A quieter turnout but those that sailed enjoyed a good wind, with only a few spots of rain, some challenging legs at times, and planing conditions at others.

In the first race, Scumper continued to master the conditions and took another win, with Tom Gosden putting in a good performance in his Laser to finish 2nd and Peter Ballard 3rd in his Supernova.

In the F15s, Mike/Kayla were called back for being premature starters, a mistake they were unable to come back from against Tim Chittenden/Ian Macpherson as they went on to win the race and, as it was the first one to be sailed, the series.

In the GPs Mike Fairlamb/Eric Smith and Tim Knowles/Martin Statter had some close racing swapping positions a couple of times. Tim did some frustrating wallowing at the windward mark, and Mike won..

The second race, Scumper won again and Tom was 2nd, but Jo Watkins sailed better to beat Peter Ballard for 3rd position.

Mike had a more cautious start, being 10 secs behind the line, but he stayed ahead, opened a lead on Tim, and won the race.

In the GPs, though Tim had a good start, going up the opposite side of the first beat to Mike proved to be a bad move, and \mike ended the first beat with a strong lead that Tim failed to overcome.

What a lovely evening for a sail followed by some supper in the clubhouse. 19 boats took to the water, and there was again some close racing with just over a minute on fleet handicap between the first four boats. Joan/Jack Hardie took the honours from Dave/Lynn Lawson by just 3 secs, followed by Neil/Judith Currie and Val/Ken Bell. This win has put Joan in pole series position by the slimmest 0.5pt margin ahead of Dave.

Using the personal handicap results, it was Emma Williams in her Laser Radials that came out on top with Paul Clark in his Graduate 2nd then Joan and Val.

After his win at the weekend, Alan lost his edge tonight (sand bagging won’t help him keep his handicap!), but even his 13th position didn’t affect his strong lead of 7 points ahead of Joan Hardie.

A fleet of 13 boats entered the Fleet Challenge B personal handicap series on an afternoon that started out drizzly but brightened up. A good breeze led to some good, challenging legs, and Hugh/Rachel had a spinnaker issue at a gybe mark that led to a capsize. There were other near misses too! The F15s faired better in the conditions, and although Simon Longstaff/Jon Denwood had a great start from the port end, Tim Chittenden/Ian Macpherson, broke through on the second lap and secured� good lead, only to be beaten on handicap by Alan Jones in his Laser. Martyn Stephenson/Steve Hannah finished 3rd 30 secs later on corrected time.

The course in the 2nd race had more of a reach which suited William Carruthers/Lezli-Ann Pearson in an RS400 and enabled them to break away from the fleet after an iffy first beat, but it didn’t stop the rest of the fleet catching better wind on some offwind legs to keep the pressure on. Val/Ken Bell in their GP were one boat that sailed well, and came out 1st on handicap from Alan Jones. Alistair/Claire Duncan had a much better race and finished 3rd by just 9 secs.

Two breezy races, was enough back to back, so the fleet went ashore for a breather, only to find the wind had shifted and eased by the time they ventured out for the final race of the day. Then the rain moved in and killed the wind! Hanging around for the start many realised the lake water was warmer than the air temperature! The wind remained light throughout the short race and although Simon got into the lead, he couldn’t break away and was beaten on the line by William, but Steve Hunt in his Solo was very close on their tail – Steve won, with Simon 2nd. Terry Hall in his Laser 3rd, and William 4th.

A dry, bright morning, and good SE breeze greeted sailors on Sunday. In race 4, Simon/Jon again sailed well in the conditions and won ahead of Alan Jones who had opted to sail a GP with Sue Watson. Tim/Ian were 3rd and William/Lezli-Ann 4th. In race 5, there was a tight reach to test spinnaker handling, but there were no capsizes. The winds eased at times, and the fleet seemed much more bunched together. This time Kath Davis/Glynis Kett in their GP took the honours from Terry Hall in a Laser. Tim secured another 3rd, and Alan 4th.

