Our PTBO day went superbly. Sunshine to sit outside and admire Skiddaw and Bass lake and a reduction in wind strength to allow visitors to take to the water.
We had around 100 visitors of whom 68 were taken out on the Lake. We have some new family members already and more are expected. This makes it all worthwhile, although Team Bass hardly had time for a tea break let alone any lunch!
The photo shows the activity on the slipway and jetty with the Commodore near the centre supervising.
Saturday�s programme had been geared around Push The Boat Out and started with Long Series class racing followed by the Calvert Trust Pennant. Conditions were challenging for the Fifteens and marginal for the centreboard boats.
Before Race 1 had started there were three boats over. Paul brought the Radial straight back ashore and Ethan capsized the 600 on the start line. Jon�s radial went head to wind at the windward mark, but he was in good company as Ian/Lezlie Ann had a boat load of trouble attempting their rounding. These problems left Rory/Eleanor James with a good lead and first on the water in the Fifteens and allowed Peter Whipp to do likewise in the Handicap Class.
Jon and Paul called it a day but Jim & Poppy plus Val & Ken took their places for the Pennant which was wisely kept North of Scarness with a course 0-6-3.
This time it was Peter Winfindale�s Radial which was left inverted at the start and Bob brought his in. Mike Hunter later did likewise having been the first non- Fifteen early on.
Doubtless with Sandra�s Salver in mind AJ/Sue in the FF had a peach of a start and were second to Ian/Lal at the windward mark. But Ian found the opposing winds at 6 difficult to read and Rory/Eleanor were away in the lead. Val & Ken kept their kite up on the next tight reach and crashed in on a screaming plane � but they sorted things out and continued. Jim & Poppy were finding the Wanderer difficult to tack in the heavy conditions but were classified as a finisher.
Unlike last week, it was a superb evening for a race. Really warm with an unusual wind from due South. It allowed the OD to set a 9-A-1 course which included a good beat, a near run and a tight reach. The line had some starboard bias but was difficult to read. Those starting at the starboard end and rapidly going onto port for a while appeared to gain most from a wind which curved around Sale Fell.
Ian/Lezli-Ann in the FF were alternating for the lead position on the water with John Reekie/Hazel Newport in a Merlin with the FF of Tim Knowles/Martin Statter next up. Then came the Geeps of Joan/Jack, Mike/Eric and Val Ken in close company with Tony�s Solo in tow.
The wind held and allowed this first half of the fleet to do four laps but it was decided to shorten for Jim & Poppy in the Wanderer. Then came AJ/Sue in the GP ahead of Jon/Kayla in the FF. Next up on three laps were Peter�s Laser and John Roberts, this week in a radial, followed by the Solos of Richard, Mike and Eric together with Bob�s Radial.
The lead Fifteen and the Merlin had a close finish but the GP helms were even closer with Mike just failing to get water at the final mark and loosing out to Joan by just seven seconds. Val & Ken then hurriedly made their way ashore to serve the previously prepared meal.
Our very own Emma Smith is in Beyond The Boards 2 which is playing at the following locations near you
They are :
Emma is looking forward to seeing you there!
This Sunday 14 May we are supporting the RYA Push the Boat Out campaign to get more people on the water in any form.
Tell your friends and colleagues about it, and invite them down to see what we are about and even have a sail.
Everyone welcome from 10.00am onwards
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Bassenthwaite SC is pleased to be hosting this year’s�GP14 Inland Championship. With a mixture of winds forecast, there�is certain to be�some great competition.
First race scheduled for 12 Noon resulted in a general recall so they’ve burned their boats and it’ll be the I flag (or worse) moving forward!
The first race was unit led by Mike Senior, but the shifting conditions caused him to slip back, while others had some big gains. John Hayes took the winners gun with Fergus Barnham 2nd and Dave Lawson 3rd.
Andy Smith led race 2 through to the finish but the result will be subject to protest.
The wind faded just after the start of the third race but freshened again a couple of minutes later. Val and Ken managed it well and were 3rd around the windward mark. They did slip a few places thereafter but had a great race.
Andy Smith and Fergus Barnham had some close racing, swapping places a couple of times. Andy wishes he’d stuck to the key rule of winning – always cover on the final beat!!
