There was a great turnout of 39 boats for this one day event, and, whilst waiting for the forecast wind to bed in, sailors were able to enjoy some blue skies.
Racing got underway a couple of hours late. Although the general direction was similar to the forecast, there were some massive swings to contend with, especially when the wind eased and freshened again. Fortunately, generally, a beat was maintained throughout the afternoon as it was in the centre of the shifts, but the way the gusts came in could be cruel with nearby boats not all necessarily benefitting to the same extent.
It was skills, rather than local knowledge that enabled Bass sailors Robin Dawson in the Laser fleet, and Matthew Somerville in the Tera fleet, to win the first two races, and their respective trophies. In the Streakers, Mike Fairlamb won the first race, but couldn’t hold off Guy Wheeler from Annandale who won the next two races and the trophy.
Laser winner Robin DawsonStreaker winner Guy WheelerTera winner Matthew Somerville
It was with some trepidation that the 9 boats launched into a brisk, shifty NorthWesterly under blue skies after earlier rain. By the start time, however, the wind had moderated resulting in more manageable conditions but the shifts continued.
Race Officer, Val, set a figure of eight course starting with a beat to number 1. John Reekie used the shifts to best effect to round first which he held to lead on the water throughout, closely pursued by Alex in his Laser. James Reekie was the solitary Tera competing, getting in some valuable practice ahead of Saturday’s Open, together with Mike Fairlamb who had earlier safely delivered the pies!
It was good to welcome Jeff Tweddle and Robert Hedges back to competition both sailing without mishap to complete the course.
After some localised morning showers, there was another sunny Saturday for sailors, with F4/5 south westerly, for the start of the weekend series. Throughout the afternoon the wind freshened and eased, veered and backed, making for some testing conditions resulting in various capsizes, broaches, and changes of position.
In the F15s, Simon/Jon led the first race throughout, with Neil/Rory 2nd, though this was reversed in the next race, giving Ndeil the advantage overnight.
Mark led the handicap fleet in both races but not being able to make best use of his gennaker finished 5th and 4th on handicap. It was Joe in his Laser, John and Robbie D in their Solos, that were competing for the lead, all finishing within half a minute on handicap. John was consistent with two 2nds, while the other two each had a 1st and a 3rd. Joe is overnight leader.
Tog’s sail ripped in the 1st race, so he retired to tape it up, only for the rip to get worse when he fell through it during a capsize in the next race!
In the GPs, Val/Ken had 1st and 2nd, AJ/Sue had 1st and DNF, with James/Jenny 2nd and 3rd, putting Val as overnight leader.
Emma in a Mirror has a 1st and a 2nd to lead the slow handicap, with Alex/Saskia in a Mirror 2nd and James in a Tera 3rd.
Sunday brought in more wind, and lots of drizzly wet rain! Val and Ken turned up to defend their overnight lead, but there was no competition, and the rain didn’t tempt them to race in the handicap fleet, so an early exit back home as winners of the Graham Cup.
With a forecast for increasing winds, Neil was keen to get two races in before lunch with an aim to win the series and get home for the football! His plans were initially scuppered in the first race when Birthday boy Angus and Mike took a strong lead which neither Simon nor Neil could overcome. Angus took the lead in the next race as well, but Simon gybed into the lake to take advantage of the stronger gusts, and broke through to the lead. Neil did close the gap but missed a tack by Simon, and was caught out on port, and unable to clear Simon’s transom. Not his day, and Simon/Jon won the Scarness Cup.
Scumper led the handicap fleet, but capsizes, and heading for the wrong mark, didn’t help his cause, though he did take a 1st and a 2nd finishing 3rd overall. It was Joe and Robbie D that would be battling it out for the trophy, each netting 7 points. If the results had been available over lunch Robbie D have opted to race rather than watch the footie? As he didn’t, the tie on points was split in Joe’s favour to win him the Wythop Trophy.
With no racing in the slow handicap fleet, Emma wins the Reflection Trophy
Beautiful blue skies and a blustery/shifty Westerly greeted the 11 boats who ventured onto the water.
Once again there was a healthy turnout of Teras who all coped well with the tricky conditions. The fleet got away on a port-biased line although Rory was OCS and failed to return. First to the windward mark was John in his Solo but he touched the mark and lost ground doing penalty turns.
Racing was very close over 4 laps with plenty of place changing as the wind shifted and gusted. At the finish, Alex led John by 5 seconds with Val & Ken and James & Jenny close behind. James Reekie in his Tera Sport chased the Tera Pros home and all adjourned for a pie supper supplied by Val and the bar was open too!
Saturday started with some champagne sailing conditions for an excellent turnout of 40 boats across the two fleets racing this weekend. It was good to see that the Mirror fleet had mainly junior, or parent/child combinations.
With a westerly wind any potential sea breeze from the blue skies would only bolster the wind strength.
The Solo fleet were a little eager on the first start resulting in a general recall, and being pushed back behind the Mirrors in the start sequence. The main downside of this being that some Mirrors were buried for a while as the Solos powered through the fleet.
Unusually, Dave Lawson in a borrowed Solo capsized part way up the first beat, but he pulled some distance back to finish in the top half of the fleet.
There was a lot of close racing, and vying for position, especially rounding marks, with plenty of calls for water, and a few penalty turns carried out.
