Click on the adjacent logo to view� our NSSA National Youth Regatta pages
The end of the beginning
Perhaps the weather today was a taster of what is in store for the Youth Regatta which starts on Monday (have you heard about it?).
The South Easterly wind held out throughout the day despite the threat of a sea breeze. A dozen boats ventured out.
In the F15 fleet Mike/Kayla played cat and mouse with Tim/Martin which commenced before the start. Being a bit too sure of his position Mike failed cover Tim who broke through on one beat. What’s more he failed to cover on the next and Tim broke through again winning the race!
An early start allowed an early finish and the site to be cleared of boats in preparation for the onslaught of visiting boats (though there were a few early arrivals)
The first BBQ of the week went down well (or should we wait to see who survives till the morning?!)
Thomas is Twittering Again
Preparing to feed the 5000?!
AJ assures us that this is the ‘crinkles’ teaching Tog how to tickle salmon so that Herb can have his smoked salmon sandwiches during the NSSA regatta next week!
Glorious Day for Sailing
Despite the lake being flat calm in the morning as the sun shone, a good F3 filled in from the West well before racing started for the latest championship weekend series. A (relatively) prompt start caught out some of the handicap fleet (Will they learn for the morning?). Either it’s a case of great minds think alike, or the stand in OD is so predictable, but Herb correctly guessed the first course.
As the afternoon progressed, the wind increased too, but without incident.
At the end of the first race, in the GPs, Alan/Sue were on the tail of Dave/Sarah and trying their hardest to get past, but at the final mark Dave broke away, and to cap it for Alan, Hugh/Rachael managed to pass him too! Hugh had another trick up his sleeve on Sunday morning when he believed there was a ‘hook finish’ and rounded the finish mark to starboard, and though ahead, Alan rounded it the same way, losing out by one position when Hugh recrossed the line from the correct direction before him. Val/Ken sailed consistently all weekend taking four 1sts and the McMillan Cup, however, they were disappointed not to be back on shore in time to catch the ice cream van before he left – perhaps they should have sailed faster!
In the F15s, Mike/Kayla took three straight wins and and Ullock Mug, leaving Ian/Lezli-Ann and Tim/Ian battling it out with some close racing at times.
Steve/Ruth sailed well to secure three 1sts and the Grisedale Cup, though a guest appearance by Bean in his RS100 on Sunday morning meant he had to wait until the last race for his third 1st. Scumper tried his hand in Peter’s Supernova, while Alastair explained what would have been had he not capsized and got ‘every rope’ caught around his centreboard delaying its retrieval, and preventing him beating Peter… Meanwhile, Banter Phil had a great sailing weekend taking two 2nds ad a 3rd, finishing 2nd overall.
Don’t forget to move your boat this week to clear the foreshore in preparation for the NSSA Youth Regatta. Also, Saturday’s racing has been brought forward to 11.30 on Saturday, and Sunday’s racing has been cancelled.
NWJTT and Laser Lakeland Grand Prix 2013
Topper NW Areas 2013
NWJTT, NW Areas and Lakeland Laser Open
Campers woke to glorious sunshine and a mirror like lake. Flurries of wind passed through but didn’t bed in until mid morning, which is just as well because there were over 60 boats in five fleets getting ready for five scheduled races – all in all a very busy day!
By the time racing was underway thee was a good force 3-4 which strengthened over the course of the day.
With so much activity it is difficult to pick out specific tales, but over the 25 starts there was only one boat over the line! A few people capsized, some were stuck in irons for a while, and some missed out marks, but they all had some great racing.
Final results Laser Lakeland Travellers Trophy and NWJTT
As forecast, Sunday’s winds were light and challenging. The first race was postponed until mid-day when light airs came in, and faded, from the North West, a cycle of change which was to continue throughout the day. Hopes of a sea breeze were dashed by early cloud cover, but at least the wind direction was relatively consistent throughout. Fortunately, conditions were good enough for both races to be sailed. Some close racing resulted in Nick Devereaux from Budworth winning the championship just one point below Haydn Griffiths and James Grummett. Ethan Dawson finished a creditable 10th overall out of a fleet of 33 boats.
