Although the winter series was scheduled to start today, the wind was absent, so the OD agreed with those that were considering sailing to cancel racing for the day.

The final day of the Autumn Saturday had a good F4-5, though not as gusty as the forecast, and the afternoon stayed dry.

There were five boats that started, of which only four finished, but there were no capsizes. The extended course had some good planing opportunities, though James/Jenny demonstrated that discretion was the better part of valour, so did not fly their spinnaker.

Neil/Archie were back together on the water in their RS200, and led by a good margin, but were beaten on handicap by Dave/Lynn in their GP. Neil/Archie sailed around waiting for the next race, but the other sailors all sailed straight to shore, so there was no more racing.

Overall the series was won by Dave/Lynn, with Neil/Archie 2nd , and James/Jenny 3rd.

Final results

Sunday started with misty/foggy conditions which had blown away by race time. Much more overcast, and cooler, than Saturday but not as windy.

There were seven starters, and they all finished both races without capsizing! The occasional gusts created excellent planing conditions, and gave Neil/Archie in their RS200 opportunities to claw back ground lost on some beats, though not sufficient to shake off Dave/Lynn in their GP who went on to win both races, and the series, with Neil/Archie 2nd, and Paul G 3rd overall.

AJ/Sue and Val/Ken had some close racing, each beating the other by one place over the two races.

Final results

A busy weekend with coaching sessions for 16 Teras alongside club racing on a sunny Saturday afternoon with a F1-2 SW breeze which attracted 15 boats.

The starts were clean, though only just! There was mixed fortunes in the swinging, variable, wind. AJ/Sue were caught port/starboard requiring them to do some turns. Neil C missed his toestraps and had an unexpected swim, while Val/Ken headed for the wrong mark!

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The first half was Saturday, once the heavy rain passed through, the westerly wind seemed to ease (from the clubhouse at least), but when some clouds parted the white tops of the waves were visible downwind – never a good sign! The white tops were sufficiently off putting for one of the two boats that were potentially prepared to race, so racing was postponed for the day.

The second half being Sunday started off with mirror like conditions on the webcam, though there were nominal signs of katabatic airs an hour before the scheduled start they soon faded, so those potentially interested in racing had an early lunch. Following lunch conditions hadn�t improved so racing was cancelled for the second day in a row.

Seventeen boats on a sunny Saturday enjoyed a southerly breeze that initially freshened.

The first start was busy, and there were some near misses (or was it collisions?!). Phil/Oscar in their RS200 had mixed fortunes against Dave/Lynn in their GP, especially when the wind veered slightly to the SSW, as Sale Fell affected the wind streams causing downdraughts, and some holes for sailors to contend with! At times there were great three sail reaches.

There was a major shift to the SW during the start sequence for the second race, but the S breeze returned, then Sale Fell intervened again making it challenging to complete the first lap, but the S breeze returned in time for most of the fleet to race one more lap.

Neil C in his Laser Radial won the first race, with Dave/Lynn 2nd, and Dave/Lynn won the next race with Phil/Oscar in a RS200 2nd. Neil C leads the series overall with AJ/Sue 2nd.

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Though lighter winds than last week, Sunday’s conditions in the bay were very similar with a breeze from the SSW on the east side, and from the NNE on the west side! To get some steadier conditions a windward/leeward course was set from 6 to 7. It took a while for the fleet to reach the start, and the first race was held in reasonably steady conditions, though there was the odd shift to the SW that a couple of boats on the right hand side of the beat took advantage of.

The wind strength was much more variable for the next race, especially during the first lap, but it returned for subsequent laps.

Both races were won by Dave/Lynn, with Neil C 2nd, resulting in the same positions for the series overall.

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Despite a healthy forecast, the wind didn�t look at all promising as sailors prepared their boats, as the occasional shower seemed to kill whatever zephyrs there were.

With some breeze filling in from the southern end of the lake, the OD set out to determine a suitable course. As the forecast SW direction seemed to be settling in, the port pin was laid only to find a NW wind was more appropriate for the starboard end! The line was reset for a middle of road W wind, and it worked!

With his crew incapacitated again, Neil Campbell raced a Laser Radial, got a flying start, led the fleet for the first lap and promptly capsized. James/Jenny in their GP then took the lead only to be passed by Mike/Jack in a Graduate when the wind eased, however, James regained the lead on the final lap.

The rain stayed clear for the racing, and the courses offered some good planing reaches. The occasional shifts caught out Nigel/Glynis while beating, causing a capsize, and subsequent retirement.

William in a Tera was on a high after being finished first ahead of mum Emily, but opted to quit while ahead, retiring on the first beat of the next race. AJ/Sue�s spinnaker was reluctant to come down losing them a bit of ground, though not a place. Gear failure resulted in Ian retiring his Solo, leaving just four boats to fight it out. Apparently Sue’s guidance to AJ on one beat, was not heeded, resulting in a collision with Neil, and the need to do a 720!

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Sunday started a little strange with various sailors turnin up on autopilot for a 1130 race, though others had read the sailing programme which stated a 1230 start. While waiting many could not fail to notice the forecast SE wind creating white horses on the eastern side of the lake, and totally different N-NW airs on te western shore!

The OD found the steadiest wind on the eastern shore, though most of the white horses had dissipated, so set a beat from 4 to 6. Richard in a Solo was caught out by the differing winds on the way to the start, capsized and returned to shore before starting. The wind/swell increased as the fleet progressed up the first beat, and Sue soon persuaded AJ to head home, Val/Ken soon followed suit, as did Neil in his Laser, leaving three boats battling the elements. Dave/Lynn completed the first lap in just over 10 mins, but it was quite a while before Paul completed the lap, especially after capsizing just before the leeward mark. As Richard in the remaining Laser had retired at the first gybe mark, and it was clear Paul wouldn’t be attempting a second lap, the race was shortened, much to his, and Dave/Lynn’s, relief!

No interest in having a second race… There was a challenge for the committee boat raising the anchor which was well lodged on some lake bed object. Fortunately the rescue crew came to the rescue!

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