It was then time for lunch. Alan was still leading the series but had worked out that Tim could match him on points, neither realising that it was a done deal as Alan’s 1st and two 2nds couldn’t be beaten by a 1st, 2nd and 3rd if Tim were to win the last race. With Sue opting not to sail the final race, Alan took up Alistair’s offer to crew, leaving Claire watching on the shore (not certain whether she really wanted to sail). Over lunch, the wind had freshened again, and the rain was back. The OD opted to send the fleet up to Scarness, which turned out to be a bit of a slog in the swell, followed by a less exciting race back down the following legs due to the wind swinging to the East, and helping the tail enders bunch up the fleet. Feeling wet and cold, the OD took pity on the fleet and shortened the race before sending them back up to Scarness in the freshening breeze. This gave Alan eyt another win, with Martyn Stephenson/Steve Hannah 2nd, Terry 3rd and Tim 4th.

Overall, Alan and his array of crews won, with Tim 2nd, Terry Hall 3rd and Simon 4th.

Although not part of the scheduled prizes, the results have also been calculated on a fleet handicap (and are shown below) and Steve Hunt emerged a convincing winner with four 1sts, Simon/Jon 2nd and Tim/Ian 3rd.

Another excellent midweek turnout of 21 boats. New grandparents Ginge and Jose Hodgkins didn’t make it to the end of the race, but we won’t ask why! New helm Robert Cruickshank, crewed by dad Julian, in a GP had an excellent race and won the personal handicap race by more than a minute, but the next five boats were all within the next minute so some good handicapping. Alan Jones was 2nd and still has a strong lead in the series with Joan/Jack Hardie presently runners up.

In the fleet handicap results, Joan/Jack beat Neil/Judith Currie by more than a minute, with Val/Ken Bell just seconds behind. Dave/Lynn Lawson were race officers this week, but are holding on to the series by half a point from Joan/Jack.

Unexpectedly the day started with drizzle, wind and it was cold!

Although the forecast wind was from the E, there was a good SE breeze. A starboard biased start line caused a bunching of boats, and three boats to be over the line at the start of the race. William heard the word ‘General’ from the start boat, heard a sound signal, saw a flag raised and tacked off expecting a general recall. However, it was just an individual recall, but going up the right hand side of the course, along with Alex in his new RS200, proved beneficial and he had a good lead going into the windward mark.� The next legs had some good planing conditions and the gap increased. Next time round the windward mark he trawled his gennaker and by the time it was recovered Scumper and Neil/Judith were on his tail. The wind was starting to swing to its forecast direction (sort of), and there were plenty of lulls to contend with going into, and coming out of, mark 4. William/Lezli-Ann got a gust of wind, raised the gennaker, and broke away gaining a 10min lead on one leg. Of course, the wind filled in from the NE, and most of the lead was wiped out! They did stay in the lead, but there was a bunch of boats on his tail at the finish. On handicap, Robin/Ethan won, with Scumper 2nd, and Alex/Olivia 3rd.

As boats wallowed before the final race, Robbie D confidently told Herb that the wind was filling in. He got a flying start and led until halfway towards the 2nd mark. Despite the OD using A to avoid the wind shadow of the shore, the wind started to spin from numerous directions. The fleet behind had the wind and there was a crowd of boats at the mark. On the next leg, the wind continued, Robbie D was dumped as William and Scumper got the wind. Of course, he came back! On the next leg Scumper went right, only to find the William and Robbie D on a massive lift. Was he dead in the water this time? No way, the two lead boats again wallowed after rounding the windward mark, and Scumper was back in it, only for the fleet to again come down on wind. This time Banter Phil and Toggle took advantage and powered towards the front, leaving Scumper behind. Payback – Scumper may have sent son Matthew to sabotage Phil’s boat as he de-rigged it! William was so close on Toggle’s tail on the start of the next beat that he knocked Tog’s rudder trying to avoid him! Payback – William opted to get Tog’s trailer at the end of the race!

Scumper was not beaten, and he went on to win the race on the water and on handicap, with Robin/Ethan 2nd, and Tog 3rd. Scumper won the Isel Cup with three firsts, and Big E beat Mike/Kayla getting 2nd place, on equal points, but with the better result in the last race.

In the GPs, Mike/Eric sailed consistently to secure three wins and the Commodore’s Prize, with Val/Ken runners up in each race and the series

The temperature has dipped again, and the wind returned for another blustery sail in a championship weekend series.

Mike/Eric led the GPs in the only race that they sailed, with Val/Ken Bell 2nd.

In the handicap fleet there were 9 contenders. Scumper in his Vareo won the first race with a strong lead from Big E in his Laser. Toggle and Ethan failed to finish (presumably because of the conditions). In the next race, Sam Hall sailed well and beat Scumper by just 11secs, with Mike/Kayla in a F15 just another minute behind. Scumper leads overnight, with a forecast of lighter winds tomorrow.