Prizes were awarded by Commodore Andy Smith’s wife, Emma.
Final results Topper North West Area Championship
Hot Pursuit
Good sailing conditions tempted 11 boats to the water for the Celebrity Glass pursuit. Pam in her Mirror was the first to start, and she held her lead well until a rope caught as she tacked resulting in a capsize which she could not recover from and retired.
The chasing fleets had some close competition that continued through to the final tacks on the finish line with four boats finishing in less than 20 secs, and all boats finishing within 4 mins. There must have been several people wondering ‘if only’, as various incidents had boats doing turns (and perhaps some more that should have done them!). With one leg to go, Banter looked in a strong position to win, but Dave/Sarah sailed well to take the lead as Mike/Kayla done a penalty turn at the penultimate mark. It was to be a final tack on the finish line that Mike won from Dave, with Banter 3rd.
Latest results
– Celebrity Glass Pursuit
– BL etc
Sunday’s conditions were considerably more blustery, and fortunately it remained dry.
With the rescue crews still on holiday, Peter and AJ stepped into the breech. They were eager to help when it came to moving a mark – shame they didn’t take account of the Bates’ anchor warp in their manoeuvres (fortunately they were warned just in time!). You just can’t get the staff these days….
With only two takers in the Asymmetric Cup there was an opportunity for match racing between Toggle and Banter in their Vareos. Tog had the best start, and led through to the 2nd leg when Banter took advantage of some better gusts to storm through to the lead. With gybing proving challenging, it would be down to making the least number of mistakes. There was some close racing on the beats, and both helms suffered numerous capsizes, but it was to be the final run that was the decider. Tog was leading, and Banter opted for the opposite side of the course, but capsized whilst gybing. Herb commented that Banter should be calling it a day, but he didn’t; after righting his boat he continued racing, and Tog promptly capsized. As Tog had his mast stuck in the mud, Banter took full advantage of the situation, took the lead and won! Tog retired. Banter leads the series.
In the MJM series, there were three F15s and a GP. Phil/Hannah capsized their GP several times at the numerous gybe mark, and eventually capsized. Tim and daughter(?), didn’t seem to be far behind on the capsize stakes, broaching several times, and being flattened at least once! That left Mike/Kayla and Graham/Elaine to battle it out for the lead. Mike must have been generally comfortable with his lead as he didn’t chance flying his kite very often, until Graham started to close the gap that is! At the penultimate mark, Graham was on Mike’s tail, but Mike covered up the final beat, and won by a small margin and currently leads the series.
Latest results – Asymmetric Cup/MJM
Night Jar A10 � 27 June 13
The mist at Bothel was so thick that even the base of the turbines was obscured. Conditions on the Lake were a little clearer but it was still a murky and damp evening with a light SW wind.
A course of 9-3-1-0-A was set with the start line just upwind of A. John Reekie/Joe Watkins in the Merlin took an early lead on the water followed by the Fifteens of Graham Kirkpatrick/Kayla Sheard, Eric Guillois/Chris Brookes and Joan & Jack Hardie�s 200.
The Race Officer had a difficult decision to make at the end of the first lap. It had taken between 30 and 40 minutes to complete due to the wind moving West and its shadow slowing the fleet down at 1. But, as it was filling in, he sent all except Jonathon Anson in his Solo round for a further lap.
Positions remained largely the same except that Eric & Chris though they had finished when passing through the line in the reverse direction. They needed encouragement to round A and return but lost time in the process.
Then it was back to the Clubhouse for another superb meal prepared, this week, by Tanya Briggs. Results showed that John & Joe had won both categories with Ken & Val Bell beating Joan & Jack for second place on FH. The Bells dropped to third place on PH behind Alan Jones/Sue Watson who have now moved into second place in that Series.