… just weren’t enough. A lovely, sunny, afternoon but high winds, or was it low temperatures, put numerous would sailors off. So AJs stressful OD duty was straightforward- just get settled into a few cups of tea before abandoning racing for the day.
Winds eased overnight, but it was a wet start which seemed to dampen enthusiasm for the various sailors that were on site. However, after lunch the rain stopped and the one and only race of the weekend got underway – the Eric Twiname Trust pennant, typically raced around the lake. Fortuitously the OD only set the course as far as 10 as the wind eased soon after the start!
Alastair/Gayle in a RS200 were first to 10 and held off Scumper/T in a RS400 all the way back to Scarness. Despite being in the slowest boat, Jim/Poppy stayed ahead of a RS400 on the water, and won on handicap.
This year the RYA promoted Push the Boat Out initiative is being run over 9-17 May. We are playing our part over the first weekend 9/10 May (between 0900 and 1700) and encouraging newcomers to get on the water. They can try�out single handed sailing dinghies, double handed boats, paddle boarding, kayak, rafted Canadian canoes, rowing boat, keel boat and catamaran… all free.
They will be able to park in our ample grounds, have a picnic, go for a stroll, buy snacks and drinks, and admire the glorious views over Bassenthwaite Lake and surrounding mountains.�
Encourage your friends and colleagues to come down and join in where they will be able to talk to club officials to find out what we offer, and what it will cost. Also, they will find out that we offer tuition to adults and youths over 9 years on learning to sail, as well as powerboat courses to adults and teenagers, and first aid courses.�
They will be able to see club members taking part in our weekend races and see that we take safety very seriously by having several safety boats even if it is calm.
All in all we need your help, to encourage new interest by inviting friends/colleagues, and by being around to act as ambassadors for the club, as well as being available to take visitors on to the water.
Please try and do your bit in whatever way you can.
After seeing last week�s Press Report on the notice board�or in the paper, you might have looked at the accompanying photo and thought to yourself �Surely the�Press Officer has been around long enough to know�the difference between�a�Solo and a Vareo?�
Well, we all make mistakes – but this wasn�t one of them! �You see, Mik has run out of Photos and needs�Members�to send him their favourite action shot.�His plan is to feature different boats�and crews�each week from those who are competing.
For this to work, he needs a good, high quality,�picture –�a shot which�clearly�shows the helm and any crew in the boat they will be sailing this season. �Some�in challenging�winds�would�be ideal, although the photo sent�to the papers should reflect that weekend�s conditions.�Send as a jpg attachment to Mik at his email address in the Handbook.
Our foreign correspondent has returned from Puy to report on the Bass meeting
Priority – Which beer should we have?Can we manage with smaller hot plates?Social committee were there tooThey spot the paparazziObviously meeting went well, William must have left the Bass cheque book lying aboutDate of next meeting
The first, and longest, bank holiday weekend of the year started off wet and windless. However, a light breeze did fill in sufficiently to get racing underway for the Good Friday Challenge. Dave/Sarah had their second ‘casual’ start of the season, but it was Mike/Kayla that were some minutes behind the leaders when they were the last to start.
As the drizzle faded, the wind eased and the OD was preparing to finish the fleet part way round the first lap. The light breeze returned in time for the leaders to continue on for a second lap. The excitement must have been too much for Robbie D/Banter who retired and have yet to complete a race this season!
Although Steve/Ruth were first on the water, the corrected times placed the GPs of Dave/Lynn as winners with Mike/Eric 2nd, and Steve 3rd
Tog reckoned we were in for some good weather for the rest of the weekend- would he be right? Well started off very promising with a dry start, but a light, patchy, wind. The wind did settle down a little, though mainly after the slight sea breeze kicked in shortly after the start. There was an eggsellent turnout of over 30 boats across all four fleets
Some consistent sailing in the F15s with 5 out of 7 boats getting the same result in each race. Mike/Kayla won both, Wendy/John and Graham/Elaine each with a 2nd and 4th. Dave/Lynn won both GP races. Despite a substantial lead in the handicap fleet, Phil/Naomi in a RS400 finished 2nd to Ian H in his Solo. Steve/Ruth won the 2nd race. Mik won the only slow handicap race, as the long first race took its toll on various younger competitors so they didn’t partake in the 2nd race.
On Sunday morning the fog was so thick that it wasn’t possible to see the end of the jetty! Fortunately it cleared, and a stronger than expected breeze filled in to enable racing to get underway on time. Well it would have started on time if it had not been for Ben Ainsley who caused a signal to be missed (indirectly). Despite the temporary delay, various people were caught out, including that reluctant headline grabber vice commodore Robbie D, and were still late starting!
The wind did swing and vary in strength throughout the day, but there’s nothing unusual about that! Disappointingly the mist/low cloud came over for a couple of hours preventing the temperature from getting up to the forecast 17C
The second special award of the season goes to Steve/Ruth at having to do the first set of turns of the season after misjudging where the front of his boat was.
By the end of the third race the skies were clear, and the wind had settled for some good racing. Finishing at 0 caused confusion when some believed it to be a hook finish, but we don’t get caught out that easily.
