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!

A forecast of high winds and strong gusts seemed to be dampened down by rain sufficiently to enable the racing programme to proceed as planned.

The first race was a pursuit in the Celebrity Glass Trophy series. Despite the wind easing, there were some good gusts to create planing conditions. Mark Ninnim tried his hand in a GP with Andy Smith, but throwing his weight around the boat during tacks proved not to be a successful technique! Emma Williams went out in her Laser, but a capsize early up the first beat brought her race to an early conclusion. Alex and Olivia had problems with their 29er mast, taking them out of the race too! Although Steve Hunt in his Solo held off the GPs for a while, Dave and Lynn broke through to the lead and strengthened it to the end of the race. Scumper was 2nd, and Steve Hunt 3rd.

During a short break between races, Tim Chittenden took the opportunity to find a crew so that he could dump his Laser in favour of a boat with more ballast for the conditions (a keel, not Sally!). Alex was also able to use the time to borrow Robbie D’s Skiff for the following race. Also, Neil Garrison rigged his Dart to give new member Julian Asker, who has a Dart, some direct competition.

There were again some strong gusts passing through – Scumper capsized a couple of times, on one occasion being dragged along by his boat. Toggle did get through, but a later capsize enabled Scumper to get back through. Alex seemed to be practising his capsize technique in the Skiff. Alan Jones managed to lasso the leeward mark then got his tiller extension caught through the mooring chains (but he didn’t capsize!).  Neil Garrison finished first on the water, but it was Steve Hunt in his Solo that won, with Robbie D/Ethan in an RS200 2nd.

Alastair and Claire Duncan tried their best in a GP, but despite tacking round at a gybe mark, none wrong move and they too capsized!. Dave and Lynn again showed the way in the GPs with Mark/Andy 2nd and Mike Fairlamb 3rd.

In the F15s, some mistiming by Mike/Kayla gave Tim/Sally a head start, but although it took a couple of laps to get it right, Mike did break through to win the race.

Will the high winds forecast for today be accurate?!

After a wet few days, the turnout was lower than usual.

Dave and Lynn Lawson led the fleet on the water, to take another 1st on fleet handicap with Phil Davenport, who sailed a good race, finishing 2nd. Dave and Lynn are currently leading the series, while Neil and Judith Currie are 2nd.

Alan Jones took another 1st on a personal handicap basis with Dave/Lynn 2nd – Alan still leads the personal handicap series with Nigel Lewis 2nd

Another good turnout of 15 boats for the Thursday evening race. Neil/Judith Currie led the fleet in their RS400, followed by Joan/Jack Hardie in an RS200, but it was Dave/Lynn Lawson in a GP that won on fleet handicap, having gained a large lead from the rest of the GPs.

Alan Jones continues to make good use of his personal handicap, securing another win in the version of the personal handicap series, and a strong lead overall. Nigel Lewis did not finish the race, but holds on to his 2nd position.