The 69th Annual General Meeting was held online on Sunday 6th December 2020

Naomi opened the meeting by thanking everyone that had helped during her time as Commodore, and especially those that had helped manage the club during this exceptionally challenging season.

The following members were elected on to Council.

Commodore – Jon Denwood
Secretary – Pauline Nicholson
Treasurer – Mike Cave
Sailing Secretary – Phil Smith
Rear Commodore – Naomi Smith
Asst Sailing Secretary – Alastair Duncan
Boats & Buoys – Alex Leonard
Grounds & Jetties – Mark Somerville
Membership – Joe Roberts
PRO – Paul Allen
Training – Anthony Woodyer
Safety – Robin Dawson
Social – Joanna Van Lachterop

Fleet Captains
Flying 15 – Simon Longstaff 
GP14 – Mike Fairlamb
Mirror – Mik Chappell
Handicap – Izzy Hunter
Laser – Paul Gannon

The following roles are vacant and all expressions of interest would be greatly appreciated, just get in touch with Jon

• Vice Commodore
• Bar
• Galley
• House

It was agreed that subscriptions for current members would renew at 2020 rates, with a small increase for new members after 1st April.

To encourage junior racing, the sailing instructions will be amended such that, when all boats are in a single race, juniors/cadets may be shortened, and get results, without shortening the whole race.

A password protected members’ website will be introduced for member specific information.

A vote of thanks was given to Naomi for all her efforts during what has proved to be an exceptionally challenging season.

After a wet and windy morning, the forecast was for the wind to ease, and it did! (Not that AJ believed it would). Eight boats took to the water.

Dave/Lynn got the best flying start and were first to the windward mark. Scumper caught them up on the next reach, and pulled away. There were some planing reaches early on, but the wind continued to ease throughout the afternoon, perhaps reflecting the changing fortunes in the results, where Scumper had a clear win in the first race but dropping to 5th in the second one. However, Dave was more consistent taking 2nd and 1st places respectively. 

Saturday series latest results 

On Sunday the forecast was for gusty conditions, and more sailors appeared to be taking heed as AJ was the first and only boat to be rigged until, that is, Barbara appeared and he eagerly offered to help her rig her boat. His explanation as to why he offered to help Barbara but not Neil G was, embarrassingly, overheard by Barbara while she was in the toilet…

As the fleet of three headed out, the wind picked up. Barbara was caught out by a gust, and capsized, then struggled to right it. AJ/Sue and Neil G did start, but Neil came back to check on Barbara, then retired. The OD was in a benevolent mood (or did he want to get home for lunch?), and shortened the race for AJ at the end of the first lap. Although Andy T turned up for a sail, no one else was up for another race, which brought the series to an end with Val/Ken the victors, and AJ/Sue a close 2nd

Autumn Sunday series final results

 

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.

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

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

 

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.

Final results