A balmy summer evening encouraged a great fleet of 17 boats to compete for the Night Jar this week.

Two boats broke away from the pack before the wind faded – Neil and Judith Currie in their RS400 led the fleet, but were beaten by almost a minute on handicap by Joan and Jack Hardie in their RS200. These results were the same on a personal handicap basis. Neil/Judith currently lead the fleet handicap series.

Ken Bell ventured out in a Solo and had a good race finishing 4th behind Tim Knowles/Martin Statter in a GP on fleet handicap, and 3rd on personal handicap with Alan Jones 4th and still leading series.

Light winds, and drizzle greeted sailors today, and the direction was likely to be challenging as it was blowing from S but forecast from SW – Sale Fell would have its effect on proceedings, especially as OD Mike Moore opted to send the fleet around the lake.

A start on time was a novelty and caught all but five helms out, but that was not to be the end for anyone late for the start. After 30 mins the lead boats were lolling around at Scarness as the rest of the fleet came up from behind. Some of the leading GPs had to ask the course! Robbie D and Ethan in an RS200 again, opted for the western shore, and started to gather a good lead while Dave Lawson and Andy Smith in GPs took the eastern shore. William played the eastern shore too, then took a more direct route up the middle to 13, and was able to lead the fleet around the leeward mark, though after 66mins, with lots of other fleets on his tail, a miracle would be requred to break away. The wind did fill in on the bottom leg to 12 to enable some planing, but it was not to last. Heading back up to 14 the wind eased under the shadow of Sale Fell. It did not increase too much on the next leg to 10, before easing to another drifter. Fortunately the OD had done a reckie to check the winds on the next long leg to 3 – as there was not much, he shortened at 10. William/Lezli-Ann did finish first on the water seconds ahead of Dave/Lynn, but with the fleet so bunched up he finished 16th on handicap! Steve Hunt in his Solo took the honours, with Dave/Lynn 2nd.

By the time the afternoon race was held, the wind had settled down from the SW, and there were various gusts passing through to benefit, or catch out, helms. With a short first beat, and Toggle blocking his route, William/Lezli-Ann had to duck behind various boats at the windward mark, giving him the challenge of passing Robin/Ethan. Although he did this by the end of the first lap, the fleet were closely bunched again and he didn’t break away by enough to secure a decent position. Robin/Ethan had a good race, but Rory Yardley did get through too. Dave/Lynn were not far behind, and they won the race, Robin 2nd and Rory 3rd.

Toggle struggled with one gusty gybe and capsized. Andy Smith trawled his spinnaker and was amazed to finish 4th. All in all, the afternoon race saved the OD’s bacon!

Overall, Dave/Lynn won the Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy, with Andy/Rob 2nd and Robin/Ethan 3rd

A windy and wet start proved to be very off-putting for potential sailors. However, the wind did ease, and the world was a different place when the sun came out!

Ten boats ventured out to the start, but they were not all going to finish!

In the Asymmetric Cup, William and Lezli-Ann led the way in an RS400 until the 4th lap when a squall was passing through and a cleated jib resulted in a capsize. Toggle, who had retired from the race, was in a safety boat and came to their rescue. Until that stage they had probably stayed ahead of Scumper due to his numerous capsizes.

Keith Thomas/Kayla sailed well to pass Tim Chittenden/Sally, and win the MJM race on handicap. Mark Ninnim/Emma Smith in an Enterprise had a good race finishing 3rd with Steve Hunt in his Solo 4th.

During the lunch break the sun shone, but it highlighted the tops of the waves breaking as the wind blew away from the clubhouse! There was clearly more wind about again.

On the way out to the start, one gust took out four boats, and there would be numerous capsizes later on two.

Only Scumper and Toggle started the Asymmetric race, and again Scumper was the only one to finish.

In the MJM race, the F15s led the way – initially by Tim/Sally, but Keith/Kayla found form again and took the lead through to the end of the race. However, they couldn’t shake off Mark/Emma in an Enterprise, who having stayed upright all day, won the race on fleet handicap by 150secs. The race lasted an hour, and the crews of the first three boats were all ladies – Emma, Kayla & Sally. Bet they love OD Mike Moore for allowing the race to go on for so long in such winds.

Tomorrow the winds should ease, but no doubt it will be so light� everyone could be praying for wind!