Loved this email enquiry…
I am a 50 something empty nester looking for a mid life hobby to get me from under my wife�s feet this summer evenings and weekends. I want to learn how to windsurf. We live in Cockermouth and you are the closest water based club. I feel like I�m asking a Michelin star chef to cook me a Birds Eye ready meal….
Will we tempt this person into dinghy sailing?
Sunday’s forecast threatened to be wet and windy, fortunately there was not too much of the former, and it was not quite as blustery as Saturday either!
In the morning, a fleet of six in the handicap fleet was led by Steve, with guest appearance of Elaine (she obviously managed to unlock those bar chains!), who stayed upright, though most of his competition went swimming at some stage in the race. Banter finished second ahead of Alan/Sue in a GP.
Mike/Kayla found their pace again and led throughout the F15 race while Tim/Ian battled it out with Ian/Lezli-Ann for 2nd place.
For the afternoon pennant race, with Alan/Sue swapping into a F15, it was to be a F15 only race, all of which seemed keen (well apart from the female crews) to sail around the lake. Although Ian/Lezli-Ann were rigged for the race, they quickly opted out so they could save themselves for next weeks F15 open, so that left three F15s to race down to 10 and back. Although there were some light and flukey patches from time to time, Mike described a thrilling spinnaker leg back from 10 to the narrows on which they were travelling so fast the spray missed Kayla! Mike continued with his winning ways and Tim/Ian came 2nd.
You may recall the Topper Challenge held last year on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend. Peter Ballard has knitted together the following video to remind you of the level of skulduggery that was used to ‘even out’ the competition!
The forecast of wild wind for the weekend may have been off putting but it didn’t stop the training course getting under way. Hopefully the heavy downpours during the morning didn’t dampen the trainees spirits or enthusiasm!
By the time racing started, the rain showers had passed through, but there was still a strong breeze to power the fleet of eight boats around the course. As the gusts and squalls passed through there were exciting reaches and various capsizes by all boats in the handicap fleet, as well as broaches in the F15 fleet. With JC as OD, many were surprised at the normality and quality of his courses. No doubt he will revert to his usual range of spinnaker free courses next time!
By winning both races, with Banter 2nd, Scumper leads the handicap series, and similarly Mike/Kayla lead the F15 series after adding two wins to their tally; Ian/Lezli-Ann and Tim/Ian each shared a 2nd and 3rd. After the first race Lezli-Ann did comment it was not a day for the ratchets not to be on – we assume she rectified this before the next race…
Thursday�s forecast was so dire that most prospective Night Jar competitors decided that it wasn�t worth travelling to the Club. So we ended up with two boats; the Streaker of Mike Fairlamb and the Merlin of John Reekie/Joe Watkins.
The generally Force 3 wind was SE so a race office start from 0 was agreed, the course to be 8-A-0. But the wind swung S at the last moment so this became a shorter 9-A-0. Mike led for the first 8 minute lap but John/Joe closed up resulting in to a close race before the Merlin pulled ahead.
A lap later Sale Fell came into play with Mike coming to a stop just before 9 and then being pushed downwind on what was previously a run to A. OD Paul Clark decided to shorten for the end of lap 4 as a band of mist and rain was heading in from the Keswick end of the Lake.
Then it was into the clubhouse for a meal prepared by Lynn and Dave Lawson and results calculated manually by the mathematician OD. These showed that Mike had won both on Fleet and on Personal Handicap. He has extended his lead in the PH category and has overtaken Neil & Judith Currie to lead on FH.
Imagine being in a fleet of 180 boats at an Inland Championship. Where would you expect to finish? Could you have done as well as Ethan Dawson who finished a very commendable 85th at the Topper Inlands held at Grafham over the weekend?
Well done Ethan!
Monday
While the South seemed to be basking in bank holiday sunshine, Monday started overcast with light shifting winds in the bay, but with apparently steadier winds from the south, after a delayed start trying to find steadier winds, the OD opted to take the fleet down to mark 14. By the time the F15s started, the wind was settling from the SW, which meant there was a huddle of eager boats fighting for the starbaord end of the line for a reaching start. Three boats either mis-timed, or were forced over, the start and had to return.
The wind shift led to some flukey conditions down the lake, which various boats seem to revel in, while back in the bay the wind had steadied and there was some exciting reaches to enjoy before the final beat. Alastair tried some involuntary water skiing after being washed out of his boat in one of the downdraughts and then being towed behind it for a while!
Unfortunately one of the Catapults took the finish line the wrong way, and another three boats followed, though the others did redeem their mistake.
By lunchtime the sun was shining and the picnic benches were full! The wind held for the final race of the weekend. Having been over the line in the morning race, Simon/Jon were again premature starters in the afternoon along with Ian/Lezli-Ann. Although they restarted, they both later retired. Steve/Ruth were caught out by a gust at a gybe mark losing their lead big style.
With no other competitors in the Topper fleet, Ethan sailed in the handicap fleet, sailing brilliantly to finish ahead of Val in her Solo, and 5th on handicap in the race.
Despite their over eager starts, with three 1sts on Sunday, Simon/Jon still won the F15 Jak Pot ahead of Mike/Kayla. Scumper beat Steve/Ruth by 1 point to take the May Holiday Trophy, with Mark/Emma a couple of points behind in 3rd place. Ethan beat Jamie to take the Topper series, and Dave/Lynn beat Andy/Rob for the Lyne Tankard with Paul/Ken 3rd.
Final Club Results
Final Catapult Results
Sunday
Sunday started damp, drizzly and breezy for the three races scheduled. There were many exciting reaches, made all the more hairy by squalls that also made the gybe marks somewhat challenging at times.
