The fresh on shore breeze thinned out numbers for Thursday’s Night Jar. It was the newcomers to the series that came out best on handicap – Mark Ninnim was first and Rory Yardley second. Just three races left in the series.
Weather window
For the second week in a row, the weather changed in favour of some pleasant sailing. Although light, the day was dry and tempted twelve boats on to the water for the morning race, but a couple dropped out of the afternoon race. Wind was ultra flukey at 9 and Alan Nicholson, Jim Christie and Jo Watkins in close company all had big moments there on first lap. They didn’t heed the warning and Alan crashed in on lap 2. Jim was just behind, got prepared for the shift, and was thrown in the other way! He continued, but Alan was in the mud (again!) and needed rescue to extract his Solo.
With another first in the bag due to beating Mike Fairlamb and Eric Smith in their GP, and now having sufficient races to qualify, Joan and Jack Hardie in an RS200 have taken the lead on the fleet handicap series from Jim Christie in his Laser, who still leads the personal handicap series. Tim Knowles in a GP won the afternoon race from Alan Waugh in his Mirror.
Good to see Steve Hannah back on the Lake after a good few years out – trying out a FF with Martyn Stephenson at the helm.
Just the weather!
After the wind and rain of recent weeks, pleasantly, Sunday’s forecast was for a dry and bright day, although not a lot of wind.
However, 14 boats were tempted to the water, and were able to enjoy some pleasant sailing conditions – not planing conditions, but enough to keep the boats moving and the crews to sit to windward! After lunch the breeze eased as the race went along.
The weather was so pleasant that Mark Ninnim, with Rob Smith, broke a 20 year habit of not sailing in November to finish 3rd on fleet handicap, and 1st on personal handicap in the afternoon race.
It was Joan and Jack Hardie that mastered the conditions to take two first on fleet handicap, beating Mike Moore and Martyn Stephenson in the morning race, and Mike Fairlamb in the afternoon – perhaps that could be called taking the Micks?!
Having sailed all four of the races to date, Jim Christie remains in a strong position and leads the table
Congratulations
After a reluctance to appear (surely not stage fright?!) baby Lily Alice Smith was born early on 2 November – a sister to Katia and second daughter for Andy and Emma.
All doing fine
Is that Andy’s hairline she’s sporting?! 🙂 Sure she’ll grow out of it
Would you believe it?
A wet and windy forecast but some hardy sailors still turned up, though they were surprised to find any wind at all as Bass seemed to be enjoying its own micro climate compared to nearby villages where there was rain but no wind.
After some umming and arrhhing, three helms decided to sail – Jim Christie, Peter Ballard and Neil Garrison. Then as the wind increased, Neil Garrison changed his mind. While watching the boats get ready the wind quickly eased and Neil opted to sail. Although he was on the water by the 3 minute signal, it took him over ten mins to cross the start line between the race office and zero! The wind eased, and swung, and by the third and final leg back to zero boats were beating. The November series is sailed on a fleet and personal handicap basis, but the distances between each boat meant the results were the same as the finishing order.
After a short lunch break, the terrible trio were eager for more. Again within minutes of launching the weather started to change as the wind started to fill in from the West.
As there was a shore based start, the boats started on a broad reach with a gybe at the first mark, at which point Jim and Peter each capsized! They righted and continued but as they reached the leeward mark the gusty conditions caught all three boats out and they capsized. OD Toggle was all for abandoning racing, but opted to allow the race to be shortened at the end of the first lap – Jim and Peter made it to the finish. Toggle did double check with the rescue boat whether Neil had retired although it was a little obvious by the fact that he was being towed, had taken his main down, and in the process of dropping his jib!
The handicap results matched the finishing order, so Jim leads with two firsts.
The Eric Twiname Memorial Trust
Following a recent approach, the Sailing Club Council have proudly agreed that in future years, one of the pennant races sailed each season will be used as an opportunity to raise funds on behalf of the Eric Twiname Memorial Trust. Many members may recall Eric, son of founder member Alec Twiname, was once a member of the sailing club and is arguably our most famous member in sailing circles. As a highly successful sailor, Eric went on to write classic texts such as ‘Start to Win’ and ‘The Rules Book’ which is now in its 9th version. The trust was created in 1980 following Eric’s tragic death with the goal to continue his legacy to the sailing community.
Start to Win has just been updated and republished (with a foreword by Ben Ainslie, CBE) and can be purchase on-line directly from the publishers, Adlard Coles or other on-line retailers, such as Amazon.
