The sun was shining again, and some sailors were surprised that there was a southerly to boot! 16 boats set off in great conditions but halfway through the first lap the wind eased as it swung slowly to the SW. Sailors had to decide which side of the beat would get the wind first.�As the wind from the south came back in, boats took the 90 degree header, and waited for the strength to increase again. Those that were on the right hand side of the course lost out most. Although Neil and Judith led the fleet across the line, it was Dave and Lynn that won on both FH and PH basis, with Neil 2nd on FH and Joan and Jack 2nd on PH.

The wind was more consistent from the south for the 2nd race, and the beat somewhat one sided. Joan and Jack trawled their spinnaker and headed home early. Mike and Kayla fought their way past Neil, but it was to be Dave and Lynn that took another win.

Sunday morning�was�wet and windy, with white horses due to�the wind funnelling through the Scarness narrows. No-one really wanted to put their head above the parapet to say they were definitely going sailing. Eventually the three GP sailors went out to assess the weather and gave it a cautious thumbs up. If they had waited another minute it might have been a definite thumbs down as one of the wicked squalls passed through!

With the Bates out of operation, a shore start meant the race management team were protected from the weather (but not the swarm�of blue bottles) in the race office. The gusty conditions led to�discretion being�the better part of valor especially regarding flying spinnakers! Mike and Kayla won on FH by the briefest of margins ahead of Dave and Lynn, and Val won the PH race.

Over lunch the wind continued to abate and the sun was out yet again for the afternoon race. With Dave taking 1st place on FH, and Mike/Eric 2nd, Mike/Kayla had to make do with 3rd.

Having opted not to sail, Joan and Jack’s lead in each series has diminished, but they do still lead.

Latest results

With clear, sunny skies and a mirror-like lake again in the morning, conditions didn’t look too promising for racing, but a NE breeze filled in and ten boats took to the water. Val/Ken got away with a port on port start, but it was Mike/Kayla that took an early lead which they strengthened as the race went on. Their main competitors were from the GPs with Joan/Jack challenging, and breaking past�Val/Ken a couple of times as the wind strength varied throughout the race. Joan won on both FH and PH.

Val was a little premature for the second start and had to duck the line and gybe round before starting. Mike led the fleet again, but Joan beat him on handicap by 9 secs, and she won on PH as well.

Joan leads both series at present, with Val 2nd and Alan 3rd.

Sunday was sunny as well, but the wind was more fickle. After prevaricating about having an early lunch some wind appeared so a line was set. The closer the fleet got to the line, the more the wind faded! Once there, most seemed prepared to drift around the course (well they all started). The race was shortened at the first mark, and Joe was first to finish, winning on FH and PH basis. Jim crossed the line next in his Supernova, but was beaten by Ian in his Solo.

Unexpectedly the wind filled in over lunch enabling a good race to finish the day in which Joan chalked up another win strengthening her lead in the series.

Final�results

Another month, another series. After a mirror like lake in the morning the wind filled in from the NE to allow racing to get underway for the mixed fleet of 10 boats. The wind did ease for a while but Joan/Jack mastered the conditions leading the fleet across the line and winning on FH and PH basis with Val/Ken 2nd on FH.

In the 2nd race the wind swung more to the East, and the rain moved in. It was Peter Whipp in his Laser that led the fleet to the finish line, but with Val/Ken close on his tail they won on FH and PH basis with�Peter 2nd on FH.

Overnight positions have Val/Ken leading the FH series with Joan/Jack 2nd, and the reverse order for the PH series.

The day ended dry and the lake returned to being mirror like!

In the conclusion of the Lakeland and Border Laser Grand Prix series at Derwent Reservoir(?), Neil�Garrison finished 3rd overall and Hazel Newport was�First Lady overall.

Sunday was a beautiful day, with lots of sunshine, but not the best racing day. The wind filled in patchily from the South but kept coming and going. If the fleet had been ready to start on time their sailing ‘window’ might have been better. As it was the wind eased after the start, then freshened towards the end of the first lap so the OD let them carry on, and the wind eased again… It did fill in from various directions, but it wasn’t the best racing conditions. Ethan Dawson sailed with Ellie in a RS200, taking the lead on the 2nd lap to win on FH and PH basis with Joan and Jack 2nd, who presently lead both series.

The afternoon race was cancelled due to no wind, but a few of the DragonForce fleet were being test driven in the light airs. It seems that pumping the sails works on them too, so beware!!

Latest results

Meanwhile the non-sailors were running – Stephen Kirkpatrick in the Keilder Marathon, and Alastair Duncan in the Cumbrian run.

Congratulations go to Andy Smith and Phil Hodgkins who sailed their new GP�in�the Midland Championships at Chelmarsh SC, winning overall with three bullets and a 4th. It looks like their other races were cancelled due to no wind too.