The rescue crews were kept busy keeping a careful watch on the numerous capsizes and broaches by boats in all fleets, including the Catapults. Also, it was a day for helms, and crews, falling out of boats, with Neil, Ian and Sally being but three of them!
Red spinnakers seemed to be the curse of the F15 fleet with both Lezli-Ann and Keith having major problems at times trying to unravel twists in the blustery conditions. Dave/Lynn’s binding at the head of their genoa became undone, but despite losing ground they managed to hold off Andy/Rob on the final beat.
The shadow of Sale Fell led to patches of light wind with un-nerving conditions as the downdraughts caused major powerful shifts, and capsized numerous boats.
While the sailors battled with the elements in the third race, the ladies had prepared an afternoon tea party with sufficient cakes to feed them for a week! Fortunately there were some morsels left when racing finished!
The evening finished with The Great Ribena
Saturday
There was a good turnout of club boats, together with the visiting Catapults, for the May bank holiday.
Blustery conditions led to some exciting racing coupled with plenty of capsizes.
The Commodore made it on the water for his first race of the season, but struggled with a worn spinnaker halyard which slipped through the cleat on gusts. Good for depowering, but not for taking advantage of the gusts! He had some close racing with Dave/Lynn but managed to take the lead for the final beat. Instructors Mike/Nigel were again demonstrating their capsize technique alongside Alan/Sue who seemed to master it somewhat better!
Lady Emma, the Commodore’s wife, sailing in an Enterprise with Mark found the conditions challenging. Nothing to do with Scumper plying her with a drink or two the previous evening was it?
John Somerville made a guest appearance in Keith’s F15 and put up a good fight against Mike/Kayla, leading at times, but taking a crucial place from them on the finish line. Ian/Lezli-Ann also sailed well and managed to fight back a several times to win both races.
There was some consistent sailing in the handicap fleet with 1st, 2nd and 3rd places going to Steve/Ruth, Toggle and Banter in both races. Zefer was practising his capsize skills again.
The sociable social secretary broke from tradition and arranged a walk up Skiddaw come rain or shine. Unfortunately the weather was not the latter!
The group did make it to the top after 1hr 24mins and hope to back at the club in time for sailing…
Thursday evening was, again, dry with a SW F4 wind which was surprisingly constant. So no capsizes and only a quick broach from Rory Yardley�s Fifteen. Ten boats were out including John Reekie with Joe Watkins in the Merlin which started half a leg behind.
Banter Phil and Jim Christie were supervising training in the area between buoy 9 and the Club and buoys had been moved for the GNAC so, from B the beat went to 0 (outside 9), a fetch to 8 (near Keswick! � well 7 anyway), a broad reach to A (near 5) and a tightening reach back to B.
From the port biased start line Neil & Judith Currie�s RS400 led on the water followed by the FF of Tim Knowles / Martin Statter and the GP of Dave & Lynn Lawson. Despite the long course, lead boats were lapping in 15 to 20 minutes and most boats completed three laps, the course being shortened for the final trio.
Then it was back to the Clubhouse for Glenys� superb meal. Results showed Dave & Lynn winning both the PH & FH categories from Tim & Martin. Mike Fairlamb�s Streaker was third in the former and Neil & Judith in the latter.
This weekend Bass hosted the third Great North Asymmetric Challenge. Not that the sailors were the only ones facing a challenge, because the OD, Commodore Andy Smith had to cope with swinging winds to set suitable windward leeward courses!
Conditions varied throughout the afternoon, with some light patches to contend with at times, and great planing conditions at others. Those that found the zephyrs and gusts took advantage of them which led to some close racing. By the final race the wind had swung more to the NW and settled to a steady breeze which proved to be the best of the day.
Mike Saul/Meg Fletcher from Yorkshire Dales sailed well in the first race and won in their RS200 ahead of Dave Lawson from Bass in an RS Vareo. However, on the starting signal of the second race Mike’s main clew detached itself as he hardened in and he had to make some rapid running repairs to get back in the race.
As the wind started to back more towards the North during race 2, the beat became one sided, but it was to be Phil Smith/Ethan Dawson in an RS200 that took advantage of the gusts and won ahead of Chris Pickles/Matt Sharman from Delph in an RS400.
After a short wait (during which the Committee boat enjoyed a large pot of tea!) for the wind to fill in again and settle down, racing was underway again. Wayne Fletcher fell out of his RS400 on the 2nd beat, but quickly climbed back in and maintained his lead (for a while at least!). This time Dave Lawson took the honours with Phil Smith/Ethan Dawson 2nd.
The course was repositioned for the final race of the day, and sailors enjoyed stronger winds with less influence from nearby Sale Fell. The RS400s came into their own in these winds and it was Paul Allen/Robin Dawson from Leigh & Lowton that won with Chris Pickles 2nd.
The strong competition was clearly demonstrated by the wide mix of boats in the top two for each race, and only two points separate the top three boats on the overnight leaders board headed by Phil Smith, with Chris Pickles 2nd and Dave Lawson 3rd.
Tonight the sailors will enjoy a Mexican meal in the clubhouse followed by some live music from local entertainer Hulio. Perhaps they should build up their strength for the heavy winds forecast for Sunday?!
Wind and rain, as forecast, had its effect on Sunday’s results with the heavyweights coming to the fore. Chris/Matt’s best results for the day were 1, 1 & 3 and earned them the winner’s trophy, while Paul/Robin had 1, 2 & 2 which put them in 3rd behind Mike/Meg who secured 1, 2 & 4. Bass sailors Phil/Ethan, Mark Somerville (1st single hander in an RS Vareo), and Alex Leonard/Olivia Storey (in an RS 200) took the the next three places.
Prizes were awarded by the Commodore’s, and OD for the weekend, wife Emma.
