 This weekend there was another glorious view from the club of the half snowcovered slopes of Skiddaw. Despite his busy schedule, Santa again found time to call in at the club |
Minimalist?
The work to the changing rooms is nearing completion – well the stripping at least! Definitely past the point of no return…
Flat screen TVs, couches, real log fire and a lager pump. What more could the men ask for? Well there’s no harm in asking!
Congratulations
Many congratulations to Sarah and Martin Wilkinson on the birth of their daughter Molly at 0529 today (29 November) who weighed in at 5lb 13oz. Hopefully they’ll remember that she’s wrapped in the spinnaker before it’s launched next season (Grand dad’s words not mine!). Mother, daughter, and new grandparents, Dave and Pauline, are doing well.
60th AGM
The final day of the season proved to be too windy to tempt anyone out to sail, so the Winter Trophy was won by� Joan/Jack Hardie on fleet handicap and Ethan Dawson, crewed by dad Robin, on personal handicap basis. Though windy, and a little threatening rain wise, it stayed dry for many boats to be packed away and removed from site.
For those that still have boats in the shore side boat park please be aware that the lake is high, and boats should be relocated to higher ground, or removed from site for the close season.
After lunch the 60th AGM was held.
In addition to his report, the Hon Sailing Secretary’s gave a summary of the recent questionnaire sent to all members. The consensus from the 67 replies received is that the current way the sailing programme is structured is generally acceptable.
Following completion of the audit, the accounts which have been slightly revised from those distributed to members, were considered and approved.
The following subscriptions were agreed for 2012.
| Ordinary/Associate Member | �160.00 |
| Affiliated Member | �67.00 |
| Family Member | �75.00 |
| Junior Member | �38.00 |
| Senior Member | �112.00 |
The following members were elected on to Council.
Commodore – Stephen Kirkpatrick
Vice-Commodore – Andy Smith
Secretary – Pauline Nicholson
Treasurer – Neil Garrison
Sailing Secretary – Roy Blackburn
Rear Commodore – Dave Nicholson
Asst Sailing Secretary – Claire Duncan
Bar – Elaine Hunt
Boats & Buoys – Stephen Hunt
Galley – Becky Dawson
Grounds & Jetties – Mark Somerville
House – Alan Jones
Membership – Dave Lawson
PRO – Mik Chappell
Training – Emma Davenport
Safety – �Peter Ballard
Social – Andrea Kirkpatrick
Youth Squad – Des Wright
Fleet Captains
Flying 15 – Ian Preston
GP14 – Val Bell
Mirror – Mik Chappell
Handicap – Robin Dawson
Topper – Ethan Dawson
The Commodore thanked those members stepping down from council for all their hard work during their term of office.
The proposed rule change regarding life membership was approved following an amendment from the floor.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed.
RYA Community Awards 2011
Further to the Club successfully nominating William Carruthers for an RYA Community Award (Lifetime Commitment) he has just been to the award ceremony in London which recognised the efforts of 48 people from around the country for their efforts in connection with our sport. President of the RYA, HRH The Princess Royal met and chatted with all concerned before a celebratory lunch, and then presented certificates and commemorative medallions.
One of our longest standing members, William joined the club with his parents in 1963. By 1968 he was regularly helping official starter Albert Bates, driving ‘Dorothy’ (the first committee boat), firing the starting cannons, and being flag man during Bass Week. This continued until he got his first GP in 1974.
In 1981 he joined the club’s Council, taking on a role of assistant treasurer, and then became treasurer a couple of years later, a role which he continued with to 1989 when he moved to Wales. Moving back to Cumbria a couple of years later, he again took on the treasurer role until becoming vice commodore in 1995, and commodore in 1997.
A notable point as commodore, apart from not having a vice commodore for 18 months(!), was negotiating with the National Park who challenged the validity of our long standing lease for the club. The outcome was a 25 year licence from 2000. Having spent many years resisting major expenditure, he successfully arranged for the replacement kitchen in stainless steel – still looking as sturdy as the day it was installed in 1998!
