This weekend’s racing comprises six races for all fleets with the results calculated on a personal handicap basis. With a fleet of 17 boats, the start line, and rounding of the first few marks, was unusually busy resulting in boats ‘appearing’ unexpectedly and some emergency tacks, so it was important to try to get clear air as soon as possible.

Steve/Elaine led the first race, but personal handicap pushed their result down to 15th place. Only 5 secs on corrected time separated Alan/Sue in their GP, Ken in a Solo, and Jim in a Supernova, finishing 2nd to 4th respectively. Having sailed well in her Mirror, Pam had some close racing throughout the afternoon with Mik, ending the day in pole position with two firsts to count.

Apparently Mik and Pam were so close at one stage that Mik had to do turns after bumping into Pam after she asked for water.

Another 2nd place for Alan in the 2nd race put him 2nd overall overnight. Kath/Glynis won the last race of the day and lie 3rd overall.

The only capsize of the afternoon was by Banter during a gybe and he combined it with a spectacular backward flip out of his boat!

By the time racing started on Sunday the drizzle had moved in. The wind was slightly stronger than Saturday but it was the gusts, combined with dead runs and gybe marks, that kept catching boats out – three capsized at the first gybe mark almost simultaneously! Pam earned another win and had an unassailable lead securing the series with two races to go.

Although the drizzle disappeared after lunch, the morning capsizes had taken their toll, and numbers racing reduced to eight boats. A triangular course meant there was only one gybe mark to contend with, but gusts still challenged the F15s and flattened some of the other boats on the reaches. Peter sailed well in his Supernova in the conditions, winning race 5 and beating Tim/Ian in their F15.

By the final race, there were just six starters and only three finishers, with the honours going to Tim/Ian and giving them 2nd overall ahead of Alan/Sue. Even at just over 30 mins, there were some that felt they had sailed one lap too many. Clearly, there will be many that sleep well tonight!

Latest results

Perhaps it was a return of Summer for the penultimate weekend championship series as there was blue skies and a medium breeze. Neil/Rory led the F15 fleet securing two wins from Chris/Julie.

In the handicap fleet, Steve/Ruth led the first race but were unable to break clear with sufficient ground to hold back Scumper or Robbie D/Amber in an RS200, who won on handicap. Steve blamed too many reaches (and sailing as bad as Hamilton drove in practice last week!) in the 2nd race for trailing Scumper round the course, Scumper won on handicap from Toggle, and then Steve/Ruth. Many others in the fleet suffered from the wind suddenly fading and becoming a drifter, and they opted to retire.

Dave/Lynn led and won both GP races, but the second race was particularly close as they struggled to shake off Paul/Vicky, especially when the wind faded.

The forecast for Sunday is in total contrast with rain, high winds, and gale force gusts. It seems unlikely that the Bass micro climate will work its magic this time, but time will tell…

It was not to be. So wild, wet and windy put even Jim into the mode that he wasn’t keen to be in (or more realistically in) the water. The OD soon cancelled racing for the day, so yesterday’s results stand.

Final results

Meanwhile there was a Kestrel open meeting at Ullswater in which Peter Ballard sailed with Chris Hunt. Due to 54mph gusts on Sunday, the event was curtailed but Peter/Chris still secured a creditable 2nd overall.

The final Thursday Evening Race enticed out eleven competitors including four trainees despite rainy and misty conditions. And what a race it was with five boats taking the lead on the water at various times. The start line was just out from 1 with competitors beating to 0 and wing legs to, and from, A.

At least it should have been a reach from A to 1 but the wind had swung 100 degrees making it a beat. Some boats were heading in the direction of 3 while others were pointing to N! The latter paid off and it was David Haselden in his Solo who was first over the line on the first lap. But his luck wasn�t to last as he inverted at 0 and the following boats bunched up while trying to manoeuvre around the obstruction in minimal wind.

The RS200 of Mike & Joan Cowan was first through on the next lap, trying to pull out a lead over the following three GP14�s and get a good result to add to their win in Race 2. But, with the wind swinging between SW and N, a top result depended on where you were on the water at any point in time. All the GP�s took the lead at various points before Mike and Joan regained it on lap 3 to be first across the line at the finish.

But, it seemed unlikely that the Cowans had built up enough of a lead to win the race on either Fleet or Personal Handicap. Results showed that, on the former they were third to Joan and Jack Hardie and Val and Ken Bell who finished in line astern. And these were the FH Series Results with the Hardies beating the Bells on Count back.

All boats finished in close proximity to one another and it was Jonathan Anson in his Laser who took a superb PH win from Val and Ken with Paul Clark in third place in his Streaker. The Winner�s Trophy for the Night Jar B Series on PH goes to Val Bell with a third and a second place in the two counting races.

In the trainees� contest the Wayfarer of David Ferguson finished seventh ahead of the three Toppers with Rosie Hogg just inching out Jamie Kerr with Mario Yeomans close astern.

Mike Chappell

Final results – PH FH