To avoid further general recalls the U flag was used for the second race, and it generally had the desired effect with helms sitting back from the line. A general recall of the Solos in the third race of the day brought out the black flag – everyone was well behaved thereon in.
With the wind easing during the final race, the finish line was moved to the top of the second beat of the lap, perhaps just in time as the wind direction became fickle, and final positions in the race were difficult to maintain!
Overall during the afternoon there were mixed fortunes for many, but in the Solos, consistency by Martin Honnor from Ogston made him overnight leader with three 2nds, a point ahead of Innes Armstrong from Burwain with a 1st and two 3rds.
In the Mirrors, it was a battle of the Smiths. Sailing secretary Phil, with son Oliver, are overnight leaders with two 1sts and a 2nd, but he had to fight off brother Andy, with daughter Lily, who are 5 points behind and lying 2nd overnight, as well as wife Naomi with daughter Lucy!
One major incident of the afternoon was the search for a hair bobble for 3 year old Saskia after the first race…
Sunday morning was overcast with a fading wind despite a reasonable forecast for an easterly breeze. At the scheduled start time the lake was mirror like, however, shortly after 11 an easterly filled in so the OD launched to set a course. It soon became apparent that a SE wind was bedding in.
With a 10minute beat to 7 in a strengthening wind, waves building, and some white horses, there was some exciting racing, good reaches, various capsizes, and a few retirements!
The beat was shortened for the final race, but the squalls had passed through, much to the delight of the remaining sailors.
In the Solos, Martin Honnor held his lead through to race 4, but race 5 was his downfall and he retired when he couldn�t stay close enough to Innes Armstrong who won overall by one point. John Reekie was best Bass boat finishing 4th overall.
In the Mirrors, the high wind took its toll on Phil and Oliver who lost their lead to Alex and Rory Taylor in race 4, but with two 1sts and two 2nds their overall 1st place was unassailable so they opted not to race the final one. Alex�s win put him on equal points with Andy and Lily Smith, but Andy had better overall results to finish 2nd with Alex 3rd
Solo Open winner Innes Armstrong from Burwain
Mirror Northern Areas Champions Phil and Oliver Smith from Bass
Unusually, Saturday’s forecast for light winds proved to be accurate, resulting in a small turnout of eight boats for the next races in the MJM series.
Shortly after the start, the wind eased, so the race was shortened at the end of the first lap, but the lead boats were happy to wait while Oliver persevered to complete the lap in his Tera. On handicap Mike/Jack in a Graduate won, followed by Phil/Oscar in RS200
Although the northerly wind was still very light, as numerous boats had waited for another race, it seemed it would be a shame if it didn’t happen, so as soon as Oliver finished the new start sequence commenced.
Alan/Sue in a GP, and Eric in a Mirror, started but, with little prospect of the wind returning, they soon opted to retire to shore. Though the first beat was half that of the previous race, it still took Mike/Jack 14 mins to reach the windward mark! Very soon afterwards a light breeze came in from the east creating the second beat on a three leg course! With the boats still being grouped close together, they were sent round for another lap. Fortunately the wind held, but it continued to swing finally resulting in a southerly. Mike/Jack took their second win of the day, with Ian Hall 2nd
Sunday started with a SE breeze and an OD keen to set a course to 12! Though it did not happen, the sailors still enjoyed some good sailing in an unusally steady wind. Angus/Mike in a F15 led the fleet around the course, but were beaten on handicap by Joe in his Laser.
During the lunch break, the wind strengthened, and white horses appeared, only to disppear to leave fickle airs for a while. When setting out to start the next race, the OD noted the wind was steadier down the lake, so set 10 as a windward mark, seemingly to the dismay of Andy in a Solo! However, despite a 25 min beat, the fleet enjoyed more great sailing conditions to blow away the odd cobweb.
Angus/Mike led the handicap fleet again, and won on handicap 21 secs ahead of Andy, with Mike/Jack in their Graducate 3rd.
In the GPs, Val/Ken had two wins, with AJ/Sue 2nd in both races which was sufficient to maintain their lead in the series.
A light westerly breeze with regular shifts coming round Sale Fell greeted the 17 boats, including 5 Teras, who turned out for the first Night Jar of the Thursday evening series.
So keen was Ant to get started in his new role that he forgot to take a Race Officer with him (sorry Robin) but with the able assistance of Pen and moral support from Sid, racing started on time despite worries from shore that there might be an early start.
Val and Ken were first to show on a quadrilateral course and proceeded to set the pace for the first 2 laps, closely pursued by James and Jenny and Alex Reed in a Laser (ICLA7) with Neil and Rory regularly swapping places. A large wind shift on the 3rd lap allowed Alex through to lead on the water and converted the beat into a fetch, turning the last lap into a procession. It was good to see the Teras out in force clearly benefitting from their winter coaching and next week Val has promised meat pies!
Our second bank holiday weekend of the season welcomed the friendly inflatable Catapult fleet
Saturday racing was for Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy in which there were 28 boats, and it was won by Matt/Oliver in a 2000 in a tie break from Dave/Lynn in their GP
Sunday and Monday were planned as a five race series. We were fortunate on the former day as the wind had swung SE giving a long beat to 6 and some excitement offwind blasting. After a break two races were sailed back to back with a shorter beat being used.
On Monday there was a general lack of wind and at 1330 racing was abandoned.
Tog’s sail ripped in the 1st race, so he retired to tape it up, only for the rip to get worse when he fell through it during a capsize in the next race!