After completing three years as rear commodore, he again took on the role of treasurer until 2008, not that his involvement stopped there. Having set up the club’s website in 1998, he has continued to develop it including the addition of webcams, Dutyman, weather forecasts, and more recently Twitter feed.� His regular updates ensure people keep coming back to visit the site, especially during Bass Week and during open meetings, and this is shown by the total number of hits exceeding 200,000.
As if this wasn’t enough, he wrote and developed a results program that has been used for about 25 years, and so has often been found helping with the results. He has been a regular OD, helped out on the bar, and at social events on numerous occasions. Oh and he sails too!
Thank you for the recognition!
Dinner Dance 2011
The 60th Annual Prize Giving dinner dance took place at Armathwaite Hall Hotel, Bassenthwaite on Saturday 19 November 2011.
An unexpected quiz, which many found surprisingly challenging, was won by the table with our own quiz masters – Gary and Kayla with the score of 15 out of a max 42!
Emma Smith proposed a toast to the club based on a fly through Bass Week over time. Commodore Stephen Kirkpatrick responded before his wife Claire presented the prizes.
The Roger Pryde Memorial Trophy was again deservedly awarded to Ethan Dawson. The Consistency Trophy was awarded to Herb Telford for his continued role as official starter.
Disappointingly, despite reminders, many prizes had not been returned so were not available to be presented.
Dancing followed until midnight.
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Make yourself comfortable – and that was before the dancing! |
What is Herb drinking (from the Consistency Trophy)? |
Non-Starter
The November series failed to get off the ground this week. Clear skies all around;� a lack of wind to drive the turbines on Bothel;� wind on the coast; but in the micro climate that is Dubwath, there was low lying fog that was very slow to burn off. Though it did lift by Noon, and ripples filled a good proportion of the bay, it never seemed likely that it would fill in sufficiently to warrant a race, so after lunch the OD called racing off for the day. At least it created an opportunity to have a bit of a clear up after the bonfire night celebrations!Hope you’ve ordered your tickets for the dinner – especially if you’ve won a prize!
Bonfire Night
Thanks to Mik for these memories from the bonfire night celebrations, and, of course, to all those people who made it happen!
The End is Nigh
The final two races counting towards the 2011 club championship were scheduled for Saturday. The forecast winds were similar to those forecast last week – the exception being that the forecast seemed more realistic winds winds in the high teens mph gusting high 30s mph!
Ruth opted to put her foot down before the boat was even uncovered, though having seen the conditions, Steve was mutually agreeable to going on rescue duty instead of sailing.
A bit like Noah’s Ark, the fleets got ready in pairs – Two F15s, two Supernovas and two Vareos. Even before the starting sequence got underway the F15s were heading back to shore, Ian/Lexli-Ann due to the ferocious gusts, and Ian Macpherson/Elaine Fairlamb due to gear failure. That left Jim Christie and Peter Ballard raring to go, though both had several capsizes before the start. The Vareos were more cautious, and only Scumper opted to take to the water as the starting sequence was underway. Peter took an early lead, but Scumper did work his way past, and despite various capsizes made his way through to the finish. The Supernovas were flattened by various squally gusts and eventually retired.
Herb’s quote of the day was ‘at least it’s kept dry’ – well it was true up to that point in time and then the drizzle came through and soaked everyone before the last boat was retrieved.
Not even Jim seemed keen to venture out for another race, so the series came to an early conclusion with Joan/Jack Hardie holding on to their winning position despite not sailing!
The wind was forecast to ease a little for Sunday’s final races in the MJM/Asymmetric Cup, and it did! With a brighter day, there was a much better turnout of a dozen boats.
With some stronger gusts at times, most (well Neil survived) of the single handers were caught out at some point, especially on the various gybe marks.
In the Asymmetrc Cup only Scumper and Banter Phil were contending, they each capsized from time to time, but Scumper took another two wins and strengthened his lead in the series, with Toggle finishing 2nd and Phil 3rd overall.
As Mike/Eric were tussling with Lasers most of the race, first Tom Gosden, and then Ian Macpherson, Mike won overall in the morning race, with Ian 2nd, and Ethan Dawson in his Topper a strong 3rd. Peter Ballard and Jim Christie were again duelling, with Jim taking a defensive covering action at one stage, only for Peter to pass beneath him, then Jim got caught in irons as he tacked away for clear airs. By the time he was moving properly again, Peter was well out of sight!