Further information regarding the trust and about Eric himself can be found by visiting the trust website at www.erictwinametrust.org or by viewing our web page.
Have a lie in!
The end of the October coincides with the end of the championship season. The weather forecast brought things to an early conclusion due to force nine gales on Saturday. John Crosbie launched his laser, enjoyed some spectacular planes, intermingled with capsizes, but racing was abandoned for the day.
Saturday night marked the end of British Summer Time so the recommendation was to make the most of the extra hour in bed due to the clocks going back, especially as Sunday’s forecast is for MORE for the same!
However, the wind was not as strong as forecast, and sailing did take place, but the gusts were vicious enough to stress boats to the limit.��In the first race, the final round of the Handicap Fleet�s Skiddaw Trophy, both the Supernova of Peter Ballard and the Jim Christie�s Laser suffered rigging damage leaving Scumper to take an easy victory in his Laser.
The afternoon race was the Bassenthwaite Burgee, the final pennant race of the season.��It was supposed to be sailed around the Lake but the race officer wisely decided to restrict it to the marginally more sheltered northern area.��John Crosbie belatedly decided to compete and took the victory from Mike Turner/Sue Watson.��This result won Sue the Sandra�s Salver award as best lady crew in the seven pennant races held during the season by just a single point from Elaine Hunt.
FF Open
Saturday’s forecast was not great for wind, if the webcam had been working you would have noticed that the forecast was correct!! The lake was mirror like most of the afternoon. Racing was postponed until 1030hrs on Sunday. It was due to be a lot more overcast, but there with a reasonable breeze.
Sunday’s earlier than usual start enabled the F15 fleet to get their first race in before club racing started at 1130hrs. As forecast, the day was overcast but there was a SW breeze. Although the OD assures us there was a beat in the first race, using the same beat for the second race failed miserably!
The lack of a beat for club racing kept the fleets together (handicap wise) and it depended where you were, at what stage, as to whether you were in a position to take advantage of the various gusts that came through, and strengthened as the race went on.
After two races, and despite mixed fortunes, Mike Moore and Sally were in the lead in the FF open at the lunch break during which drizzle moved in. Would that kill the wind? Well, effectively it did! The afternoon racing� was held in light airs, with a quite a mix of the leading lights such that only 4 points split the top half of the fleet. It was Andy and Rob Smith that came out on top, beating Mike Moore by a point. Andy’s team mate for the series was Ian and Pat Priestly from Ullswater, who by securing third overall ensured that they won the team racing part of the event.
Robbie D and Big E secured a good lead in both races added two wins to his collection in the series. His closest rival is son Ethan with 34 pts
Overall winners – Andy and Rob Smith
Overall winning Team
Andy and Rob Smith with Ian and Pat Priestly
Richard Atkinson
Club founder member Richard Atkinson has died at the age of 88. Until about 10 years ago he was a regular sailor in a F15 with Judge Leech. Richard was one of the clubs more successful sailors having become GP14 National champion in 1957, just five years after the Club was formed
Raring to Go!
Last weekend saw the final championship weekend series of the season. Gales had been forecast but did not materialise and there was good sailing weather on both days.
On Saturday in the handicap fleet, Robbie D and Big E in their RS400 got off to a good start with one first and one second place. Scumper held second spot overnight in his RS400 before changing to a Laser for the Sunday racing! Alan Nicholson was just one point behind in his Solo after winning the second race.
Sunday�s morning race saw another win for Robbie Dawson with Joan & Jack Hardie second in their RS200 and Scumper third. The wind was gustier for the final race and this suited different competitors. Two helms from Dean took the lead positions with Sam Hall in his Laser leading home the F15 of Tim Chittenden with Ian Macpherson crewing. Winners of the series and the Comet Trophy were Robbie D with Scumper second and Tim Chittenden third.
The GP14 class sailing for the Stables Prize was won by Mike Turner and Sue Watson� from Dave and Lynn Lawson. Although both helms had two wins each and equal points overall the Trophy went to the winners of the last race. An identical situation applied to third place with Kath Davis/Glenys Kett leading home Tim Knowles/Martin Statter.
The Mirror�s Single Handed Trophy went to Mik Chappell. Alan Waugh finished second overall in his pristine boat now fully repaired after scrapes earlier in the season. His win in the final race narrowly secured the place from Nick Orton despite the latter posting two second places during the series.