That Time of Year!

Not only are we at the end of British Summer Time, so clocks will go back by one hour on Sunday morning, but, with the current high winds, there is plenty of rain around, and it is forecast to continue well into next week with the likelihood that the lake will flood.

Please consider whether your boat will be safe on the foreshore, and avoid any last minute rescuing in the forthcoming dark evenings.

Autumnal Chill

17 October, 2020

A cold ENE breeze blew throughout Saturday afternoon, accompanied by occasional lulls, and numerous swings in direction.

Shifts just before the start led to a starboard biased line (or was it just poorly set?!) and a premature starter who duly returned. Scumper in his RS100 led both races, while Joan/Jack in a GP showed the way for a while.

The bulk of the fleet of 18 boats were reasonably well bunched, and places were prone to change frequently.

Nigel caused havoc just before the start of the second race when he came into a group of starboard boats whilst on port. Bumps were heard, and turns were soon completed…

Autumn Saturday series Latest results

Sunday started with a reasonable SE breeze much to the surprise of many. However the onset of rain in Keswick seemed to kill the wind as the rain moved closer to the northern racing bay. Fortunately it was just a temporary lull, and the wind came back stronger than before.

Val/Ken were on a roll and pulling away from the fleet. Neil Garrison was on such a good lift he missed the gate but eventually looked behind, saw what was happening, and returned to go through it.

Several helms opted out of the second race, probably so they could warm up. Those that remained had some close racing. Neil Garrison was on better form, and spent most of the race fighting AJ/Sue for lead boat, while Val�s first beat had them down the pan, she nibbled away to take the lead by the end of the second main beat, but racing remained close down to the leeward mark where AJ was on her tail (and she wasn�t certain how NeilG would get in the way. Anyway she kept her nerve and held the lead up the final short beat to the finish.

Autumn Sunday series latest results

Autumn Sunshine

10 October, 2020

Saturday�s clouds were slowly cast aside as the afternoon progressed, and there was numerous spells when the sun broke through to give some warmth in the F2-3 wind. The conditions were perfect to attract out some of the cadets that been practicing in the morning.

There was a great fleet of 21 boats competing for the Autumn Saturday series.

There was plenty of shifts to keep sailors on their toes, some of which caused resulted in various capsizes, but there was excellent planing conditions from time to time as well.

For a while, Val/Ken gave Dave/Lynn a run for their money, but a gust just after gybing their kite caught Val out slightly , while Dave took the advantage and passed them. Although Scumper led throughout during both races, his lead wasn�t sufficient to beat Dave who took two wins, with Scumper 2nd, and Joe 3rd.

Autumn Saturday series latest results

A sunny, clear Saturday evening continued through into Sunday morning but there was no wind. The various zephyrs that appeared soon disappeared again. It seemed there were two competing winds. Just after noon, the forecast NW breeze took control so everyone took to the water for a start just before 1pm.

The wind kept swinging between W and NW, causing some light areas on the leg from 1 to 0. AJ lost a lot of ground when he couldn�t lay 0, then had to tack in very light airs to round it. Dave/Lynn broke away to take a strong lead and win the first race.

A sea breeze bedded in by the end of the first race so the line was repositioned, then the race started.

Mike Fairlamb seemed to be banging a corner on the first beat, then he looked round to see the rest of the fleet heading in another direction, and realised he was on the wrong course!

Though the wind eased slightly, it held through to the end of the race. Again, Dave led the way, adding another win. It was the Solos that were runners up in both races, with Neil and Rory each taking a 2nd position, and Val getting a 3rd. Neil didn’t sail the final race (as he left to celebrate his mum’s birthday!), but he still leads the series.

Autumn Sunday series latest results

October Racing

3 October, 2020

Racing No Comments

Persistent rain, very light wind, and a limited number of unenthusiastic sailors, waited until the scheduled start time for any latecomers. With no further takers, racing was cancelled.

By Sunday morning the rain had passed through, the was shining and a katabatic wind (I think) was creating a south easterly.

Of course, as soon as the course was set the wind started to swing to the forecast NE! Throughout the first race the wind gradually oscillated, giving more bias on one tack than the other. Neil Currie took advantage to lead at the windward mark, but AJ/Sue were on form (for a change!) and took the lead until the final beat when Val/Ken passed them. Despite not flying their gennaker at full height, Ant sailed well to lead the race through to the end.

