Sun and wind, albeit shifty, tempted 22 boats on to the water for another two races in a championship long series.

The day started with two sets of opposing views from two ‘vocal locals’ as to how and why the anchor warp ended up wrapped around the prop of the Bates last weekend. Was it Tog’s dereliction of duty as he stopped pulling in the warp to lift the front weight, or was it Herb ‘reversing at 100mph’?

While setting the start line there seemed to be two opposing winds – one from the south west, and another from the north. The OD did make allowance for this in the course, but ultimately the SW breeze provided the lion’s share of the wind. The leg that allowed for beating into a northerly wind becoming a fetch that frustrated the Sailing Sec (and others, no doubt!).

In the first race in the F15s Simon/Jon led with a temporary challenge from Graham/Elaine. In the 2nd race, Neil/Judith took an early lead from Simon, but later retired, so Graham secured another 2nd to Simon.

The GPs were eager pushing the start line resulting in a recall signal for which Paul and Mike/Eric returned. The big question is – did they both need to?! Paul worked his way to the front and won, followed by Dave/Sarah. Paul led the 2nd race too, but sailed the wrong course, leading AJ/Sue astray, and losing a lot of ground to Mike (who went on to win) while they corrected their errors.

Tog and Hugh had some close racing in their Vareos, with Tog grasping the lead at the start of the final leg, and finish 1st on handicap. Tog won the 2nd race too, with Ian in his Solo 2nd, and Banter, despite an appalling start after getting into irons, finishing 3rd.

The Mirrors/Toppers were led by Vice-Commodore Scumper crewed by son Cameron. Pam took 2nd, and Hazel. Mik having retired with gear failure in the first race, had some close racing with Scumper/Cameron, and nervously led the way across the finish line. Sarah sailed her first race in a Topper but doesn’t want anyone to know. Word is that she won’t talk [to me] again!

Latest results

The sunny weather continued on Sunday with a forecast of next to no wind, but there was sufficient to get racing underway. By the time the leaders reached the windward mark the wind was fading and they were all but drifting. Fortunately the few zephyrs that passed through filled the course again, and the breeze held for the rest of the race.

Ian was on form again in his Solo beating Tog by more than a minute on handicap, with Jim in his Supernova 3rd. Mike/Eric led the GPs home with Joan/Jack 2nd, while Pam built a strong lead in the Mirrors/Toppers with Jenny 2nd in her Topper.

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The wind over lunchtime was light and not conducive to racing around the lake for the pennant race, so the course kept the fleet in the main bay. The wind freshened slightly, and Robbie D made the most of clear airs in a RS400 to lead the fleet and win on handicap by less than 15 secs ahead of Paul, Mike and Joan in GPs.

RNLI Pennant Final results

Val had belatedly realised that she had double booked OD duty and preparing the meal. So she sent her crew to do the easy work on the Bates while she perspired in the Galley!

It was, again, a fine and warm evening and 22 competitors took to the water. The wind was force 3 at the start and mainly WNW so the beat was A-0 with the off wind legs 0-9-3-A.

John Reekie�s Skiff pulled away rapidly after the start followed by Phil Davenport�s 100 but the latter had a monumental broach under kite heading for 3 and was headed for a while by Joan & Jack Hardies 200. Next up were Mike Fairlamb / Eric Smith in their GP and Trevor Morton�s Dart 16.

With the Skiff on its fourth lap and the Toppers on their second, the wind was easing rapidly and flag S was raised at 35 minutes. Andy Sugden�s Streaker, Pam Bath�s Mirror and Jonathan Anson�s Laser, which were all well up the fleet, benefited the most. The Toppers led by Harry Binns and the remaining GP�s on their third lap had to continue round for a further 20 minutes or so to reach the line.

All were ready for yet another superb Thursday evening meal. One helm remarked that he only competed for the food on offer!

While the Solway Firth coastline was basking in the sun, the weather at the club was cloudy but warm.

Three of the youth squad had gone to an open at Ullswater. Jenny Dunn performed best finishing a creditable 22nd in a fleet of 29 boats which included National Youth Squad sailors.

The weekend racing comprises a series of five races scheduled to be run on a personal handicap pursuit basis, but a computer hiccup, and too many people giving JD earache, the format reverted to mass start with adjusted finish times. With such a light wind being forecast it was a little surprising that there was actually enough wind to race. OD Ethan took some ribbing from the stalwarts in the committee boat, but successfully got both races completed.

The wind did ease at times, and there was no sea breeze despite the sunny coastline, so it was very much a case of being in the right place at the right time. In the first race Mike/Kayla were in the wrong place when the wind eased and the course was shortened as they had to sail an extra lap in lighter airs. Ian won in his Solo, with AJ/Sue in a GP 2nd despite a pitiful start (or was he too much of a gentleman?), and Joan/Jack 3rd.

