An early morning dump of snow made the club grounds very picturesque, even the Bates looked different with a snow cap!
The wind that was apparent at Ouse bridge retreated, and with only two reluctant participants the OD cancelled racing for the day bringing the racing season to a close.
Just in case you missed the odd email recently, the 69th prize giving dinner dance was held last night at the Crown Hotel in Wetheral. Covid concerns did result in a lower than normal attendance, but was thoroughly enjoyed by the 56 people that made it.
Following the dinner, Commodore Jon Denwood reinvigorated a speech given by his father in 1988; despite the passage of time, so much of it was still pertinent to present day operations of the club. It was then time for the juniors to lead the dancing…
Despite a forecast of F2 gusting F5-6, the lake was calm and misty when the first few sailors arrived. Though slow to fill in, ten boats prepared by first of all removing ice from their covers and boats!
The northerly breeze did appear in for a slightly delayed start, and all ten boats raced. One incident ended up with Mike in a Streaker capsizing on top of Neil G in a Laser. While trying to get the mast out of the mud, Mike did a backward flip off his centreboard – presumably a skull numbing experience!
Having won the first race, in the next race Neil C had been leading again but was the wrong side of a shift that lost him four places, though he did make ground up before the race finished, his final position was third on handicap behind James/Jenny in their GP, and Paul in a Solo. All in all, a good day’s sailing enjoyed by many.
Despite a poor sailing forecast, this time due to light winds, the Bass micro-climate offered sufficient breeze to tempt a fleet of seven boats on to the water for the first time in a month!
A shore based start seemed totally adequate for the numbers sailing, and the conditions. The first race commenced without a hiccup, not that the same was true for the second race, sailed back to back, at the start of which there were three boats on the course side of the line. A recall sound signal was made, and the flag flown from the race office balcony, but only James/Jenny took heed and returned� to restart, leaving Neil and Mike to sail on but not receive a finish signal; at least they had a pleasant sail!
Neil in his Solo won the first race, followed by James/Jenny in a GP, and Paul Bowmer in another Solo. In the next race there was only one, fairly brief, capsize, by Paul Gannon in his Laser, though it was unlikely to have affected his 3rd place, behind 1st place Paul Bowmer, and James/Jenny 2nd.
Overall Paul and James/Jenny have the same points, broken in Paul’s favour on countback, with Paul Gannon 3rd
Latest results Winter Series
Don’t forget that the deadline to book tickets for this year’s dinner dance is today, 14th November
It is with sadness we have learnt of the death of Joan Hardie after a short illness.
She passed peacefully in her sleep with husband Jack, and her sister Barbara, by her side.
Joan and Jack have been regular sailors in the GP and Handicap fleets for several years, and Joan gleefully mastered light airs.
Our thoughts are with Jack and Barbara at this sad time.
Joan�s funeral service will be held at Carlisle Crematorium, Dalston Road CA2 6AT, at 11.00am on Thursday 18th November and afterwards for refreshments at the Sailing Club. No need to wear black but if you do then a small touch of bright colour would be nice.
No flowers please, donations to Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
The forecast gusty conditions proved to be true enough to put off the half a dozen sailors that turned up with a view to race. Perhaps sailing will resume next week?!
What an end to British Summer Time!
Heavy rain during the week led to the highest lake levels for a good while, and, with more rain forecast to maintain the high water level, racing has been cancelled for the weekend, so the Autumn series are concluded with honours going to Val/Ken for the Saturday series, and AJ/Sue for the Sunday series.
Final results for the Autumn Saturday and Autumn Sunday series.
Don’t forget to enjoy a Sunday morning lie in as the clocks go back an hour this weeknd.
The lake has been at about 50mm/hour over the last day or so, and likely to continue for several more hours.
Is your boat safe?
The final weekend series for the club championship failed to get any enthusiasm from the various sailors that turned up. The wind gusts were not as strong as forecast, and there were no white horses to worry about, but there were no takers so racing was cancelled for the day.
With weather conditions similar on Sunday morning, there were only a few potential contenders, but their enthusiasm did not extend to taking covers off their boats, so combined with the lack of OD, racing was cancelled again.
This season’s club championship is concluded and shown below,
After a couple of clear nights, the air temperature dropped significantly despite a southerly breeze. Fortunately the rain held off throughout the day.
The morning cadet training session had a couple of capsizes as the wind funnelled through the narrows at Scarness, and there was an unusually large wind shadow from Sale Fell in Dubwath bay area which the OD tried to avoid for afternoon racing. A large group of the Cadet fleet travelled to Leigh & Lowton for some training/racing – a great day had by all despite a lack of wind.
In the first race John Reekie led the fleet, with AJ/Sue putting up a good fight for the first lap, but a late drop of their kite was an opportunity Val/Ken ceased to pass them. There were lulls in the wind strength as it wind swung more to the SW.
The start line was moved for race 2 and the wind strengthened slightly for the rest of the day. Perhaps AJ was analysing his performance between races to the extent that he was 30 secs late for the start, a distance that he was unable to make back up. This time Val/Ken led the fleet around the course, and Neil in his Solo had a better race finishing 2nd on the water ahead of Mike in his Streaker.
Latest Autumn Saturday series results
A wet night, and drizzly morning, seemed to generate some reluctance to venture out, but nine boats did follow the start boat out for another couple of races in a shifty SW F1-2 gusting 3 occasionally.
Neil was a bit too keen for the first start, recalled, capsized, got his mast in the mud, recovered, and restarted some 5 minutes behind the rest of the fleet! Steve/Ruth led both races, and pulled out a strong lead. AJ/Sue sailed well, and surely would have beaten the other main rivals in the GP fleet, if only they had turned up to race! John/Steve in their F15 learned that running into the back of another boat is not the done thing, and had to do two turns as a penalty.