Mike Cave had an early capsize before retiring, and Dave/Lynn retired as well with rigging failure.

The course was changed for the next race, and despite moving B to provide a second beat, the course displayed A!! However, by the final lap A was an ideal mark for the beat…

Val/Ken led throughout the race, with AJ/Sue occasionally snapping at their heels.

Results to follow

Sunny but Chilly Weekend

26 September, 2020

Sixteen boats took part in the final weekend series of our curtailed season.

They were greeted by a lovely sunny day with a variable chilly easterly wind. The novice Bates driver managed to wrap the anchor warp around the prop which meant a short postponement was required. This was rectified by three fat men standing on the bow and a Scottish engineer untangling things at the rear.

Race one saw Mark in his RS100 lead the fast handicap fleet from the start but take the wrong course, he realised his mistake and was first on the water and on handicap.

Ant and Pen had some Spinnaker difficulties just before the final mark which let Paul and Neil past. The GPs has some exciting close racing with numerous leaders, Andy and Phil won in the end. Much amusement was had when Alan and Sue tried to round the final mark to port, it should have been starboard, causing a brief period of chaos and losing a place to Val and Ken. Mik in his Mirror was first on the water and on adjusted time in the slow handicap from Matthew and Katya in Teras.

Race 2 saw the OD set a shorter course with two beats, Mark again led from start to finish in the fast handicap fleet but was beaten for first by Neil in a radial on handicap. The GPs again had close racing early on but Andy and Phil pulled out a comfortable lead from Dave and Lynn. Nigel and Glenys capsized on the reach to 9, struggled to empty and retired.

Matthew and Katia had a great race in the Teras, both beating Mik�s Mirror on the water who was just in the lead rounding the final wing mark in R2 but touched it and had to re-round.

With everything to play for, Sunday dawned cloudless and rather chilly. 16 crews launched for the final three races in the series with half the fleet being in GPs. The wind varied between NE and NW but was seldom stronger than F2.

In the first two races it was Mark and Phil / Izzy taking a Handicap Fleet win each on the water with single handers Neil Currie and Mike Fairlamb next up. In the GPs Andy / Phil and David / Lynn took a win each.

After a short break the final race was held in dying and varying winds. �Only�nine�of the crews thought it worth contesting with�five�being GPs.�It resulted in Mark�taking a 10 minute lead which should net him the Handicap Fleet? �

Similarly Dave & Lynn took the GP race by 8 minutes. Alan & Sue had caused some consternation at the start being over the line and ducking back in which dropped him to the rear of his fleet. James & Jenny took the second place from Paul & Vicky and Val & Ken.

Celebrity Glass Trophy

19 September, 2020

Racing No Comments

Blue skies with a cool gusting NE wind seemed to be a bit challenging at first but 16 boats raced in the weekend’s Celebrity Glass Trophy series. Not surprisingly, the wind was swinging throughout the afternoon, and it did ease at times throughout the first race, but bedded in for the second race.

There was some good reaching conditions at times, and the occasional capsize, including Tog/Joanie in a RS200, Barbara in a Laser Radial, and Dave/Lynn in their GP after they finished! However, generally there was some close, and consistent, racing. Steve/Ruth led both races, but they could not break away from Dave/Lynn sufficiently in either race to beat them on handicap.

Poppy persevered in her Topper, avoided capsizing, and completed both races!

The final results had the GPs taking the first three positions – Dave/Lynn, John/Jack then Val/Ken.

Sunday’s start may have been put back to 1130 but the Lake was just as flat then as at 1100. It remained that way until Andy abandoned at c1230.

Windy Weekend

12 September, 2020

Championship Racing No Comments

Strong gusty winds in the morning eased sufficiently for racing in the weekend series with a turnout of 16 boats. There were various capsizes, some challenging variable conditions around 9, and opportunities for some spectacular reaches, especially by Scumper in his RS100.

At one stage, AJ seemed to have a new take on an age old rule re mark rounding…

In the handicap fleet there were mixed fortunes with the shifty conditions, and the asymmetrics were able to take advantage of the gusts on the long runs to the leeward marks. Scumper had a 1st and a 3rd, Robin/Erin in a RS200 two 2nds, while John in a Solo had a 3rd and a 1st to take overnight lead.