Pam was in the right place on the startline in the 2nd race getting the best start of all the fleet, and she went on to win the race on handicap. The patchy wind on the first beat led to some different lead boats with Anthony/Jeff taking the lead in their RS200 though they finished 6th on handicap. Ian secured 2nd, and is overnight leader, with Joan/Jack taking another 3rd.

In the absence of paid rescue crews at least we had one willing volunteer….

Sailors for day 2 of the Fleet Challenge B were met with a bit more wind than the forecast of 1mph. Stand in Race Officer Mike Cowan set a figure of eight course with a beat from A to 2. The majority of the fleet were keen to start at the starboard end which resulted in a general recall as most were over the line. They all got away at the second attempt and Robin Dawson with daughter Amber in a RS 200 led the fleet home followed by the flying fifteens of Mike/Kayla and Graham/Elaine. After personal handicaps were taken into account Alan/Sue in their GP14 won the race followed by Paul and Vicki Bowmer also in a GP14.

The OD decided a lunch break was in order and most thought the possibility of two more races was unlikely. However the wind remained and even strengthened for the final race. Robin decided to take the RS 400 out with son Ethan to celebrate Fathers Day and won both races on the water. Alan/Sue won the second race of the day on handicap followed by Ian Hall in his Solo. This left the series wide open with Alan/Sue, Ian and the Hardies all in with a chance of victory.

Joan and Jack Hardie sailed an excellent final race and won on handicap but the 5th place of Alan and Sue was enough to clinch the series by one point from Ian with Joan and Jack a further point back.

Final results

Mik Chappell is on his holidays in Scotland and the nominated OD, John Crosbie, is somewhere in mid Atlantic so Andy Sugden stepped in as OD and did an excellent job. He was assisted by Mike Hunter and Neil Garrison on rescue as the regular crew are on the back of a recovery vehicle somewhere in Italy.

The 26 competitors were met with a gentle westerly breeze and a beat from A to O was followed with a broad reach to 3 and a close reach back to A to complete the triangle. John Reekie in his Skiff lead the fleet and was the only competitor to do 4 laps, Joan and Jack Hardie remained ahead of the rest and won both the fleet and personal handicap races. Richard Broughton in his Solo came second on personal handicap followed by Mike and Eric in their GP14. John Reekie come third on fleet handicap with Mike and Eric second. Alan and Sue still lead the personal handicap series but only by one point, they also produced a fabulous meal for the sailors after the race.

Latest results PH FH

Most competitors agreed that this was the best NJ round to date. There was sunshine, a constant f4 wind and a superb course which made the most of it. The beat was 4-0 followed by four kite legs 0-9-1-3-4.

There was even an inadvertent sting in the tail as the port end start line pin was exactly upwind of 4 and a number of boats ended up head to wind when making for it. The favoured option was to harden up around 4 and tack back through the line at the last moment.

There were 22 starters including 9 Toppers. The 200 of Joan & Jack Hardie broke away at the start followed by the GP of Dave Lawson / Ken Bell and Jim Christie in his Supernova. Next up were the FF of Chris & Julie Rolle and the Radial of Ethan Dawson.

As the race moved into its third lap Dave & Ken pulled out all the stops with some spectacular three sail planing and, coming into the final mark, it looked as though they might snatch the lead place on the water. However, they were a couple of lengths adrift at the line.

The leading Toppers sailing two laps were having an equally close contest, Julie Dunn crossing the line just 6 seconds ahead of Harry Binns with Hazel Newport and Izzie Hunter next up.

Fleet Handicap results reflected the on-the-water positions with the exception that Dave & Ken took first place from Joan & Jack.

On PH there were three Radials and two Toppers in the first five positions. Julie Tomkinson was classified first ahead of Jennie Dunn, Neil Garrison, Ethan Dawson and Harry Binns. Who says it was an evening for crewed three sail boats?!

The final day of May and the sun has returned. The forecast of light winds was ominous, and swinging airs as the race officer was challenging. As the fleet sailed out, they were driven by a fair sea breeze from the West which held, if somewhat shifty, throughout the afternoon.

In the Celebrity Glass Pursuit, Mik started first and led the way for almost half the race before being passed by Mike/Eric in their GP. Despite an excellent start by Banter in his RS100, a broken halyard forced him to capsize to undertake a makeshift repair (or was it so he could cool off swimming in the lake?). Tog was on form again, but unable to break through finishing just over a minute behind Mike. The conditions didn’t suit the strong fleet of F15s, and they all finished in a bunch led by Neil/Rory.

Celebrity Glass Trophy latest

The 2nd race was part of a long championship series. Mike/Kayla were keen to improve on the poor beating in the 1st race, and merrily forced Neil over the line at the start, but had to return themselves. However, Neil made up the ground winning ahead of Graham/Elaine, with Mike 3rd.

AJ/Sue were on top form taking an early lead in the GPs and holding their nerve through to the end.