In the afternoon, Val/Ken took an early lead but flying their spinnaker on the bottom reach proved to be their downfall, as Mike/Eric thought better of it and were able to sail through to the lead to windward.
Though Tom beat Ian on the water this time, on handicap, Mike/Eric secured another win.
Overall, Mike/Kayla kept the lead in the series with Peter 2nd.
With these races over, the year’s list of prize winners is being compiled in time for the the annual prize giving dinner dance in November.
Flying 15 Team Racing
The annual F15 team racing event, and efforts to AVOID being awarded the Grotty Potty, started today at 14.30
The forecast was for some great winds, but the risk of very strong gusts passing through. Deja Vu?
Fifteen Fifteens have turned up to contest the Team Racing and Open Meeting event. The wind is relatively�light in the bay, considering the forecast. However, the ‘cats paws’ flying across the lake in all directions are suggestive of a very drunk and malicious moggy. There is a competitive fleet with Steve Goacher making the trip from Windermere and nine visitors journeying west from Derwent Reservoir.
The first race has started on time and Race Officer ‘Round the Lake’ Toggle has justified his soubriquet. Fifteen Fifteens were last seen disappearing southwards through the gap. Hopefully they would reappear at some point.
It was some time before the fleet returned, as the wind at the other end of the lake had eased, failing to live up to it’s forecast ferocity. John Hardisty and Roger Errington made excellent use of the conditions to lead the fleet home in the first race with Steve Goacher and Richard Rigg in second place. Simon Longstaff and Jon Denwood from the home club were third.
As the hoped for breeze had failed to materialise at the other end of the lake, the second race was sailed in the bay. Normal service was resumed, with Steve Goacher winning from Neil Platt and Ian Smith, from Bass. Simon Longstaff was again third with John Hardisty only managing fourth.
Steve Goacher had shown his shrewdness onshore before racing began by selecting Simon Longstaff and Neil Platt as his accomplices in the team racing event, and they comfortably topped the standings overnight.
Sunday morning dawned reluctantly, grey and dreary, with the strong overnight winds having eased. The Race Officer took the fleet out for two races back to back in a moderate SE breeze. As the start approached watery sun threatened to break through. Close racing was enjoyed through out the fleet with Steve Goacher and Richard Rigg again taking the honours from Rod Huddleston and Chris Tew, with John Hardisty and Roger Errington in third.
Although he had wrapped up the series Steve Goacher elected to stay out and contest the second race, although it could have been argued that he didn’t really need the practice!
In the event a really close race ensued with Neil Platt and Ian Smith edging out Goacher and Rigg to take second overall. John Hardisty and Roger Errington took third place in the race, which secured them third overall.
The ‘Mercenary Bass Tards’ lead by Steve Goacher and Richard Rigg took the honours in the Team Racing event by a very comfortable margin.
The prudent timing of the Race Officer was applauded by all when, a short time after racing had finished, the wind increased to Force Stupid, in line with what had been threatened all weekend.
In addition to an open meeting, the Flying 15s are grouped together in teams of three, the results weighted by Ian Preston and an overall position is calculated. Overnight the leaders were the Mercenary Bass Tards, and they held on to their lead to take the series. The Grotty Potty did not get a look in this year – who has mislaid it (or left it under their bed?!).
Looking at the photo of the winning team, was this something Steve Goacher can do in his sleep?
In club racing, on Saturday, the final two races in the October series were sailed. Scumper won both, and Mike/Eric took 2nd. Ethan/Robin Dawson finished 4th in the first race which was sufficient to win the series overall with Jim Christie 2nd.
On Sunday, William/Lezli-Ann took the lead and broke clear from the fleet. With Scumper suffering from some minor gear failure he gave in with a lap to go, leaving Banter Phil to chase William (in between screams of glee as he was planing), but on handicap William held his lead, with Phil 2nd and Peter Ballard 3rd.
For the afternoon pennant race, the high winds which had been forecast all weekend finally arrived. The fleet were sent to the top of the lake but heavy swell and a capsize by William/Lezli-Ann led to retirement of the whole fleet!