Night Jar 17

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It wasn�t as rough as last week but it was still windy for this, the final round of the Night Jar. As last week, the wind was WSW and the course 0-2-B which used the same marks as, but the opposite way round to last week.

There were just four starters, AJ and Sue taking out the Fifteen and Val insisting that the GP�s kite remained down. These two boats had a good battle over 3 rapid laps. Neil�s Radial was with them until he hit a mark on lap 2 and lost so much time that he retired. Paul Gannon capsized his Radial on four occasions but did well to finish, albeit on 2 laps.

In both FH and PH categories Val & Ken were race winners from AJ & Sue with Paul third. Tony King had already won the FH Series and, by virtue of his third place points as OD in this final round, he took the PH Series as well. Joan & Jack were runners up and Val & Ken third in both. 

Thanks to AJ for this final meal and for organising the Food Rota. Also to Safety Crews, OD�s and to all others who have made this season�s 17 race / 45 boat series such a success.

Final results PH FH

Workday Challenge�

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We have an open day this Saturday to encourage everyone to try sailing.

No charge.

Open to all – encourage your friends and colleagues to come along and try our sport.

Starts 10am

For those that want to take things further there will be a sailing course at the end of the month. Contact Alex for further information

Fleet Challenge B

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A select group of boats turned out on Saturday for the fleet challenge. The rain had started on cue, and continued throughout the afternoon, which may have been an off-putting factor for some. The lake was initially partially shadowed by Sale Fell, but the wind backed and strengthened to the South, resulting in two of the four starters quickly peeling off and returning to shore soon after the start. That left Dave Lawson in a Laser and Jim/Poppy in their Hartley which, according to Jim, has a mind of its own in such conditions! Perhaps that would explain why the gybe mark at 0 became their downfall and resulted in Poppy’s first capsize, and Jim catapulting off a disappearing centreboard! That left Dave to finish another lap and take the only finisher’s hoot.

Perhaps Sunday would be a better day? The overnight rain had passed through (ask the Duncans about that!), but there was no wind. It wasn’t too long before there were ripples across the bay from the north, so a line was set and the od waited for boats to launch, as the breeze faded again… Racing was started in the very light air, and all 14 boats seemed happy to continue. it wasnt long before a some patchy winds came back, but from the west! The od opted to make the most of the light breeze, despite the lack of a beat, and sent the fleet around for another lap!

A little bit of a sea breeze kept the boats moving for the afternoon race.

Not the most thrilling of racing days, but most were happy to be on the water and sailing on a sunny Sunday!

Overall the winner was Dave Lawson, who opted to sail his GP with Lynn for Sunday’s races

Final results

Night Jar 16

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An hour before the start this week�s Night Jar looking decidedly dodgy with rough water and white caps around Scarness. But several helms were keen to compete and, following a slight lull, the safety boats were launched.

The wind was slightly south of West and, to try to give some shelter, the line was set at 2 with the course 0-B-2. Six boats took the start, AJ choosing the Fifteen with Bob Gate as crew and Hazel selecting a Topper. Peter capsized his Laser on the first beat but righted with little loss of time. Lottie also went over in her Topper and, as she was near to the Club anyway, decided to retire.

The Fifteen, and Val & Ken in their GP, briefly tried their kites on the downwind run but decided discretion was the better part of valour and stowed them. After two 10 minute laps the decision was made to let the leading pair do another round and to shorten for the remaining boats. Peter�s Laser, Hazel�s Topper and John�s Pico were all in close company and were finished in that order.

By this time the wind strength had risen to force 5, gusting 6 and with heavy rain. But all made it back to the Club without further incident and were soon tucking in to a meal served by Sue who was happy to have stayed in the dry. 

Results showed that Hazel with the Topper�s favourable handicap had won in both FH and PH categories with Val & Ken were second on FH. The PH battle is going down to the wire with John who was second in the race, Jack & Joan and Tony all within a point of each other. Next week�s final round will be the decider.

Latest results PH FH

August Bank Holiday

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The Bank holiday started early for many campers that have been on site since Thursday (using up a spare day in our allocation). A walk up Catbells for many was celebrated with some fizz on the summit, though Scumper seemed to struggle opening it!

