumper beat Mike by 30 secs, followed by the other F15s. Val/Ken led the GPs and took 5th overall. A crewless Rear Admiral returned to his Laser, suffered several capsizes, and brought up the rear!

The race counted towards Sandra’s Salver, and put Kayla on equal points with Sue, but ahead when the tie is split on the last race.

With a stormy weather forecast for middle England, what would happen in the Dubwath micro climate was anybody’s guess. The wind turbines at Bothel were in an Easterly breeze, from the shore the wind seemed to be from the SE, but on the water it was from the SW! It was windy in local towns and on the coast, but certainly not steadily windy on the lake as there wer numerous light periods and Sale Fell cast shadows on the racing area too!

The fleet of 11 boats for the Fleet Challenge diminished as the racing went on – was it a lack of energy, or just other things to do as there were three races to squeeze in to the afternoon (with another 3 on Sunday)?

Steve/Ruth led the fleet in their Merlin-Rocket in all three races, but the F15s had to battle with Scumper for 2nd place on the water. After a poor start in the first race with his stand in crew, Mike/William took advantage of some fortunate shifts and worked through to 2nd on the water. In the 2nd race Ian/Lezli-Ann quickly took 2nd position and maintained it for the race, while Mike/William trawled the spinnaker for a while letting Scumper and Tim/Ian through! The trauma for William in the final race was almost being ejected from the boat whilst gybing when his buoyancy aid got caught on the kicking strap! This time Scumper took 2nd and Mike 3rd. At least Mike will have his proper crew back on the foredeck tomorrow!

In the last race, Alan/Sue were a matter of seconds from filling their spinnaker and having a hairy plane when they capsized, but they recovered to finish the race. Perhaps next time?!

With the results being calculated on a personal handicap basis, the race wins went to three different helms – Steve Hunt, Ian Campbell and Neil Garrison who takes the overnight lead.

Sunday’s conditions were a lot more settled, a good, but steady, breeze powered the fleet around. Steve/Ruth had a flying start but gave it all away when they started to sail the wrong course and retired. That left the F15s to show the way, with Mike/Kayla taking the lead but with Ian/Lezli-Ann nibbling at their ankles most of the way. The OD was concerned that the Commodore had taken a disliking to his course when he took a gybe mark extremely wide, but he would just claim to be making best use of the gusts! He did give Banter Phil a run for his money though.

On handicap, (after a recheck of calcs!) Ethan won, Kath/Glenys 2nd, with Mike/Kayla 3rd.

There were two further races after lunch, which Ethan and Kath each shared with a 1st and 2nd. Conditions eased as the afternoon went on but there were still planing opportunities, or would that be challenges as several fought with their spinnakers to avoid broaching/capsizing. A new member in an RS400 had his pole stuck out up the beat, which looked somewhat ominous, especially when they had a close encounter with Kath/Glenys who were on a run to the leeward mark!

Overall, Kath/Glenys’s strong results, coupled with 3 pts for being OD on Saturday, gave them a clear lead and the overall series, dashing Alan’s hopes of winning the prize for 1st GP. Mike and the other two F15s took the next three positions, with Alan finishing 5th.