Banter’s repair was secure enough to see him through the next race, earning him a win from Tog in his Vareo

Mik secured another win in the Mirrors/Toppers to take a strong lead in the Red Sails Trophy. Hazel sailed well in her Topper with a good lead on Mik until the final beat, pushing her into 2nd place. David sailed most of the beats standing on his Topper, different if not competitive!

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Sunday started bright but overcast. The light breeze appeared to be swinging around Sale Fell, but the race officer was assured by Mike That there was a southerly breeze at Shap heading our way! True enough the wind did settle from the south and racing got underway. Ian/Lezli-Ann repeated their light weather dominance, pulled out an early lead (while Mike/Kayla wallowed in a hole) and went on to win comfortably.

AJ had started the morning next to a flip chart, talking through his success of the previous afternoon, but he too wallowed long enough for the rest of the GPs, led by Dave/Lynn, to disappear into the distance!

The holes and wallowing were a result of the wind swinging through more than 90 degrees to the west – great breeze, but it meant there were no beats!

Mik and Hazel stuck close together throughout their race, and Mik won on handicap. Banter and Tog battled it out again, with Tog winning by just over 30 secs

Latest results

The westerly breeze held for the afternoon, no doubt reinforced by another sea breeze, but it meant the traditional round the lake course for the Jimmy Lancaster Memorial pennant would be in the shade if Sale Fell. The OD did reduce the extent of the frustrations by just sending the fleet down to 10, but light, swirling, winds were in play even before the boats got to Scarness. The conditions suited the GPs (apart from AJ) as they took first three positions on handicap, again led by Dave/Lyn. Tog was 4th and Mike/Kayla 5th

Final results

It might have been the sun gone to his head, but AJ vowed to hunt out, and dust off, his tennis racket…

Mixed weather from sunshine through rain seems to be the order of the day, and the wind almost as variable!

Half a dozen Toppers initially led the way in Celebrity Glass Pursuit, though Dave/Lynn were the next to take the lead, Robbie Dee/Banter took advantage of the freshening winds to work their way from starting last through to the lead and winner’s horn.

The 2nd race was part of a long championship series. In the F15s Mike/Kayla took the honours with Wendy/John putting in a good performance in the blustery conditions finishing 2nd just ahead of newcomer Angus Corry.

In the Handicap fleet Robbie D/Banter secured their 2nd win of the day; Tog took 2nd in his Vareo with Mark/Emma 3rd in their Enterprise.

Andy/Katia won the Mirror/Topper fleet with Hazel 2nd. Dave/Lynn again won the GPs from Mike/Eric

Latest results Celebrity Glass MG etc

More mixed weather for Sunday – starting bright and warm with little breeze. The wind did pick up a little from the South, but as soon as the OD set a startline and course, it swung to the West, so a new line and course were set, but the wind had eased a little. Ian/Lezli-Ann took an early unassailable lead, and managed to keep track of where they were on the Olympic style course, taking the winning horn ahead of Mike/Kayla.

AJ/Sue mastered the start squeezing Dave/Lynn and Mike/Eric out of the start giving themselves a 30 sec advantage, but it was Joan/Jack that were in the lead at the windward mark and had to fend off Paul/Vicky through to the finish.

Scumper/Zefer had a flying start in their RS400 but the light conditions were more suited to Robbie D/Erin who won on handicap in a RS200.

Mik Chappell won the Mirror/Topper race with Hazel 2nd

The wind faded over lunchtime and didn’t return, so racing was eventually abandoned for the day.

More WW1 centenary celebrations were the order of the night. What goes on at Bass stays at Bass (usually!)

Bank Holiday Monday and the rain that the rest of the country seemed to be whinging about had passed through overnight leaving a bright morning with a good Southerly breeze breaking many white horses across the lake.

Two races were sailed before lunch as dark clouds moved in and the wind eased slightly. A criss crossing course meant it was important for sailors to stay alert. One incident had Robbie D taking avoiding action to miss Ethan, and he subsequently had to do turns, that cost him several secs and the race which was won by Tog with Bean 2nd. Tog proved he hadn’t just taken advantage of the situation by winning all three races and the Isel Cup. Robbie D and Scumper ended up on equal points but Robin’s 1st gave him the advantage and 2nd overall.

In the F15s, each race was won by a different helm, Andy/Ian and Mike/Kayla finishing with 8 pts each with the tie for the Mellor Mug split on the last race in Andy’s favour.

A wind shift, meant a starboard biased start line, and some over eager starting in the GPs. With four boats over, and only two boats returning, and all four races to count, Dave and Mike had scuppered their chances in the series, so Joan/Jack won the Commodore’s Prize with Dave 2nd on equal points with Val

Mik had a clean sweep to win the Orsova Cup, with Hazel putting in some consistent sailing to finish 2nd overall.

Final results