The sunny Saturday started with some junior sail training in variable light airs. It was hoped that a sea breeze would be the saviour and fill in the various flat patches, and steady the swinging breeze.

On setting the course it seemed that the sea breeze was on its way as the fleet headed to the start line, so the start sequence got underway despite a late swing back to the north resulting in a reaching start for most fleets. However, they did have to tack to reach the windward mark, as the alternate breeze filled in again. The twin airs continued to battle it out throughout the afternoon.

Perhaps it was one of the lulls between the airflows that AJ/Sue took advantage of to catch and pass Mike/Eric in the GPs? In the next race, AJ again took the lead when Mike had to do some turns, but Mike pulled back through, and presently leads the series.

A last minute decision to sail scuppered Scumper’s chances in the first race as he started behind the Mirrors & Teras! It was John Reekie in a Solo that won race 1 ahead of Colin May in a Laser. Scumper won race 2 with Stan in a Solo 2nd. Stan leads the series.

In the Slow Handicap fleet, Matthew/Cameron were practising for next weekend’s Mirror Inlands, finishing with a creditable 1st and 3rd to lead the series. Katia and Poppy were in Teras again, and vying for position with Mik in his Mirror. They all ended the day with 6 points, but Poppy’s win split the tie putting her 2nd overall, and Katia 3rd.

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Sunday’s forecast was not at all promising with less wind than Saturday. Fortunately the Bass micro-climate filled the flat patches to get racing underway in another day of sunshine. There were some occasional lighter patches, and various shifts, but that’s fairly normal!

A couple of Mirror crews stepped up to the Handicap fleet with Andy/Lily in a GP, while Phil/Oliver were in a RS200. On handicap Andy took 1st place just 8 secs ahead of Phil, with Ian/Lezli-Ann 3rd. Mik won the Slow Handicap fleet, with Katia 2nd, and John Roberts 3rd.

After lunch there was a pennant race in aid of Calvert Trust. With the light winds the fleet were only sent to mark 10 which took the lead boat more than 30 mins to reach. On the return the wind strengthened, and lifted benefitting the boats further down the fleet one of which was AJ/Sue, sailing Andy’s GP, who broke through to the lead for a while. Ian/Lezli-Ann did regain the lead, but not sufficient to win on handicap, finishing 6th overall. It was to be Mik’s day, taking another win almost 50 secs ahead of AJ, with Rory in a Solo 3rd 14 secs later.

Calvert Trust Pennant results
Sandra’s Salver latest results

As the nights draw in after the summer solstice, the high pressure left us with clear skies and light variable winds.

The wind did regularly swing from N through to WNW, but the beats remained. Rounding 0 was a challenge as it was partly shaded by the club and shoreline.

Fortunes were mixed at times as a result of the changing wind strengths.

Sunday started with little wind, spinning merrily while members from Keswick reported a good wind down the lake. By the time racing was scheduled to start the wind had filled in and a long beat to 7 was set, with another long run down to 2. The gusts led to some exciting planing conditions, which the F15s thought were a little hairy at times!

Fortuitously, both Neil and Paul were without crews, so they teamed up, taking two 1sts and a 2nd to add to Neil’s two wins from Saturday, to win the Ullock Mug, with Mike/Kayla 2nd and Ian/Lezli-Ann 3rd.

A strong win by AJ/Sue in the GPs in the morning race had him celebrating with a bottle of sparkling wine during the lunch break. Unfortunately it neither boosted his performance, or affected his competition, for the afternoon races, though they were in with a chance of winning the McMillan Cup depending on their result in the final race, Val/Ken took two wins and the trophy.

In the Handicap fleet the wins were spread across several helms with various people only sailing some races. Overall, Banter/Izzy in a RS400 took the honours winning the Grisedale Cup with Rich 2nd, and Ian 3rd, both in Solos.

Four girls in Teras had a good natter as they sailed round on Saturday, and had mixed results between them, but Sunday’s wind proved too much, causing capsizes and retirements. Overall Erin won The Round Table Tankard, with Katia 2nd, and Hannah 3rd.

Ullock Mug etc final results

With less than a week until the longest day, it shouldn’t be too surprising that the temperature has improved and the sun is shining. Add a good force 4 from the SW and you have near perfect conditions for Saturday racing.

The fleet was somewhat cautious for the first start with the first boat taking 8 secs to cross the line! The wind freshened as the race progressed, but there were only a couple of capsizes. Fortunes were dependent on which side the the beat was chosen, with the right hand side proving to be more beneficial. On handicap to was to be Ant/Jo in a Vision, on their first outing for a while, that took the honours by just 7 secs from Hugh in a Vareo.

The rain held off, and the wind eased considerably for the next race, and the first four boats finished within 50 secs of each other. This time Val/Ken in their GP took the honours 13 secs ahead of Ant/Jo.

Latest MG results

Sunday was unexpectedly different to Saturday, and the forecast. There seemed to be a permanent threat of rain, and although there were occasional spots of rain, that was to be as bad as it would get. The wind was lighter than expected, and as it swung to and fro around Sale Fell, there were occasional calmer patches to contend with.

In the GPs there was an unexpected contender as AJ had planned to race at Windermere but en route Sue realised her sailing gear was still at Bass! Perhaps his early start might explain why Val/Ken slipped away from him?

In the Handicap fleet Toggle in his Solo took the honours just a few secs ahead of Stan, with Angus/Mike in a F15 3rd.

There was some healthy competition in the Slow Handicap fleet with three Teras in contention. However, Andy/Lily in a Mirror, having sailed an extra lap in lighter winds, won on handicap with Katia 2nd followed by Erin and Poppy.

Latest BL results

The afternoon race was the Jubilee Sailing Trust Pennant, so the fleet were sent as far as mark 11 in a good southerly, unfortunately the swinging wind continued and Sale Fell caused more calm patches to shake up the positions, and slow down proceedings, as it took 80 mins for the first boat, Angus/Mike to return. On Handicap, Val/Ken were 1st, AJ/Sue 2nd, and Angus 3rd.

Jubilee Sailing Trust results

Meanwhile the Teras had a race in the bay – Katia led the way, with Erin 2nd, and Poppy a close 3rd.

After a miserably wet Saturday, the clouds parted for some Sunday sunshine, and force 3 from the SW.

A failure to closely watch the flags had only Paul Gannon on the handicap fleet start line, with other stragglers some minutes behind! There were several capsizes, and a couple of subsequent retirements. On handicap Paul came a close 2nd to Rich Critchley in a Solo. Despite not knowing the course, and almost being misguided by Neil, Rich won the afternoon race as well with Hugh 2nd. Neil had been lying 2nd to Hugh, but rounded mark A incorrectly, trying to call Hugh back. It was only when Tim said he should have rounded it to port that he returned, and then capsized, losing two places in the process! Ethan capsized his RS100 with his kite up which he struggled to release the halyard. When he did eventually right the boat, he was shattered and called it a day.

After being OCS at the GP Scottish championships last weekend, AJ was somewhat more cautious when it came to the GP start being a couple of minutes late! He did get it right after lunch but still finished up with two 3rds behind Mike/Eric and Val/Ken.

Katia was in a Tera, with dad Andy in a Mirror guiding her round the course. Despite capsizing, she recovered her boat, carried on to finish, and earning a well deserved 1st place. In the afternoon she came 2nd to John in a Pico, but she presently leads the series.

Latest BL results