Fascinating scenery – was it a vapour trail from a RIB?!
Monday morning proved to be just as foggy as Sunday, though it took a lot longer to clear. A SW breeze coming from a cloud bank did not last long so it was decided to postpone�till after lunch.
The wind did fill in from the west, and came through in waves resulting in short periods of light/drifting conditions, but both scheduled races were held and there were more casual starters (from helms that should know better!)
After eight races, and over�200 finishes, the weekend ended with on a high – blue skies, nice breeze.
Neil/Rory won the F15s, with Mike/Kayla 2nd. Dave/Lynn had a clean sweep in the GPs from Mike/Eric. Similarly Bean/Naomi back in their RS200 had a clean sweep in the Handicap fleet from Robbie D/Josh also in a RS200, while Jim/Poppy in their Hartley held out and won the slow handicap series from Mik in a Mirror.
With a long weekend ahead, and a full racing and social programme, please accept this as a timely reminder that club rules state that results will not count if subscription payments are not up to date.
Members of the youth squad have expressed an interest in crewing in a race for some of the more experienced sailors (either Night Jar or weekend). Dave Lawson, Robin Dawson and Mark Somerville have already agreed to this and we wonder if any other experienced sailors would be prepared to let the kids crew as a one off.
Through the Whitehaven Sailing and Boating Association arrangements have been made to have a look around the boat on that date.
It may be of particular interest to those under 25 as they would normally form members of the crew sailing in the Tall Ships Youth Trust Fleet. Tenacity is more a “Small” Tall Ship having come about from an ambitious school project. Just like building a Mirror Dinghy in the woodwork class in the 1960s.
The boat will be working out of Whitehaven this summer in a similar way to the Ocean Youth Trust, North East, boat James Cook that Izzy and Harry went on last year.
Hope the variety of sailing opportunities is not too confusing. It is great that there are the opportunities available for young people especially working out of the local area. A different sailing experience to the racing at Bass but the sailing skills are equally transferable and above all both are an equally enjoyable experience.
The Tall Ships Youth Trust came from the Sail Training Organisation who seem to be bringing in more small vessels to their fleets.
At this stage we have arranged to take a party of 10 people�at 10:00�on the�11 April. Whilst it has been agreed to bring it to the notice of Bassenthwaite SC it is open to any one who may have an interest in seeing a sea going boat first hand that is available to young people. If over subscribed, preference will be given to young people.
Please let Andy Sugden know if anyone may wish to join in.
It is fully appreciated that some Bass SC family members may have other sailing commitments on the day and that Neil will have his new training programmes underway now that the season has started.
If anyone has an interest in sailing on larger vessels Andy may be able to give some details of contacts especially with the Ocean Youth Trust�in either the North East or the Scotland group.
An alternative may be a trip on Arthur Ransome’s boat Nancy Blackett.
Perhaps not with Andy on board as set this historical vessel alight, had a “collision” – from the set of the sails he was on port but not capable of making way from a lack of wind and close to running aground – then was towed into Southwold by the RNLI when the gearbox seized.
Despite a long close season, AJ was not the only person to be making last minute adjustments to his boat (well it was so last minute that he didn’t even get to race).
The forecast for the day was suggested to be death defying but the Bass micro climate came into its own and the winds proved to be temptingly sailable, dry, but cold. However, before racing could commence, the Bates had to be made ready
Anchor? Check. Tied on? Check.
Mast? Where are the nuts? Bamboo poles will do for the flags. Check
Course board (and pole)? Check
Course numbers? Check
Horn? Fail (no mast). Fog horn? Fail (no canisters). Spare horn? Check (phew)
On the way to set the start an alarm started to sound for the engine. Chief engineer Macpherson was ‘invited ‘ aboard to investigate, and determined that the coolant drain plug was not present and correct. Oops.
Excitement over it was time for the first race. Ethan’s close season sailing put him in good stead for the best start of the seven starters, though Dave And Sarah didn’t prove to be a great challenge after ‘starting’ several minutes late, the wrong side of the committee boat, and subsequently retiring after realising he wasn’t wearing his buoyancy aid!
No real excitement during the race which was won by Mike/Kayla, with Ethan 2nd.
After Kayla had filled the competition with a variety of delicious cakes after lunch, racing was underway again in some stronger winds. Award for the first racing capsize of the season goes to vice commodore Robbie D/Peter W in a RS400, though son Ethan was a close 2nd!
Mike chalked up another 1st, with Chay 2nd in a Laser.
Overall winner was Mike/Kayla, with Ethan 2nd, and Tog in his Solo 3rd.
This year the RYA promoted Push the Boat Out initiative is being run over 9-17 May. We are playing our part over the first weekend 9/10 May (between 0900 and 1700) and encouraging newcomers to get on the water. They can try�out single handed sailing dinghies, double handed boats, paddle boarding, kayak, rafted Canadian canoes, rowing boat, keel boat and catamaran… all free.
Despite a long close season, AJ was not the only person to be making last minute adjustments to his boat (well it was so last minute that he didn’t even get to race).