Stronger than expected winds from the North East for the 2nd day’s racing but they were just as shifty! Overnight leader Fergus Barnham clinched his first win of the weekend and moved a step closer to winning the championship. Dave Lawson had a great race finishing 2nd
The shifting wind proved to be a challenge for the race officer for the start of race 5, and there were a couple of postponements to reset the line. Despite this, a couple of boats�were a bit too eager at the next start. Mike Senior took his first win of the weekend, while Fergus took third and secured an unassailable lead for the championship.
After Dave Lawson’s rest having been OCS in the previous race, he was on top form in the final race and won it with a strong lead from Mike Senior. This gave Dave 2nd overall and pushed Andy Smith into 3rd, with Mike Senior 4th.
Challenging conditions for all, but great racing all the same.
Why no results or report on Night Jar 2? Well, it didn�t happen! There were white caps all around Dubwath Bay and, at times, you could barely stand up outside the clubhouse. So there was no dissent when Joan hoisted Flag N (with Jack holding her upright!). The meal, prepared by Brent and friends, had been brought forward in anticipation and was enjoyed by all.
The strong morning winds abated before racing started, and with a southerly blowing, several sailors wondered whether they’d be sent around the lake! Fortunately the sailing remained in the main bay as the wind strength varied considerably, and it seemed as if it may not come back at one stage, but it did.
With the fear of losing some racing on Sunday due to forecast high winds, the visiting Catapults opted to squeeze in a third race, and it introduced a new winner outside the Ede family!
What would Sunday bring? Perhaps plenty of wind to blow these candles out and time to recuperate from Andrea’s 50th birthday bash?
Sunday arrived with a lovely sunny day, and light winds first thing in the morning that rapidly built up with a southerly wind that formed white horses across the lake. The Catapults had decided to enjoy the lakes rather than risk breaking their boats, and there was a lack of enthusiasm to get on the water by anyone else. So after a couple of hours postponement, no sign of the wind abating, racing was cancelled for the day.
A barbeque is planned for the evening.
Monday’s forecast wasn’t dissimilar to Sunday’s in terms of strength, but with the wind swinging to the East, the waves didn’t have so much time to build! There was a good size fleet eager to get back on the water, and although the wind freshened for a while at the start, overall the conditions were sailable, and there were some spectacular spinnaker legs. Several boats did capsize, and most carried on to the end.
In the GPs, Andy/Phil didn’t take long to make good their poor start, building up a strong lead, and taking a further win, and the Lyne Tankard series, in the afternoon race.
In the F15s, Ian/Lezli-Ann noticed their genny was loose at the tack on the first beat, so spent some of the downwind legs tying it down again before starting the attack on John/Tim, and taking the lead by the end of the first lap, which they held through to the end. They took the�lead in the 2nd race as well, and their position was a bit safer after John/Tim had problems with the spinnaker sheets going under the boat. Ian won the race and the Jak Pot trophy.
Scumper/Zefer had various�scary planes, but stayed upright to take two wins in the handicap fleet ahead of Steve/Ruth, and won the May Holiday trophy.
There was only one race in the Mirror/Topper Peel Pot series�which was won by Bean ahead of�Banter, who spent the afternoon practising in Ethan’s RS600 before he takes to the water in his own Musto Skiff
We had everything for the first Thursday evening. A flight of four engine aircraft at minimum height, a spectacular rainbow, a chilly NW wind and, eventually, some rain. Oh, and 12 boats out on the lake, one crewed by a national champion!
The OD�s course was 0-B-9-A which gave three kite legs. This suited the Geeps although it was Neil�s Radial which made the initial impression shadowing Andy Smith / Andy Tunnicliffe and copying their tactics. Chefs for the evening AJ / Sue were also well up but both they and Neil eventually dropped back allowing the GP trio of Mike / Eric, Joan / Jack, Val / Ken through. Paul�s Laser was next up followed by Jon Anson – in a ff no less with Kayla crewing a few seconds ahead of Jim and Poppy in the Wanderer.
A battered and bruised John capsized his Pico but gamely continued to finish on 2 laps. Then came Bob Gate in his Radial who was well into a third lap before he realised he had finished, and Steve / Simon in the L2000.
A diary date for all volunteers able to help maintain the grounds on Wednesday evenings from 6.30 pm, weather permitting, starting this Wednesday 26 April.
No requirement to attend every week, but all help is appreciated as many hands make light work.
If anyone wishes to contact the grounds chair, Mike Cowan, his details are in the handbook.