A sunny Saturday was a bit of a surprise on a bank holiday, and there was a light breeze suitable for a fleet of eight Mirrors, many crewed by junior sailors, one of which was Alfie in his first ever race. Jonathan and Henry won the first race, and Mik the second race. In the handicap fleet, one of the Southport visitors gave Robbie D/Banter a run for their money as they each had a 1st and a 2nd. Dave/Lynn won the 1st GP race and Andy/Phil the 2nd, with Joan/Jack being the runner up in both races.

Will there be more partying tonight? You bet!

Latest Results

Yes, Saturday night was long and boozy. It finished at four from what folks can remember. And apparently the ladies were holding their own against the high supping males!

But all were ready to roll on Sunday morning with 32 crews on the water for the first race of five in the series. Weather was dry with a light easterly. The line remained unchanged throughout the day and was port biased in the extreme making good starts challenging. The morning course was liked by some if not by all and this was a long race considering there were two more to follow after lunch.

The second course was an even longer one with a bit of hanging around for the Slow Handicap one lappers – but so what? It was compensated by a tight course in the bay for race 3.

Highlights – from my notebook – as was too engrossed with my own fleet battles when racing! Well, one of the Fifteens got tangled up with the port end mark during a start and Z went some way down the beat before being retrieved! In the Geeps Val was determined to get the better of Joan and did so in Race 2 for positions to be reversed in Race 3. And the S/H fleet managed 9 Mirrors, most with dynamic young crews, and positions were continuously changing.

The F/H fleet had an extremely close result in the afternoon races. On corrected time the first two crews were 7 seconds apart in Race 2 and, in race 3, the first five boats were all covered by 34 seconds.

Holiday Monday: you couldn�t have asked for a better day. Ideal conditions with a Westerly wind which was the strongest of the weekend although not strong enough to tip anyone in. Well our brilliant weekend Safety Driver, Martin Rowell did go swimming fully clothed when he went to check the boats before racing!

The morning race was again on the longish side � or am I just getting old? (Don�t answer that!) And the sunny and warm lunch break seemed to go on for ever.

What happened on the water? Well, the Pico thought it was a Fifteen and got embroiled in their start, John apologising to all the affected helms afterwards. Also, to Mike who wasn�t involved anyway and reckoned that it might just have helped in him getting five bullets.

In the Fast Handicap�s afternoon race there was a slight incident – a clash of rigging I believe – involving Mark�s 100 and Robbie / Phil�s 400 which led to the latter boat retiring. Mark went on to win that race but the series had already been sewn up by Phil & Naomi.

The Geeps afternoon race was a turn up for the books with AJ & Sue leading the first lap and finishing second to David & Lynn who also lifted the series. And the Slow Handicap again, had the young crew to the fore with Andy & Lily in their Mirror taking the series with four wins. In the final race Mother was flying in a Topper and brother in law Nick was out with Scarlett in yet another red sailed boat. In all there were ten different Mirrors on the water over the weekend.

The day finished in style with a demo sail by young Henry Bullen and (I think) Matthew Somerville in an Oppy.

Final Results

John Spittle Images from Sunday and Monday’s races are now available on johnspittle.smugmug.com

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Need help email John ([email protected]).

All profits from the sale of these photos will go to Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

Night Jar 15

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The early start to the Holiday Weekend allowed a number of crews who don�t usually sail in Thursday Racing to take to the water. We had Mike & Kayla in the Fifteen and Banter Phil in the 100 to bolster numbers. And Dave Lawson was out in the Club Laser.
There was a light wind, mainly westerly, and the course was a diamond 0-9-B-A. The first beat was difficult to read and changed the normal running order a bit. After the windward mark it was Phil leading from Joan & Jack in the GP and then Dave in the Laser FR and Neil in the Radial in fairly close company. The Fifteen was moving up after a mediocre first beat.

AJ & Sue had dropped back in the second GP when they went fishing for Jack�s hat. After that AJ reckoned that the soggy garment in his kite bag was slowing them down! Phil continued to extend his lead on the water on the second lap and Joan & Jack were continuing to hold off the Fifteen.

It was decided to stop Bob Gate in his Laser and Paul Gannon in the Radial at the end of lap 2. And also John Roberts in his new colourful Radial � although why he wasn�t out in the Pico after his double victory last week only he knows? It was decided to let Tony�s Solo continue but, by his own admission, the light wind expert was having a dismal race.

