Is the weather really against us this season? We asked the same question last Saturday!

Another windy forecast didn’t stop those hardy sailors coming down to the club (although if the webcam had been working they may have not even bothered coming down!), but the easterly wind blowing straight across the lake from Bassenthwaite was enough to make most sit down and have a cuppa.

There were two takers though, Toggle on a suicide mission in his Vareo together with T and Stephen K in their Vago. There were no takers for a bet that they’d survive longer than 10 mins without a capsize. Just as well because it would have been money down the drain – 30secs for Toggle, and 6 mins for Andy T.

T was saying how he was expecting his new boom (for the laser that Toggle broke recently) next week, and no doubt a new mast to follow. Little did he know that he was going to need a new mast for the Vago after a hairy spinnaker reach and capsize!

Would there be any takers for the following races – highly unlikely! All bets off..

Tomorrow’s another day, but the forecast is for only slightly less wind!

The OOD, Tim Chittenden was determined to start the first race on time but the punters seemed a bit reluctant to co-operate and it was 12.00 noon before the Fast Handicap fleet got away. No one can complain that they didn’t get value for money.

Most sailors were expecting a two lap race and were surprised when they were sent round a forth time in failings winds. Thankfully the wind for the last lap improved significantly.

The wind remained light and variable after lunch and the prospect of a “Round The Lake” course looked remote. However with a very light North Easterly a course was set with a beat to 3 followed by 12 and 13. The port bias on the line caused some congestion, especially when Toggle tacked on the line in front of Mike Moore. Collisions were inevitable and Mike’s FF sustained most of the damage. His boat is now back to how it was before the winter refurbishment work commenced.

By the time the fleet reached the windward mark in falling winds the prospect of sailing South seemed even more remote.

In such light winds it’s always a bit of a lottery as to which side of the Lake is favourable and the lead boats changed places a number of times on the run.

The wind gradually improved and by the time they reached 12/13 there was sufficient for a reasonable beat back to 5 where the race was finished.

Robbie D and Ethan were ahead of the fleet and Mike Fairlamb in his GP14 took the lead at 12 from Dave Lawson and lead the GP14s for the rest of the race.

After an increase in the wind in both the final stages of the first race and the round the lake race the consensus of opinion was that the OOD had inside information from above. It transpires however that he was monitoring the speed of the wind turbines in the distance and their increasing speed gave him confidence to continue the races.

Could it be that the wind turbines have some use after all? (So says the man from Sellafield!)

8 members of the Youth Squad completed 2 races today in very light and challenging winds.  Georgina Craig and Jonathan Connor were on the water for the first time at the club this year.  Robin Crawley finished his first ever races so well done to him.

The fleet was led by Sam Hall in his laser, but Joe Watkins sailed well and was only half a minute behind Sam on corrected times.  There was a battle in the topper fleet with Jonathan Connor (who is used to slightly bigger boats these days), Lewis Tyson, William Coulthard and James Springell fighting for the mid-fleet places.

The main learning point this week was not to sail too close to the wind when there is very light wind.  Sail off the wind a little bit and get some speed up as it is essential to have speed before trying to tack.

Is the weather really against us this season?

As sailors arrived for the afternoon race, the rain was torrential with sleet in it (again!). The rain did fade, but so did the wind. The first race in the Celebrity Glass Pursuit was cancelled, but boats did go out for the second race, though the wind could not settle down to a specific direction. The rain came back, though not as heavy, but it was again cold for sailors as the committee boat had to be resited following a late 180 degree wind shift!

Racing got underway at 4.30, the first lap was reasonably steady winds, the second started to shift, and the final lap for the mirrors and leading handicap boats was horrendous! Fortunately the OD that had allowed the third lap to be started was obliged to wait while the various boats completed it! 🙂 However, the sun did shine for a while just to add to the confused weather! Shunty and Ruth found it a struggle to round 9 when they were head to wind with the gennaker up, and ended up hitting the mark, and letting William and Elaine through, as well as Scumper in his laser. He fought back, and in the dreaded final lap Shunty took the lead again only to lose it to William on the last leg but one. However, Scumper had caught up so much in the fickle winds that he won on handicap

The overnight weather brought a covering of snow to the surrounding hills. The forecast was for snow, and it was correct! After a frosty night many helms found sheets and control lines frozen, some ice in sails, and worst of all frozen sailing gloves! The fleet endured several snow showers before and during the race, and at times it seemed as if it would be possible to make snowballs from the snow laying in the boats.

The wind had picked up from the gloriously mirror like scenes that were spotted in early morning, and it is forecast to increase further. There seemed to be two airs, one from the north and another from the north east which battled it out and left the sailors trying to work out when the wind would change direction again. William and Kayla (in her wet shorts – brrrrhhh!!) were the only RS400 out and led the remainder of the asymmetrics in a new series this year. However, he could not break away far enough from the RS200s to win, and they came third behind Robbie D with Ethan, and Joan and Jack Hardie. Sam Hall comfortably won the MJM race from Lewis Tyson.

Toggle became a talking point again when he capsized coming in to shore, while Eric Smith broadsided a rescue boat with the Bates coming in to the jetty (forwards to accelerate/backwards to slow – not much difference is there?!)

The wind filled in for the afternoon racing, leading to a few spills by the single handers – Sam Hall, Toggle, and new member Paul Clark. In many ways the afternoon was a repeat of the morning results wise – William maintained the lead but again failed to take sufficient ground to beat Robbie D or Joan Hardie, while Sam Hall stormed away from the MJM fleet, and Toggle did another capsize for the spectators as he lifted his rudder coming ashore.