There was more consistency in the GPs with Andy/Phil in overnight lead with two 1sts while John/Jack had two 2nds.

Paul leads the slow handicap fleet after both Poppy and Katia retired.

Sunday morning was bright and dry but with a strong SW breeze that wasn’t tempting anyone to even take covers off their boats. Perhaps the occasional sunny spells highlighted too many white wave crests?!

After a while Andy/Phil and John/Jack decided to give it a go, and three handicap boats followed suit.

Conditions were such that the Bates wasn’t holding its anchor, even second time around, so it resulted in a lot of port bias (probably so much that boats couldn’t cross the line on starboard tack!). There were numerous capsizes, hard beats, and some good reaches to make up for all the hard work.

Despite a strong lead, Scumper had one, or two, capsizes too many and ended up finishing behind John on the water. In the GPs, Andy/Phil led throughout the race with John/Jack 2nd.

Coming ashore after the first race there was no appetite for any more races, so that brought the series to an end, with no change to the overnight leader results.

Autumn on the way?

5 September, 2020

Tinker Trophy final results

Racing No Comments

Saturday started bright and windy, but as the fleet headed to the start the heavens opened, and hardly eased for the rest of the afternoon. The gusty winds caused a few capsizes even before racing started but everyone made the race. During the second lap the wind started to swing, and ease to almost drifting conditions by the time all boats had finished.

With the wind having swung through 180 degrees, it wasn’t looking promising for a second race, but the original westerly quickly returned, though slightly lighter, so the line was quickly reset, and another short race got underway (there’s only so much rain the committee boat team can cope with!)

Ethan led both races in his RS100, and by taking advantage of the better winds he secured two wins. John/Jack in their GP took 2nd in the first race, but fearing the wind had gone headed straight ashore. Dave in a Laser Radial had a 3rd and a 2nd, so is 2nd overall overnight.

Those that returned on Sunday found it was raining as much as Saturday (perhaps its had rained all night?), and the wind had disappeared. However, this did not totally dampen everyone’s enthusiasm as there was an interest in racing if possible. By 11.30 there was a hint that the rain was passing through, with some wind appearing from the SE, so the OD opted to test the sailor’s mettle, and arranged for the rescue boats to be launched before heading out to set a start. With the wind failing to settle from a given direction, it was after 1pm before racing got underway for five contenders, despite it being in the lightest of conditions, and a reaching start.

The wind filled in from the forecast NW direction, AJ/Sue reached the windward mark first ahead of Ethan in his RS100, and things looked promising. In fact they were sailing so well the race continued into the 2nd lap, only for the wind to ease yet again, so the race was shortened at the next mark. There would be no more racing, but at least it was a sunny afternoon, such a change from the morning.

Although AJ beat Ethan on handicap by a matter of seconds, Ethan won the Tinker Trophy series overall, with AJ 2nd, and Nigel/Glenys 3rd

August Holiday Weekend 2020

2 September, 2020

The majority of members hadn�t sailed since the end of last season and were desperate to get onto the Lake and involved in competition. So, by the Holiday Weekend, nearly forty crews were ready to take to the water. Some were encouraged by the very light winds while others were put off by the conditions.

On Saturday there was a two race series for the Paul Carruthers Memorial Trophy. Scumper won the first while �training man� Reekie got the second. Overall it was Phil & Naomi from Mark. Dave & Caroline Exley in a RS400 were third ahead of Robbie D.

A five race class series on the following days was held in light to non-existent winds which drifted in from virtually every point on the compass. There were no FFs so the Fast Handicap Fleet led the way. Bean in the RS200 crewed this time by young Oliver took the series with three bullets. Shunty & Ruth were second in their Merlin, and Neil third in his aged Solo.

The nine strong GP fleet was won on last race by Telf with Jack crewing, from a high performing Mike Fairlamb who had �Sally Sailor� as crew. The Ginger Boats entry of Andy & Phil could only manage a series third.

Mik took the MT Slow Handicap win by a whisker from Matty in his Tera Pro. Stephen and son in their Mirror were third.