In fading wind Phil took line honours from Joan & Jack. The GP crew were first on PH and have, at last, knocked Tony off top spot in the PH Series. On FH they have narrowed the gap to the series leader despite Phil winning this round. However, with better discards, Tony will still win that series on count back even if Joan & Jack take wins in the final two rounds.  

Then it was meal time, it being prepared this week by John Reekie and family. Oh, and apologies to Sarah for not mentioning that she was last week�s chef!

Latest results PH FH

Put Off By Forecast

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A poor forecast of wet weather and gusting winds led to a small collection�of sailors turning out to race. While they waited for more to appear the wind looked acceptably sailable though somewhat wet. By the time the decision was made that there was enough interest, a rescue contingent was pulled together, and boats were prepared, the more blustery conditions suddenly appeared, and Lynn Lawson led the retreat! Sailing secretary Joe Roberts opted to test the suitability of conditions in his Laser, but when he returned, after the odd capsize, he decided he had had enough! A couple of boats went out for a sail, but racing was cancelled for the day.

Sunday morning came,�the�rain had passed, the wind had eased, and there was more interest in sailing. It was�the last race in the Blencathra�series in which Ian/Lezli-Ann were leading -should they stay ashore preventing Mike/Kayla from having a race, thereby securing the trophy? No, they wanted to sail! Claiming water at one mark, Ian misheard Mike’s response so ducked out, and missed a chance to take the lead which Mike held to the finish, taking the trophy.

In the GPs, Dave/Lynn led and won the race, with Val/Ken close on their heels all the way round, but it was series leaders Mike/Eric (who weren’t sailing) that kept their pole position winning the Mustard Pot.

Robbie D/Banter in their RS400 enjoyed the planing conditions on various spinnaker legs, catching up with, and passing, the F15s. Despite winning the race is more than a minute ahead of Zefer in his Laser Radial, Robbie D didn’t have enough qualifying results to win the Dodd Cup series from Ian Hall.

Final results

After lunch the Banana Stakes would take the fleet around the lake on a simple course comprising two two beats and two reaches – well that was the theory. Scarness itself caused a few problems with several boats misjudging how shallow the water was on the spit and consequently scraping their centreboards and rudders on the bottom. Val/Ken grounded a little too hard damaging their rudder and had to retire. As with most Westerlies the winds past Scarness were changeable as the gusts came over Sale Fell and became and downdraughts which spread out in all directions as they hit the lake – challenging as ever! Banter helmed the RS400 this time with Robbie D crewing, and led around the course, but conditions didn’t let them break away, finishing sixth on handicap. It was Dave/Lynn in their GP14 that took the honours with Joe�securing another�2nd.

Banana Stakes

Night Jar 14

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The wind was SE although there wasn�t too much of it. During rigging AJ was telling everyone that the OD should send them down the Lake. After a barrage of this I told him that I would set two courses with the lower one, just for him, being AJ12 (No return mark!). He concentrated on the GP after that!

We had 17 boats out but only 12 came to the line. These included Martin & Alison Overend who were late and at the wrong end so decided that some cruising was better than being last The beat was 1-A with B as the wing mark. The line had heavy port bias which Joan & Jack in the GP and Neil in his Laser picked up and these two battled to be leading boat throughout the first lap with the Laser of Terry Hall third.

Although the wind was dying, only 20 minutes had passed so most were sent for a second lap. The exceptions were the last two on the water who were asked if they wanted to finish the first time around. Bob Gate in his Radial gamely refused saying he wanted to catch the Pico, but Steve and Simon in the 2000 were shortened.

Going into B the wind disappeared and virtually all the fleet were in drift mode. Was there a flag N on the Bates the OD wondered? But then it kicked in again. Jack hoisted the kite which didn�t seem to work as Neil went zooming by � well, comparatively speaking! And Tony was working his light weather magic in the Solo with shoulders over the lee gunwale and boots out to port. He rounded the final mark a length behind and closing. But Neil held on to be first on the water by 3 seconds. 

Results showed the effect of the fleet being so bunched up. John in the Pico had taken PH from Richard�s Solo by over 3 minutes on corrected time with Hazel�s Radial third. Not only that, but the Pico�s boat handicap advantage had allowed it to finish first on FH well ahead of Tony and Joan.

Latest results PH FH

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